Qualifying
In matches in the three qualifying rounds and the play-off stage, clubs play two matches against each other on a home-and-away basis. The club which scores the greater aggregate of goals qualifies for the next round, with away goals and then penalties used to determine the winner in the event of a draw.

Group stage
The ten winners in the play-off round ties – five from the best-placed path and five from the champions path – join 22 automatic entrants in the 32-team group stage. The clubs are split into eight groups of four teams, who play home and away against each of their pool opponents between September and December to decide which two teams from each section advance to the first knockout round. The third-place finishers in each group enter the UEFA Europa League round of 32.

Knockout phase
From the last 16 until the semi-finals, clubs play two matches against each other on a home-and-away basis with the same rules as the qualifying and play-off rounds applied. In the last 16, group winners play runners-up other than teams from their own pool or nation, while from the quarter-finals on the draw is free.

Final
The final is decided by a single match, which this season will be played at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 25 May 2013.

Further details, including the criteria for separating teams that finish level on points in a group, can be found in the official competition regulations.

Draw schedule
Time, date	Location	Draw details
12.00CET, 25/06/12	Nyon	First and second qualifying rounds
12.00CET, 20/07/12	Nyon	Third qualifying round
12.00CET, 10/08/12	Nyon	Play-offs
18.00CET, 30/08/12	Monaco	Group stage
12.00CET, 14/12/12	Nyon	Round of 16
12.00CET, 15/03/13	Nyon	Quarter-finals, semi-finals, final

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