This season's Champions League qualifying explained
Qualifying for the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League spans more than two months, involves 53 teams and will entail 91 fixtures in all.
Preliminary round
Draw: 12 June
Fixtures: 26 & 29 June
Teams: 4
Already known: 4
How it works
This new mini-tournament will take place in Gibraltar, with the 12 June draw determining the semi-final line-up. The two semi-final winners will progress to the 29 June final, with the overall victor proceeding to the first qualifying round.
Losing teams: the losers of both the semi-finals and the final transfer to the champions path of the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round.
First qualifying round
Draw: 19 June
Fixtures: 10/11 & 17/18 July
Teams: 32
Already known: 31
To be decided: 1 (preliminary round winner)
How it works
There will be 16 two-legged ties, with the winners going into the champions path of the second qualifying round.
Losing teams: transfer to the champions path of the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round.
Second qualifying round
At this stage, qualifying splits into two paths – the champions path and the league path. The champions path is for domestic title holders; the league path is for non-champions.
Draw: 19 June
Fixtures: 24/25 July & 31 July/1 August
Champions path
Teams: 20
Already known: 4
To be decided: 16 (first qualifying round winners)
How it works
There will be ten two-legged ties, with the winners advancing to the champions path of the third qualifying round.
Losing teams: transfer to the champions path of the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round.
League path
Teams: 4
Already known: 4
How it works
There will be two two-legged ties, with the winners going into the league path of the third qualifying round.
Losing teams: transfer to the main path of the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round.
Third qualifying round
Draw: 23 July
Fixtures: 7/8 & 14 August
Champions path
Teams: 12
Already known: 2
To be decided: 10 (second qualifying round champions path winners)
How it works
There will be six two-legged ties, with the winners proceeding to the champions path of the play-offs.
Losing teams: transfer to the champions path of the UEFA Europa League play-offs.
League path
Teams: 8
Already known: 6
To be decided: 2 (second qualifying round league path winners)
How it works
There will be four two-legged ties, with the winners going into the league path of the play-offs.
Losing teams: transfer to the UEFA Europa League group stage.
Play-offs
Draw: 6 August
Fixtures: 21/22 & 28/29 August
Champions path
Teams: 8
Already known: 2
To be decided: 6 (third qualifying round champions path winners)
How it works
There will be four two-legged ties, with the winners progressing to the group stage.
Losing teams: transfer to the UEFA Europa League group stage.
League path
Teams: 4
Already known: 0
To be decided: 4 (third qualifying round league path winners)
How it works
There will be two two-legged ties, with the winners advancing to the group stage.
Losing teams: transfer to the UEFA Europa League group stage.
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