Group stage preview: Pot 3

Liverpool FC and Sporting Clube de Portugal return to the UEFA Champions League in Pot 3 of the group stage draw. UEFA.com profiles the clubs ahead of the draw streamed live from Monaco at 17.45CET on Thursday.

Draw pots

Our live coverage begins at 12.00CET in the revamped UEFA.com DrawCentre.

Draw procedure

Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 24
• How they qualified: fourth in Bundesliga, play-offs
• Group stage campaigns: 8 (last appearance: 2013/14)
• Last season: UEFA Champions League round of 16
• Best European Cup performance: runners-up (2001/02)

Olympiacos FC (GRE)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 27
• How they qualified: first in Greek Super League
• Previous group stage campaigns: 15 (last appearance: 2013/14)
• Last season: UEFA Champions League round of 16
• Best European Cup performance: quarter-finals (1998/99)

PFC CSKA Moskva (RUS)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 28
• How they qualified: first in Russian Premier League
• Previous group stage campaigns: 7 (last appearance: 2013/14)
• Last season: UEFA Champions League group stage
• Best European Cup performance: quarter-finals (2009/10)

AFC Ajax (NED)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 30
• How they qualified: first in Eredivisie
• Previous group stage campaigns: 12 (last appearance: 2013/14)
• Last season: UEFA Champions League group stage/UEFA Europa League round of 32
• Best European Cup performance: winners (1970/71, 1971/72, 1972/73, 1994/95)

Liverpool FC (ENG)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 32
• How they qualified: second in English Premier League
• Previous group stage campaigns: 8 (last appearance: 2009/10)
• Last season: not in UEFA competition
• Best European Cup performance: winners (1976/77, 1977/78, 1980/81, 1983/84, 2004/05)

Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 33
• How they qualified: second in Portuguese Liga
• Group stage campaigns: 5 (last appearance: 2008/09)
• Last season: not in UEFA competition
• Best European Cup performance: quarter-finals (1982/83)

Galatasaray AŞ (TUR)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 36
• How they qualified: second in Turkish Super League
• Previous group stage campaigns: 12 (last appearance: 2013/14)
• Last season: UEFA Champions League round of 16
• Best European Cup performance: semi-finals (1988/89)

Athletic Club (ESP)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 37, play-offs
• How they qualified: fourth in Spanish Liga
• Group stage campaigns: 1 (last appearance: 1998/99)
• Last season: not in UEFA competition
• Best European Cup performance: quarter-finals (1956/57)