Fourteen teams took part in the qualification tournaments. Twelve were drawn into three groups of four teams, where they played a semifinal and a final or third place match, while the remaining two teams played a two-legged playoff match. The winners of the qualification tournaments and of the play-off qualified for the group stage, while the eliminated teams were transferred to the2013–14 EHF Cup. The draw took place on 27 June 2013, at 14:00 local time, inVienna,Austria.[3][4] Matches were played on 31 August and 1 September 2013.
Location of teams of the2013–14 EHF Champions League group stage. Red: Group A; Green: Group B; Blue: Group C; Yellow: Group D.
The draw for the group stage took place at theGloriette inVienna on 28 June 2013 at 20:15 local time. A total of 24 teams were drawn into four groups of six. Teams were divided into six pots, based on EHF coefficients. Clubs from the same pot or the same association could not be drawn into the same group, except the wild card tournament winner, which did not enjoy any protection.[3][5]
The draw was held on 25 February 2014 at 12:00 inVienna,Austria. The first legs were played on 20–23 March, and the second legs on 29–31 March 2014.[6][7]