The UEFA Champions League 2026-27 league-phase draw has produced a series of blockbuster fixtures, with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain drawn against Barcelona and Manchester City, while 15-time winners Real Madrid will meet Inter Milan and Arsenal.
The draw was held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on Thursday, August 27, with all 36 teams learning their eight opponents for the opening phase of the competition. The 2026-27 tournament is the third season to use UEFA’s expanded league-phase format, replacing the traditional group stage.
PSG enter the campaign as the two-time defending champions after beating Arsenal on penalties in last season’s final. Luis Enrique’s side will now begin their bid to become only the fourth club to win the European Cup/Champions League three times in a row, after Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Ajax.
PSG FACE CITY, BARCA
PSG received one of the toughest schedules in the draw. The French champions will host Barcelona and Roma, while travelling to face Manchester City and Aston Villa. Their other four opponents are Galatasaray, Villarreal, Slovan Bratislava and Como.
PSG’s eight opponents:
- Barcelona — home
- Manchester City — away
- Roma — home
- Aston Villa — away
- Galatasaray — home
- Villarreal — away
- Slovan Bratislava — home
- Como — away
REAL MADRID HANDED ARSENAL TEST
Real Madrid will begin their Champions League campaign under returning manager Jos Mourinho with home meetings against Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven, RB Leipzig and LASK. Mourinho’s side will travel to Arsenal, Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk and AEK Athens. The Inter fixture has an added Mourinho storyline. The Portuguese coach guided Inter to the Champions League title in 2010 before leaving the Italian club for Real Madrid. Mourinho returned to Madrid for a second spell this summer on a contract running until 2029.
Real Madrid’s eight opponents:
- Inter Milan — home
- Arsenal — away
- PSV Eindhoven — home
- Roma — away
- RB Leipzig — home
- Shakhtar Donetsk — away
- LASK — home
- AEK Athens — away
BAYERN RENEW RIVALRY WITH UNITED
Bayern Munich will host Arsenal, Real Betis, Bodø/Glimt and Slavia Prague. Their away fixtures are against Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, Lille and Viking.
Bayern Munich’s eight opponents:
- Arsenal — home
- Atletico Madrid — away
- Real Betis — home
- Manchester United — away
- Bodø/Glimt — home
- Lille — away
- Slavia Prague — home
- Viking — away
UNITED MEET ATLETICO
Manchester United will host Bayern Munich, Roma, RB Leipzig and Sabah, while travelling to Atletico Madrid, Sporting CP, Villarreal and Como.
Manchester United’s eight opponents:
- Bayern Munich — home
- Atletico Madrid — away
- Roma — home
- Sporting CP — away
- RB Leipzig — home
- Villarreal — away
- Sabah — home
- Como — away
OTHER MAJOR DRAWS
Barcelona
- Manchester City — home
- Aston Villa — home
- Feyenoord — home
- Como — home
- Paris Saint-Germain — away
- Sporting Lisbon — away
- Galatasaray — away
- Sabah — away
Arsenal
- Real Madrid — home
- Bayern Munich — away
- Borussia Dortmund — home
- Real Betis — away
- Lille — home
- Napoli — away
- Sabah — home
- Slavia Prague — away
- Manchester City
- PSG — home
- Barcelona — away
- Sporting CP — home
- Porto — away
- Napoli — home
- RB Leipzig — away
- AEK Athens — home
- Lens — away
Liverpool
- Aletico Madrid — home
- Inter Milan — away
- Porto — home
- Club Brugge — away
- Villarreal — home
- Fenerbahce — away
- Lens — home
- LASK — away
Aston Villa
- PSG — home
- Barcelona — away
- Borussia Dortmund — home
- Club Brugge — away
- Fenerbahce — home
- Galatasaray — away
- Viking — home
- Slavia Prague — away
NEW CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FORMAT
The 2026-27 Champions League features 36 teams in one league table. Each club plays eight different opponents — two from each of the four pots — with four matches at home and four away. The top eight teams qualify directly for the Round of 16. Teams finishing ninth to 24th enter the knockout phase playoffs, while teams finishing 25th or lower are eliminated from European competition.
UCL: WHAT ARE KEY DATES
- Matchday 1: September 8-10, 2026
- Matchday 2: October 13-14
- Matchday 3: October 20-21
- Matchday 4: November 3-4
- Matchday 5: November 24-25
- Matchday 6: December 8-9
- Matchday 7: January 19-20, 2027
- Matchday 8: January 27
- Knockout play-offs: February 16-17 and 23-24
- Round of 16: March 9-10 and 16-17
- Quarter-finals: April 6-7 and 13-14
- Semi-finals: April 27-28 and May 4-5
- Final: June 5, 2027, at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid
– Ends
