The play-off round will be split into two separate sections: one for champions and one for non-champions.The first legs are to be played on 17 and 18 August, and the second legs are to be played on 24 and 25 August 2010.
The losing teams in both sections will enter the group stage of the Europa League.
Of course, the winning teams will advance will enter the group stage of the Champions League.
This change in the Champions League qualification system gave better chances to smaller teams to advance to the group stage of the Champions League competition.
The following teams are already in the group stage: Inter, Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Milan, Lyon, Real Madrid, Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk, Benfica, Valencia, Marseille, Panathinaikos, Rangers, Schalke 04, Spartak Moscow, Twente, Rubin Kazan, Cluj, and Bursaspor
