Champions League Draw 2011: News, Updates, Preview and More

Every little boy and little girl will be clamoring to find the results. Every last football fan and soccer nut with a club loyalty will be on the edge of their seats. It is time for the Champions League draw, and I am going to tell you why it matters.

Every year, the best clubs in Europe are gathered to take part in the most elite society. Only 32 teams get a shot at being called the best in the world.

The journey begins on Thursday with the tournament draw. From there, the fate of all 32 clubs is set. Some may gasp at a gauntlet of murderous squads. Other clubs may enjoy a relatively benign draw.

The amount of strain that the clubs will undergo this year is directly related to this draw. While these sides fight for domestic silverware, they are demanded to play their very best in Champions League play.

That is why only the deepest squads find themselves at the very end, playing for the all-important prize. The journey begins on Thursday. So, let's take a deeper look into what the draw is all about.   

Where: Grimaldi Forum, Monaco

When: 11:45 ET 

Watch: Fox Soccer Channel (live coverage starts at 11:30 ET)

Live Streaming: There is no live streaming coverage for the draw, but Bleacher Report will keep you updated about any live streaming for Champions League action.  

HOW IT WORKS (breaking down the process of how the draw happens, and what it means)

The Champions League draw is as easy as one, two, three and, well, four. All 32 teams are separated by UEFA rank into four pots. 

The highest ranking are in pot one, and so forth on down the line of clubs and their respective prestige. Here is a listing of each pot and their teams. 

Pot 1: Manchester United, Barcelona, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Porto, Inter Milan.

Pot 2: Shakhtar Donetsk, Lyon*, Villarreal, AC Milan, Valencia, Marseille, CSKA Moscow, Benfica*.

Pot 3: Zenit St Petersburg, Man City, Olympiakos, Ajax, Bayer Leverkusen, Fenerbahce, Basle, Lille.

Pot 4: Borussia Dortmund, BATE*, Dinamo Zagreb, Napoli, APOEL, Genk, Otelul Galati, Viktoria Plzen*.

* Pending Wednesday's Qualification

 We are closing out the playoff round of the season. There are 22 teams that are automatically into the 2011-2012 CL tourney. After that, ten teams must qualify by playoff. The sigh of relief you might hear is from Arsenal supporters who saw the Gunners barely get over on Udinese.

The draw will take all eight teams in pot one and separate them into eight separate tables. Those tables will each contain four teams, one from each pot.

Groups A-H will play through the next few months. The top two teams in each table will make it to the round of 16, and enjoy the greatness that is knockout football.    

TOP STORYLINE

It is hard to pick just one. Arsenal comes in as a pot one side that is on the way out. They have seen a great deal of their talent from last season leave their grounds. 

It will be very interesting to see how defending champions, Barcelona, get through the table with the former Gunners' skipper, Cesc Fabregas. 

MOST INTRIGUING QUALIFIER

 Bayern Munich was in a similar boat to Arsenal. The Germans play very well in tournament play, and will be a tough side to deal with wherever they fall in the group stage.

I am also very interested to see what we get from first-ever participants, FC BATE, a Belorussian side that is sure to be hungry, despite how green they might be.  

TOP CONTENDERS

It is not surprising that a tournament that houses the best in Europe will employ household names as contenders. Manchester United and Barcelona are favorites to meet once again for the final. Both teams are once again stacked with talent. Depth is a premium all year long in the Champions League. 

Slightly below them are teams like Real Madrid who can never be dismissed. Chelsea may be long in the tooth, but they are hungry for their first ever CL title. 

DARK HORSE TO WATCH

 I have a sneaking suspicion that Arsene Wenger has a trick or two up his sleeve. Having a pot one draw may be all the Gunners need to make a deep run into the Champion league.

I also have my eye on Borussia Dortmund. They may have been long from the tourney, but they bring a side that was good enough to take down the Bundesliga last season.    

BREAKOUT PLAYERS

If you are looking for a tournament that will highlight players and their gift for creativity, you have come to the right place. 

There is no bigger pressure cooker in world sport. The pressure is bound to force one or two players into the limelight. I have my money on Lionel Messi once again showing why he is one of the best players in the world. 

If Wayne Rooney can get hot, the United striker will have a field day if Manchester gets an easy draw. 

However, the player that looks to take another step in his career is Sergio Aguero. The Manchester City star has been sublime early in the EPL, and will show that City have indeed arrived on the world stage. 

BIGGEST X-FACTOR

I cannot stress enough how much depth has a way of working its way into the fold. Clubs are demanded to take on domestic responsibilities, then must play mid-week in the most taxing tournament in the world. 

The stakes are high, but the talent on the pitch is even higher. It is important to have fresh legs when you clash with some of the best sides in Europe. 

My gut feeling has Manchester United and Barcelona once again sharing the world stage. They are simply too deep to run ragged. Some of their bench warmers would be otherworldly additions to another club. 

Now all we can do is sit and wait for blind luck and chance to meet on Thursday in the Champion League Draw. 

It never fails to surprise, making it a must watch event.