UEFA appoints Essien to conduct Champions League draw today

Ghana and Chelsea legend, Michael Essien, will be conducting the draw for the UEFA Champions League today, Thursday, August 26.

The former AC Milan, Real Madrid midfielder, has been appointed together with former teammate Branislav Ivanovic to conduct the live draw.

A UEFA Champions League winner with the Blues in 2012, Essien, started his career at SC Bastia in France before joining Olympique Lyonnais.

The draw for the 2021/22 Champions League group stage takes place on Thursday 26 August in Istanbul, Turkey.

A total of 32 teams compete in the Champions League group stage, 26 qualifying via their 2020/21 league position in domestic competition and a further six coming through the play-off round.

The 32 teams are drawn into eight groups of four for the group stage and play each other both at home and away, with the top two advancing to the round of 16. Teams cannot face another side from their national association in the group stage.