Heavyweight clashes await as the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League league phase draw has been made, with Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa finding out their opponents for the new-look 36-team league phase.
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain will aim to make history by becoming the first team since Real Madrid between 2016 and 2018 to win the competition three years in a row. But they will face several European giants.
Arsenal, who lost in the final last season, face one of the most difficult schedules. Arteta’s side will face 15-time champions Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, while Napoli are also among their opponents. Last season’s final defeat to PSG on penalties is still fresh in the memory, and the Gunners will be looking to go one better.
Manchester City also face a tough league phase, with PSG and Barcelona among their headline opponents. Napoli face another big test as City start their first Champions League campaign under former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.
Manchester United are back in the Champions League after a two-season absence and will face Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid, as well as Roma and Sporting CP. Carrick’s side will be hoping their relatively kind run of fixtures can help them secure a spot in the knockout rounds.
Liverpool’s draw also features Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Porto. Aston Villa face a difficult test against PSG and Barcelona, with Borussia Dortmund also on their schedule.
In the league-phase format, the 36 clubs play eight matches – four at home and four away – against two opponents from each pot. The top eight teams qualify directly for the last 16, with those finishing between ninth and 24th going into the knockout play-offs.
The league phase begins on September 8 and runs until January 27, 2027, with Matchday 1 taking place between September 8 and 10. The final will be played on June 5, 2027, at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid.
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