The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league-phase draw has produced several blockbuster fixtures, with Europe’s biggest clubs learning their opponents on the road to the final in Madrid. League league phase to start on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
The draw took place in Monaco on Thursday, with the 36 participating clubs each handed eight different opponents, two from each of the four seeding pots, with one home and one away opponent from each pot.
Among the biggest fixtures are Arsenal vs Real Madrid, Barcelona vs Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain vs Manchester City, Bayern Munich vs Arsenal and Bayern Munich vs Manchester United.
Arsenal face Real Madrid and Bayern Munich
Arsenal have been handed one of the toughest schedules among the leading clubs, with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich standing out as their headline opponents.
The Gunners will host Real Madrid before travelling to Bayern Munich. Their other opponents are Borussia Dortmund, Lille, Sabah, Real Betis, Napoli and Slavia Prague.
The meetings with Madrid and Bayern will provide major tests for Arsenal as they seek to progress directly to the knockout stage.
Real Madrid face Arsenal and Inter
Real Madrid will also have a difficult league phase, with Arsenal and Inter Milan among their eight opponents.
The Spanish giants will host Arsenal and travel to Inter, while their remaining opponents are PSV, RB Leipzig, LASK, Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk and AEK Athens.
Barcelona handed Man City and PSG
Barcelona have been drawn against two of Europe’s biggest clubs, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
The Catalan giants will host PSG and travel to Manchester City. Their other opponents are Aston Villa, Feyenoord, Como, Sporting CP, Galatasaray and Sabah.
The Barcelona-PSG encounter will be particularly intriguing, with the French champions looking to defend their European crown after winning the 2025/26 Champions League.
Manchester City face PSG and Barcelona
Manchester City have arguably one of the most eye-catching schedules, with both Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona among their opponents.
City will host PSG and Barcelona, while also facing Sporting CP, Napoli, AEK Athens, Porto, RB Leipzig and Lens.
Liverpool drawn against Inter and Atletico Madrid
Liverpool will face Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid in the league phase.
The Reds will host Atletico and travel to Inter. Their other opponents are Porto, Villarreal, Lens, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and LASK.
The meetings with Inter and Atletico provide Liverpool with two major European tests as they look to secure a strong position in the league standings.
Bayern Munich face Arsenal and Manchester United
Bayern Munich will meet Arsenal and Manchester United, giving the German giants two high-profile English opponents.
They will host Arsenal and travel to Manchester United. Their other opponents are Borussia Dortmund, Real Betis, Bodø/Glimt, Slavia Prague, Atletico Madrid and Lille.
PSG handed Barcelona and Manchester City
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain have also been handed a demanding draw.
PSG will travel to Barcelona and Manchester City, while their other opponents are Roma, Galatasaray, Slovan Bratislava, Aston Villa, Villarreal and Como.
With Barcelona and Manchester City both on their schedule, PSG face two of the biggest possible tests as they begin their title defence.
Manchester United face Bayern Munich and Atletico
Manchester United will face Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid among their eight league-phase opponents.
United will host Bayern and Atletico, while their other opponents are Roma, RB Leipzig, Sabah, Sporting CP, Villarreal and Como.
The league phase begins between September 8 and 10, 2026, with the final matchday scheduled for January 27, 2027.
The top eight teams in the league phase will advance directly to the round of 16, while teams finishing ninth to 24th will enter the knockout phase play-offs.
The Champions League final will be played at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid on June 5, 2027.Official UEFA draw
