Champions League draw delivers blockbuster clashes for Europe’s biggest clubs

The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase draw has delivered a string of heavyweight clashes, with Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and defending champions Paris Saint-Germain all learning their opponents.

The draw took place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on Thursday, 27 August 2026, with 36 clubs competing under the single league format.

Each club was drawn against eight different opponents, two from each of the four seeded pots, and will play four matches at home and four away.

Among the standout fixtures are Arsenal against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, Manchester City against PSG and Barcelona, and Manchester United against Bayern Munich.

Arsenal handed Real Madrid and Bayern Munich tests

Arsenal face a challenging league phase that includes matches against Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

The draw gives the Gunners several major European encounters as they attempt to secure their place in the knockout stages.

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Manchester City face PSG and Barcelona

Manchester City will host defending champions Paris Saint-Germain and travel to the Camp Nou to face Barcelona.

City’s league phase opponents also include Napoli and RB Leipzig.

Manchester United return with heavyweight fixtures

Manchester United’s return to the Champions League brings several high-profile matches.

United will host Bayern Munich and Roma, while their away fixtures include trips to Atlético Madrid and Sporting CP.

Liverpool heading to the San Siro

Liverpool have been handed a marquee away fixture against Inter Milan at the San Siro.

They will also host Atlético Madrid and face Porto and Villarreal during the league phase.

Champions PSG face demanding league phase

Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain face their own difficult route through the league phase.

PSG will come up against Barcelona, Manchester City, Roma and Aston Villa as they begin the defence of their European crown.

How the Champions League draw worked

The 36 competing clubs were divided into four seeded pots based on UEFA club coefficients.

A hybrid system combining physical ball draws with automated software was then used to determine each club’s eight opponents.

Teams could not be drawn against domestic rivals and were limited to facing no more than two opponents from any single country.

Each team will play four matches at home and four away.

Exact fixture dates and kick-off times are scheduled to be released on Saturday, 29 August 2026.

Key Champions League dates

The league phase begins with Matchday 1 from 8 to 10 September 2026 and concludes with Matchday 8 on 27 January 2027.

Clubs finishing between ninth and 24th will enter the knockout play-offs, scheduled for 16 to 17 February and 23 to 24 February 2027.

The competition then continues through the knockout rounds before the Champions League final on 5 June 2027 at Madrid’s Estadio Metropolitano.

With some of Europe’s biggest clubs already set to meet during the league phase, the 2026/27 Champions League has produced several major fixtures before a ball has even been kicked.

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