The Champions League 2026/27 draw has been completed, with Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United discovering their opponents for the new league phase.
Arsenal have been handed one of the toughest schedules, with matches against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, while Aston Villa will face reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.
Manchester City will also meet PSG and Barcelona, as well as former midfielder Kevin De Bruyne’s Napoli. Manchester United, meanwhile, will host Bayern Munich and travel to face Atletico Madrid and Como.
Liverpool will take on Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan among their eight league-phase opponents.
Under the new Champions League format, each club will play eight different opponents, with four matches at home and four away.
The top eight teams in the league table will qualify directly for the last 16. Teams finishing between ninth and 24th will enter the knockout play-offs, while those finishing 25th or lower will be eliminated.
Arsenal handed difficult Champions League draw
Arsenal face arguably the toughest schedule among the five Premier League clubs.
Mikel Arteta’s side will host Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, while travelling to Bayern Munich and Real Betis.
Their other opponents are Lille, Napoli, Sabah and Slavia Prague.
Arsenal: Real Madrid (h), Bayern Munich (a), Borussia Dortmund (h), Real Betis (a), Lille (h), Napoli (a), Sabah (h), Slavia Prague (a).
The fixtures against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich will be among the highlights of Arsenal’s European campaign, with Dortmund and Napoli providing further demanding tests.
Aston Villa face PSG and Barcelona
Aston Villa’s Champions League return will include meetings with reigning champions PSG and Barcelona.
Unai Emery’s side will host PSG before travelling to Barcelona. They will also welcome Borussia Dortmund, while facing Club Brugge, Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, Viking and Slavia Prague.
Aston Villa: PSG (h), Barcelona (a), Dortmund (h), Club Brugge (a), Fenerbahce (h), Galatasaray (a), Viking (h), Slavia Prague (a).
The draw gives Villa the opportunity to test themselves against two of Europe’s biggest clubs while also presenting several fixtures in which they will be expected to compete for points.
Liverpool drawn against Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan
Liverpool will face Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan during the league phase.
The Reds will host Atletico before travelling to Inter, while Porto and Villarreal are also among their opponents.
Club Brugge, Fenerbahce, Lens and LASK complete Liverpool’s schedule.
Liverpool: Atletico Madrid (h), Inter Milan (a), Porto (h), Club Brugge (a), Villarreal (h), Fenerbahce (a), Lens (h), LASK (a).
The meetings with Atletico and Inter will provide two contrasting challenges, while Liverpool’s other fixtures could prove important in determining their final league position.
Manchester City face PSG, Barcelona and Napoli
Manchester City’s league-phase schedule includes matches against PSG and Barcelona.
Pep Guardiola’s side will host PSG and Napoli and travel to Barcelona, while the Napoli fixture will see City come up against former midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.
City will also face Sporting CP, Porto, RB Leipzig, AEK Athens and Lens.
Manchester City: PSG (h), Barcelona (a), Sporting CP (h), Porto (a), Napoli (h), Leipzig (a), AEK Athens (h), Lens (a).
With PSG and Barcelona both on the schedule, City will need a strong run of results if they are to secure a place in the top eight.
Manchester United handed Bayern Munich test
Manchester United will host Bayern Munich during the league phase and travel to face Atletico Madrid.
Michael Carrick’s side will also play Roma, Sporting CP, RB Leipzig, Villarreal, Sabah and Como.
The trip to Como will see United face a team managed by former Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
Manchester United: Bayern Munich (h), Atletico Madrid (a), Roma (h), Sporting CP (a), Leipzig (h), Villarreal (a), Sabah (h), Como (a).
The Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid fixtures will provide early tests of United’s progress against established Champions League opposition.
How the Champions League league phase works
The new Champions League format features 36 clubs, with each team playing eight matches against eight different opponents.
Each club will play four matches at home and four away.
The final league standings will determine qualification for the knockout rounds:
- 1st-8th: Direct qualification for the last 16
- 9th-24th: Knockout play-offs
- 25th-36th: Eliminated
- Play-off winners: Advance to the last 16
The league phase will conclude in January, with UEFA set to confirm the exact fixture dates and kick-off times.
Full Champions League 2026/27 draw
Arsenal: Real Madrid (h), Bayern Munich (a), Dortmund (h), Betis (a), Lille (h), Napoli (a), Sabah (h), Slavia Prague (a).
Aston Villa: PSG (h), Barcelona (a), Dortmund (h), Club Brugge (a), Fenerbahce (h), Galatasaray (a), Viking (h), Slavia Prague (a).
Liverpool: Atletico Madrid (h), Inter Milan (a), Porto (h), Club Brugge (a), Villarreal (h), Fenerbahce (a), Lens (h), LASK (a).
Manchester City: PSG (h), Barcelona (a), Sporting CP (h), Porto (a), Napoli (h), Leipzig (a), AEK Athens (h), Lens (a).
Manchester United: Bayern Munich (h), Atletico Madrid (a), Roma (h), Sporting CP (a), Leipzig (h), Villarreal (a), Sabah (h), Como (a).
With five Premier League clubs facing a mixture of heavyweight European opponents and more favourable fixtures, the Champions League 2026/27 league phase promises plenty of major contests.
The battle for the top eight will be particularly important, with clubs looking to avoid the additional knockout play-off round and secure direct passage to the last 16.
Discover more from Footy Times
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.