The draw for both tournaments took place on 13 July 2010 in Vienna.[2] The rights to organize and host the group matches were also decided in this draw.
Qualification tournament 1
The qualification tournament 1 was hosted by IK Sävehof in Gothenburg, Sweden.[3] IK Sävehof and T+A/VOC Amsterdam advanced to the second Qualification Tournament. Gil Eanes/Lagos and LK ZUG Handball entered the EHF Cup at Round 2.
Sixteen teams were divided into four groups of four teams each. Twelve losers of the qualification tournament 2 entered the EHF Cup at Round 3. The first placed team of each group advanced to the Group Matches.
Twelve teams, along with four winners of the qualifying rounds, are competing in the group matches of the Champions League. There are four groups of four teams each. The first and second placed team of each group advances to the main round. Third placed teams will enter the Cup Winners' Cup in Round 4.
The draw for the round took place in Vienna on 13 July 2010 as part of a special event organized by the EHF, the Champions' Draw.[2]
The draw took place at 23 November 2010 in Vienna.[5] Each group will consist of two group winners and two runners-up, although teams that faced each other in the Group Matches could not be drawn into the same group.