The qualifying rounds for the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League began on 15 July 2008. In total, there were three qualifying rounds which provided 16 clubs to join the group stages.

Teams

First qualifying round

<section begin=Q1 /> The draw for the first qualifying round took place on 1 July 2008 in [Nyon](https://bliptext.com/articles/nyon), Switzerland.<section end=Q1 />

Seeding

In the draw for the first qualifying round, teams were divided into two pots, on the basis of UEFA coefficients. The lower pot contained the 14 teams from associations 40–53: none of these teams had a team ranking.

Summary

<section begin=Q1 /> The first legs were held on 15 and 16 July, while the second legs were played on 22 and 23 July 2008. Two of the 14 ties were won by the team with the lower UEFA coefficient: [Inter Baku](https://bliptext.com/articles/fc-inter-baku) (Azerbaijan, country rank 42) beat [Rabotnički](https://bliptext.com/articles/fk-rabotni-ki) (Macedonia, 36); and [BATE Borisov](https://bliptext.com/articles/fc-bate-borisov) (Belarus, 40) beat [Valur](https://bliptext.com/articles/valur-men-s-football) (Iceland, 37). Of the 28 teams in the first qualifying round, two survived as far as the group stage: [Anorthosis Famagusta](https://bliptext.com/articles/anorthosis-famagusta-fc) and BATE Borisov.

Matches

Dinamo Zagreb won 3–1 on aggregate. Artmedia Petržalka won 3–0 on aggregate. Dinamo Tbilisi won 3–1 on aggregate. FBK Kaunas won 7–2 on aggregate. Göteborg won 9–0 on aggregate. Ventspils won 4–1 on aggregate. Anorthosis won 3–0 on aggregate. 1–1 on aggregate; Inter Baku won on away goals. Tampere United won 3–2 on aggregate. Domžale won 3–0 on aggregate. Modriča won 4–1 on aggregate. Sheriff won 4–1 on aggregate. Drogheda United won 3–1 on aggregate. BATE Borisov won 3–0 on aggregate.

Second qualifying round

<section begin=Q2 /> The draw for the second qualifying round took place on 1 July 2008 in [Nyon](https://bliptext.com/articles/nyon), Switzerland, immediately after the draw for the first qualifying round.<section end=Q2 />

Seeding

In the draw for the second qualifying round, teams were divided into two pots, on the basis of UEFA coefficients.

Summary

<section begin=Q2 /> The first legs were played on 29 and 30 July, while the second legs were played on 5 and 6 August 2008. Three of the 14 ties were won by the team with the lower UEFA coefficient: [Kaunas](https://bliptext.com/articles/fbk-kaunas) (unranked, coefficient 2.640) beat [Rangers](https://bliptext.com/articles/rangers-f-c) (ranked 24, coefficient 66.013); [BATE Borisov](https://bliptext.com/articles/fc-bate-borisov) (unranked, 1.760) beat [Anderlecht](https://bliptext.com/articles/r-s-c-anderlecht) (56, 41.810); and [Anorthosis](https://bliptext.com/articles/anorthosis-famagusta-fc) (ranked 193) beat [Rapid Wien](https://bliptext.com/articles/sk-rapid-wien) (ranked 166). Of the 28 teams in the second qualifying round, [Panathinaikos](https://bliptext.com/articles/panathinaikos-f-c) were the only one to qualify for the knockout phase of the competition.

Matches

FBK Kaunas won 2–1 on aggregate. 2–2 on aggregate; Brann won on away goals. Partizan won 3–1 on aggregate. Artmedia Petržalka won 7–3 on aggregate. Anorthosis won 4–3 on aggregate. Dinamo Zagreb won 6–2 on aggregate. Panathinaikos won 3–0 on aggregate. Basel won 5–3 on aggregate. Sparta Prague won 3–0 on aggregate. Dynamo Kyiv won 4–3 on aggregate. BATE Borisov won 4–3 on aggregate. Wisła Kraków won 6–2 on aggregate. Fenerbahçe won 7–0 on aggregate. AaB won 7–1 on aggregate.

Third qualifying round

<section begin=Q3 /> The draw for the third qualifying round took place on 1 August 2008 in [Nyon](https://bliptext.com/articles/nyon), [Switzerland](https://bliptext.com/articles/switzerland). <section end=Q3 />

Seeding

In the draw for the third qualifying round, teams were divided into two pots, on the basis of UEFA coefficients. The higher pot contained teams ranked 61 or higher. However, the draw was held before the second qualifying round was played, which meant that Kaunas and BATE Borisov effectively moved into the higher pot, replacing the teams they eliminated.

Summary

<section begin=Q3 /> The first legs were played on 12 and 13 August, while the second legs were played on 26 and 27 August. The winners of each tie advanced to the [group stage](https://bliptext.com/articles/2008-09-uefa-champions-league-group-stage), while the losers were seeded into the [2008–09 UEFA Cup first round](https://bliptext.com/articles/2008-09-uefa-cup-first-round). Four of the 16 ties were won by the team with the lower UEFA coefficient: [Anorthosis](https://bliptext.com/articles/anorthosis-famagusta-fc) (ranked 193) beat [Olympiacos](https://bliptext.com/articles/olympiacos-f-c) (ranked 44); BATE Borisov (unranked, coefficient 1.760) beat [Levski Sofia](https://bliptext.com/articles/pfc-levski-sofia) (ranked 80, coefficient 32.644); [Atlético Madrid](https://bliptext.com/articles/atl-tico-madrid) (ranked 67) beat [Schalke 04](https://bliptext.com/articles/fc-schalke-04) (ranked 22) and [Dynamo Kyiv](https://bliptext.com/articles/fc-dynamo-kyiv) (ranked 74) beat [Spartak Moscow](https://bliptext.com/articles/fc-spartak-moscow) (ranked 61). <section end=Q3 />

Matches

Anorthosis won 3–1 on aggregate. Basel won 2–1 on aggregate. Shakhtar Donetsk won 5–1 on aggregate. Atlético Madrid won 4–1 on aggregate. AaB won 4–0 on aggregate. Barcelona won 4–1 on aggregate. BATE Borisov won 2–1 on aggregate. Liverpool won 1–0 on aggregate. Fenerbahçe won 4–3 on aggregate. Arsenal won 6–0 on aggregate. Dynamo Kyiv won 8–2 on aggregate. Juventus won 5–1 on aggregate. Marseille won 3–1 on aggregate. Fiorentina won 2–0 on aggregate. Steaua București won 3–2 on aggregate. Panathinaikos won 3–1 on aggregate.