The 2026-27 UEFA Champions League league-phase draw has produced a string of heavyweight encounters, with Arsenal set to host Real Madrid and defending champions Paris Saint-Germain drawn against both Barcelona and Manchester City. All 36 teams discovered their eight league-phase opponents following the draw in Monaco, setting up several high-profile meetings between Europe’s biggest clubs. Premier League champions Arsenal have been handed two particularly demanding assignments. They will welcome 15-time European champions Real Madrid to north London and travel to Germany to face Bayern Munich.
Arsenal handed heavyweight tests
Arsenal will also host Borussia Dortmund, Lille and Azerbaijani newcomers Sabah. Their remaining away fixtures will take them to Real Betis, Napoli and Slavia Prague. The Gunners will enter the competition seeking to go one better after suffering heartbreak in last season’s final, where they lost to PSG on penalties.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, have been handed an intriguing league-phase schedule. Apart from their trip to Arsenal, they will host Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven, RB Leipzig and LASK, while travelling to Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk and AEK Athens. Their meeting with Inter will carry additional significance for Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, who guided the Italian club to Champions League glory in 2010.
PSG face Barcelona and City
Two-time defending champions PSG face one of the most demanding schedules among the leading contenders. Luis Enrique’s side will host Barcelona, Roma, Galatasaray and Slovan Bratislava, while their away programme includes Manchester City, Aston Villa, Villarreal and Como.
Barcelona will themselves face a challenging set of opponents. The Spanish champions host Manchester City, Aston Villa, Feyenoord and Como, while travelling to PSG, Sporting CP, Galatasaray and Sabah. Manchester City’s league-phase campaign includes a home meeting with PSG and a trip to Barcelona. They will also host Sporting CP, Napoli and AEK Athens, with away fixtures against Porto, RB Leipzig and Lens.
Manchester United return to elite competition
Manchester United’s return to the Champions League after a two-year absence has produced a home clash with Bayern Munich, reviving memories of the clubs’ famous 1999 final.
United will also welcome Roma, RB Leipzig and Sabah to Old Trafford, while their away assignments are against Atletico Madrid, Sporting CP, Villarreal and Como. Liverpool, meanwhile, will host Atletico Madrid, Porto, Villarreal and Lens. Their four away fixtures will be against Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and Austrian newcomers LASK. Aston Villa have also been given several marquee fixtures, including a trip to Barcelona and a home meeting with PSG. Borussia Dortmund, Fenerbahce and Viking will also visit Villa Park.
Four clubs make Champions League debuts
The draw includes four clubs making their first appearance in the Champions League proper — Italy’s Como, Austria’s LASK, Norway’s Viking and Azerbaijan’s Sabah. Como have been handed particularly eye-catching fixtures, including home matches against PSG and Manchester United and an away trip to Barcelona. LASK will host Liverpool and travel to face Real Madrid, while Viking have a home encounter against Bayern Munich among their eight fixtures. The league phase begins on September 8 and will run across eight matchdays until January 27, 2027. UEFA is expected to announce the detailed fixture schedule, including dates and kick-off times, by Saturday.
The Champions League final will be played at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium on June 5, 2027.