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The most prestigious club competition in world football, the UEFA Champions League, has unveiled its 2025-26 league phase fixtures following a highly anticipated draw in Monaco. Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain face a formidable challenge, while English giants Liverpool and Manchester City are set for encounters with 15-time winners Real Madrid.
PSG’s Title Defense: A Gauntlet of European Elite
Paris Saint-Germain, fresh off their dominant victory over Inter Milan in last season’s final in Munich, are set to navigate a challenging path. Their league phase includes heavyweight clashes against Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Tottenham Hotspur – a familiar foe from their recent Super Cup encounter. This demanding schedule immediately tests their resolve to retain the coveted trophy.
English Powerhouses Brace for Battle
Both Liverpool and Manchester City face intriguing matchups. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will see a familiar face in Kevin De Bruyne, who returns to the Etihad with his new club, Napoli. German powerhouses Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund also loom as stern tests for City. Meanwhile, Liverpool prepares for a showdown with Real Madrid, alongside challenging away fixtures against Inter Milan and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Arsenal’s European Ambition and Chelsea’s Return
Arsenal will welcome former talisman Harry Kane and Bayern Munich to North London in what promises to be a thrilling contest. The Gunners also face a daunting trip to San Siro to take on Inter Milan and a home fixture against Atlético Madrid, with another English away day at Liverpool on the horizon. Club World Cup champions Chelsea, under Enzo Maresca, will host Napoli, marking Romelu Lukaku’s return to Stamford Bridge, and will also lock horns with Bayern and Barcelona. Hansi Flick’s Barcelona will be eager to reclaim European glory, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2015.
Full League Phase Draw Details
Here’s a comprehensive look at the 2025-26 Champions League league phase draw, broken down by pot:
Pot 1 Teams
Paris Saint-Germain: Defending champions with a target on their back.
- Home: Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Tottenham, Newcastle
- Away: Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting CP, Athletic Club
Real Madrid: The record 15-time winners.
- Home: Manchester City, Juventus, Marseille, Monaco
- Away: Liverpool, Benfica, Olympiacos, Kairat Almaty
Manchester City: Seeking their second title.
- Home: Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, Galatasaray
- Away: Real Madrid, Villarreal, Bodø/Glimt, Monaco
Bayern Munich: A consistent European force.
- Home: Chelsea, Club Brugge, Sporting CP, Union Saint-Gilloise
- Away: Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Pafos
Liverpool: Aiming for more European success.
- Home: Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, Qarabağ
- Away: Inter, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille, Galatasaray
Inter: Last season’s finalists.
- Home: Liverpool, Arsenal, Slavia Prague, Kairat Almaty
- Away: Borussia Dortmund, Atlético Madrid, Ajax, Union Saint-Gilloise
Chelsea: Club World Cup champions looking for European dominance.
- Home: Barcelona, Benfica, Ajax, Pafos
- Away: Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Napoli, Qarabağ
Borussia Dortmund: Always a threat in Europe.
- Home: Inter, Villarreal, Bodø/Glimt, Athletic Club
- Away: Manchester City, Juventus, Tottenham, Copenhagen
Barcelona: Seeking their first European triumph since 2015.
- Home: Paris Saint-Germain, Eintracht Frankfurt, Olympiacos, Copenhagen
- Away: Chelsea, Club Brugge, Slavia Prague, Newcastle
Pot 2 Teams
Arsenal: Mikel Arteta’s side looking to make a deep run.
- Home: Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid, Olympiacos, Kariat Almaty
- Away: Inter, Club Brugge, Slavia Prague, Athletic Club
Bayer Leverkusen: Bundesliga champions bringing their momentum to Europe.
- Home: Paris Saint-Germain, Villarreal, PSV Eindhoven, Newcastle
- Away: Manchester City, Benfica, Olympiacos, Copenhagen
Atlético Madrid: Diego Simeone’s resilient side.
- Home: Inter, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bodø/Glimt, Union Saint-Gilloise
- Away: Liverpool, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Galatasaray
Benfica: Portuguese giants with European pedigree.
- Home: Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, Qarabağ
- Away: Chelsea, Juventus, Ajax, Newcastle
Atalanta: Italian dark horses.
- Home: Chelsea, Club Brugge, Slavia Prague, Athletic Club
- Away: Paris Saint-Germain, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille, Union Saint-Gilloise
Villarreal: Spanish side known for upsets.
- Home: Manchester City, Juventus, Ajax, Copenhagen
- Away: Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham, Pafos
Juventus: Italian powerhouse aiming to restore glory.
- Home: Borussia Dortmund, Benfica, Sporting CP, Pafos
- Away: Real Madrid, Villarreal, Bodø/Glimt, Monaco
Eintracht Frankfurt: German side with a strong European history.
- Home: Liverpool, Atalanta, Tottenham, Galatasaray
- Away: Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Napoli, Qarabağ
Club Brugge: Belgian champions ready for the challenge.
