Schedule Champions League

Schedule Champions League

New Champions League season

 

Six teams were in the initial stage, played in the first two weeks of July, and 31 other sides came in for the second qualifying round including FC Basel 1893, who made the round of 16 last season. The third qualifying round and play-offs followed as 17 further clubs come into contention for ten available places in the group stage alongside the 22 automatic entrants.

Among that number were all four English contenders: Manchester City FC, Manchester United FC, Arsenal FC and holders Chelsea FC. It will be at Wembley that the tournament concludes on Saturday 25 May 2013, making a swift return to the 2011 final venue to mark the 150th anniversary of the English Football Association. For the first time the semi-final draw will be held after the quarter-finals rather than together with the draw for the last eight.

Match calendar
Stage	Dates
First qualifying round, 1st leg	03-04/07/12
First qualifying round, 2nd leg	10-11/07/12
Second qualifying round, 1st leg	17-18/07/12
Second qualifying round, 2nd leg	24-25/07/12
Third qualifying round, 1st leg	31/07-01/08/12
Third qualifying round, 2nd leg	07/08/08/12
Play-off, 1st leg	21-22/08/12
Play-off, 2nd leg	28-29/08/12
Group stage, Matchday 1	18-19/09/12
Group stage, Matchday 2	02-03/10/12
Group stage, Matchday 3	23-24/10/12
Group stage, Matchday 4	06-07/11/12
Group stage, Matchday 5	20-21/11/12
Group stage, Matchday 6	04-05/12/12
Round of 16, 1st leg	12-13/02/13 & 19-20/02/13
Round of 16, 2nd leg	05-06/03/13 & 12-13/03/13
Quarter-finals, 1st leg	02-03/04/13
Quarter-finals, 2nd leg	09-10/04/13
Semi-finals, 1st leg	23-24/04/13
Semi-finals, 2nd leg	30/04-01/05/13
Final (Wembley Stadium)	25/05/13