The 2018–19 UEFA Champions League qualifying phase and play-off round began on 26 June and ended on 29 August 2018.[1]
A total of 53 teams competed in the qualifying system of the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League, which includes the qualifying phase and the play-off round,[2] with 43 teams in Champions Path and 10 teams in League Path. The six winners in the play-off round (four from Champions Path, two from League Path) advanced to the group stage, to join the 26 teams that entered the group stage.[3]
Times are CEST (UTC+2), as listed by UEFA (local times, if different, are in parentheses).
The Champions Path includes all league champions which do not qualify directly for the group stage, and consists of the following rounds:
Preliminary round (4 teams playing one-legged semi-finals and final): 4 teams which enter in this round.
First qualifying round (32 teams): 31 teams which enter in this round, and 1 winner of the preliminary round.
Second qualifying round (20 teams): 4 teams which enter in this round, and 16 winners of the first qualifying round.
Third qualifying round (12 teams): 2 teams which enter in this round, and 10 winners of the second qualifying round.
Play-off round (8 teams): 2 teams which enter in this round, and 6 winners of the third qualifying round.
All teams eliminated from the Champions Path enter the Europa League:
The 3 losers of the preliminary round and 15 of the 16 losers of the first qualifying round (excluding 1 team which receives a bye to the third qualifying round as decided by an additional draw held after the Champions League first qualifying round draw) enter the Champions Path second qualifying round.
The loser of the first qualifying round which receives a bye and the 10 losers of the second qualifying round enter the Champions Path third qualifying round.
Each tie, apart from the preliminary round, is played over two legs, with each team playing one leg at home. The team that scores more goals on aggregate over the two legs advance to the next round. If the aggregate score is level, the away goals rule is applied, i.e. the team that scores more goals away from home over the two legs advances. If away goals are also equal, then extra time is played. The away goals rule is again applied after extra time, i.e. if there are goals scored during extra time and the aggregate score is still level, the visiting team advances by virtue of more away goals scored. If no goals are scored during extra time, the tie is decided by penalty shoot-out. In the preliminary round, where single-match semi-finals and final are hosted by one of the participating teams, if scores are level at the end of normal time, extra time is played, followed by penalty shoot-out if scores remain tied.[3]
In the draws for each round, teams are seeded based on their UEFA club coefficients at the beginning of the season, with the teams divided into seeded and unseeded pots containing the same number of teams. A seeded team is drawn against an unseeded team, with the order of legs (or the administrative "home" team in the preliminary round matches) in each tie decided by draw. As the identity of the winners of the previous round is not known at the time of the draws, the seeding is carried out under the assumption that the team with the higher coefficient of an undecided tie advances to this round, which means if the team with the lower coefficient is to advance, it simply take the seeding of its opponent. Prior to the draws, UEFA may form "groups" in accordance with the principles set by the Club Competitions Committee, but they are purely for convenience of the draw and do not resemble any real groupings in the sense of the competition. Teams from associations with political conflicts as decided by UEFA may not be drawn into the same tie. After the draws, the order of legs of a tie may be reversed by UEFA due to scheduling or venue conflicts.[3]
The draw for the preliminary round was held on 12 June 2018, 12:00 CEST, to determine the matchups of the semi-finals and the administrative "home" team of each semi-final and final.[5]
A total of 32 teams were involved in the first qualifying round draw: 31 teams entering in this round, and the winners of the preliminary round. They were divided into three groups: two of ten teams, where five teams were seeded and five teams were unseeded, and one of twelve teams, where six teams were seeded and six teams were unseeded.
† Winners of the preliminary round. Teams in italics defeated a team with a higher coefficient, thus effectively taking the coefficient of their opponent in the draw.
A total of 24 teams were involved in the second qualifying round draw.
Champions Path: four teams entering in this round, and the 16 winners of the first qualifying round. They were divided into two groups of ten teams, where five teams were seeded and five teams were unseeded.
League Path: four teams entering in this round. Two teams were seeded and two teams were unseeded.
† Winners of the first qualifying round. Teams in italics defeated a team with a higher coefficient, thus effectively taking the coefficient of their opponent in the draw.
A total of 20 teams were involved in the third qualifying round draw.
Champions Path: two teams entering in this round, and the 10 winners of the second qualifying round Champions Path. Six teams were seeded and six teams were unseeded.
League Path: six teams entering in this round, and the two winners of the second qualifying round League Path. Four teams were seeded and four teams were unseeded. Teams from Ukraine and Russia could not be drawn into the same tie, and if such a pairing was drawn or was set to be drawn in the final tie, the second team drawn in the current tie would be moved to the next tie.
† Winners of the second qualifying round. Teams in italics defeated a team with a higher coefficient, thus effectively taking the coefficient of their opponent in the draw.
A total of 12 teams were involved in the play-off round draw.
Champions Path: two teams entering in this round, and the six winners of the third qualifying round Champions Path. Four teams were seeded and four teams were unseeded.
League Path: the four winners of the third qualifying round League Path. Two teams were seeded and two teams were unseeded. Teams from Ukraine and Russia could not be drawn into the same tie, and to prevent such a potential pairing, the four teams were divided into two pairings prior to the draw.
† Winners of the third qualifying round. Teams in italics defeated a team with a higher coefficient, thus effectively taking the coefficient of their opponent in the draw.
^ abcShkëndija played their home matches at Philip II Arena, Skopje, instead of their regular stadium Ecolog Arena, Tetovo, due to renovation.
^ abcQarabağ played their home matches at Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku, instead of their regular stadium Azersun Arena, Baku.
^ abcdMOL Vidi played their qualifying rounds home matches at Pancho Aréna, Felcsút and play-off round home match at Groupama Arena, Budapest,[10] instead of their regular stadium Sóstói Stadion, Székesfehérvár, due to reconstruction.
^Drita played their home match at Adem Jashari Olympic Stadium, Mitrovica, instead of their regular stadium Gjilan City Stadium, Gjilan.
^Víkingur Gøta played their home match at Svangaskarð, Toftir, instead of their regular stadium Sarpugerði, Norðragøta.
^ abKukësi played their home matches at Loro Boriçi Stadium, Shkodër, instead of their regular stadium Zeqir Ymeri Stadium, Kukës.
^Spartaks Jūrmala played their home match at Skonto Stadium, Riga, instead of their regular stadium Slokas Stadium, Jūrmala.
^Alashkert played their home match at Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan, instead of their regular stadium Alashkert Stadium, Yerevan.
^The Red Star Belgrade v Red Bull Salzburg match was played behind closed doors due to punishment by UEFA.[16]
La Fiorita
Lincoln Red Imps
Drita (a.e.t.)
FC Santa Coloma
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Sheriff Tiraspol
The New Saints
APOEL
Qarabağ
MOL Vidi
Malmö FF
HJK
Crusaders
Legia Warsaw
Rosenborg
Valletta
Hapoel Be'er Sheva
Red Star Belgrade
Celtic
Zrinjski Mostar
Sutjeska Nikšić
Midtjylland
Basel
Sturm Graz
Fenerbahçe
Dynamo Kyiv
Spartak Moscow