- Home: Barcelona, Arsenal, Marseille, Monaco
- Away: Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Sporting CP, Kairat Almaty
Pot 3 Teams
Tottenham Hotspur: Aiming for a strong European campaign.
- Home: Borussia Dortmund, Villarreal, Slavia Prague, Copenhagen
- Away: Paris Saint-Germain, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bodø/Glimt, Monaco
PSV Eindhoven: Dutch champions seeking to impress.
- Home: Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid, Napoli, Union Saint-Gilloise
- Away: Liverpool, Bayer Leverkusen, Olympiacos, Newcastle
Ajax: Iconic club with a rich European history.
- Home: Inter, Benfica, Olympiacos, Galatasaray
- Away: Chelsea, Villarreal, Marseille, Qarabağ
Napoli: Italian contenders ready to compete.
- Home: Chelsea, Eintracht Frankfurt, Sporting CP, Qarabağ
- Away: Manchester City, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, Copenhagen
Sporting CP: Portuguese dark horses.
- Home: Paris Saint-Germain, Club Brugge, Marseille, Kairat Almaty
- Away: Bayern Munich, Juventus, Napoli, Athletic Club
Olympiacos: Greek champions entering the fray.
- Home: Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, PSV Eindhoven, Pafos
- Away: Barcelona, Arsenal, Ajax, Kairat Almaty
Slavia Prague: Czech champions looking to make an impact.
- Home: Barcelona, Arsenal, Bodø/Glimt, Athletic Club
- Away: Inter, Atalanta, Tottenham, Pafos
Bodø/Glimt: Norwegian surprise package.
- Home: Manchester City, Juventus, Tottenham, Monaco
- Away: Borussia Dortmund, Atlético Madrid, Slavia Prague, Galatasaray
Marseille: French giants with passionate support.
- Home: Liverpool, Atalanta, Ajax, Newcastle
- Away: Real Madrid, Club Brugge, Sporting CP, Union Saint-Gilloise
Pot 4 Teams
Newcastle: Alexander Isak and co. ready to challenge.
- Home: Barcelona, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, Athletic Club
- Away: Paris Saint-Germain, Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille, Union Saint-Gilloise
Copenhagen: Danish champions seeking upsets.
- Home: Borussia Dortmund, Leverkusen, Napoli, Kairat Almaty
- Away: Barcelona, Villarreal, Tottenham, Qarabağ
Monaco: French principality club with European experience.
- Home: Manchester City, Juventus, Tottenham, Galatasaray
- Away: Real Madrid, Club Brugge, Bodø/Glimt, Pafos
Galatasaray: Turkish champions with a fiery atmosphere.
- Home: Liverpool, Atlético Madrid, Bodø/Glimt, Union Saint-Gilloise
- Away: Manchester City, Eintracht Frank, Ajax, Monaco
Union Saint-Gilloise: Belgian contenders making their mark.
- Home: Inter, Atalanta, Marseille, Newcastle
- Away: Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, Galatasaray
Qarabağ: Azerbaijani champions proving their mettle.
- Home: Chelsea, Eintracht Frankfurt, Ajax, Copenhagen
- Away: Liverpool, Benfica, Napoli, Athletic Club
Athletic Club: Basque Country representatives.
- Home: Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Sporting CP, Qarabağ
- Away: Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, Slavia Prague, Newcastle
Pafos: Cypriot champions making their debut.
- Home: Bayern Munich, Villarreal, Slavia Prague, Monaco
- Away: Chelsea, Juventus, Olympiacos, Kairat Almaty
Kairat Almaty: Kazakhstani champions in the mix.
- Home: Real Madrid, Club Brugge, Olympiacos, Pafos
- Away: Inter, Arsenal, Sporting CP, Copenhagen
When Does the Champions League League Phase Kick Off?
The highly anticipated first round of Champions League league phase matches is scheduled to commence between September 16 and September 18. Six of the eight matchdays will be played before the end of the current calendar year, setting a rapid pace for the competition. The concluding matchday games will all take place on January 28, 2026, ensuring sporting fairness across the board.
The draw for the knockout playoffs will then be held on January 30, 2026, with the crucial two-legged ties set to be played in mid-February, paving the way for the business end of the tournament.
Key Dates for the 2025-26 Champions League League Phase:
| Date | League Phase Matchday |
|---|---|
| 16-18 September | Matchday 1 |
| 30 September & 1 October | Matchday 2 |
| 21-22 October | Matchday 3 |
| 4-5 November | Matchday 4 |
| 25-26 November | Matchday 5 |
| 9-10 December | Matchday 6 |
| 20-21 January | Matchday 7 |
| 28 January | Matchday 8 |
The stage is set for another thrilling season of the UEFA Champions League, promising unforgettable moments and fierce competition as Europe’s elite battle for continental supremacy.
