Arsenal, who reached the European final last season, have been drawn against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in this year’s Champions League group phase. The Gunners will also travel to face Borussia Dortmund and Napoli as they chase a top‑eight finish that guarantees direct qualification to the round of 16.
Their domestic campaign saw them finish the previous qualifying campaign unbeaten, and they now aim to replicate that consistency on the continental stage. In addition to Arsenal’s high‑profile fixtures, the Premier League champions will also host Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates Stadium and travel to Napoli later in the schedule. Their group also includes a home match against Real Betis, a trip to Lille, a home game versus Lille’s rivals, and a final away encounter with the Azerbaijani side Sabah.
The full list of Arsenal’s group opponents reads: Real Madrid (home), Bayern Munich (away), Borussia Dortmund (home), Real Betis (away), Lille (home), Napoli (away), Sabah (home) and Slavia Prague (away). Meanwhile, Manchester City and Aston Villa have both been handed the chance to host the defending champions, Paris Saint‑Germain. Villa’s meeting with PSG at Villa Park will be a repeat of the recent UEFA Super Cup, a contest that PSG won 2‑1 in Salzburg.
City’s home fixture against the French giants is also set to be a marquee clash, adding further intrigue to the group stage. Liverpool’s itinerary is equally demanding. The Reds will travel to face Inter Milan and then host Atletico Madrid, while also taking on FC Porto, Club Brugge, Villarreal, Fenerbahçe, Lens and LASK across the season.
Their schedule reads: Inter Milan (away), Atletico Madrid (home), FC Porto (home), Club Brugge (away), Villarreal (home), Fenerbahçe (away), Lens (home) and LASK (away). Aston Villa’s group features a blend of European heavyweights and emerging clubs: Barcelona (away), PSG (home), Borussia Dortmund (home), Club Brugge (away), Fenerbahçe (home), Galatasaray (away), Viking (home) and Slavia Prague (away). Manchester City’s fixtures include PSG (home), Barcelona (away), Sporting CP (home), Porto (away), Napoli (home), RB Leipzig (away), AEK Athens (home) and Lens (away). Manchester United will meet Atletico Madrid (away), Bayern Munich (home), Roma (home), Sporting CP (away), RB Leipzig (home), Villarreal (away), Sabah (home) and Como (away).
The first round of matches is slated for September 8‑10, with the initial six matchdays running through to early December. The group phase will resume in January, culminating with the eighth and final round on January 27. The eight teams that finish at the top of their groups will automatically progress to the round of 16 in March.
Those placed ninth to twenty‑fourth will enter a knockout play‑off in February to determine the remaining eight spots, while clubs finishing twenty‑fifth to thirty‑sixth will be eliminated from the competition. Exact dates, kickoff times and the full schedule will be confirmed on Saturday. Four clubs are making their Champions League debut this season: Como from Italy, coached by former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas; LASK from Austria; Viking from Norway; and Sabah, the Azerbaijani champions founded only in 2017.
Notably, this edition also features the first African head coach to lead a team into the main draw, with former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure guiding Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava through the qualifying play‑off. The match calendar is as follows: Matchday 1 – September 8‑10; 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; Matchday 8 – January 27.
The knockout play‑offs will take place on February 16/17 and 23/24, followed by the round of 16 on March 9/10 and 16/17. The quarter‑finals are scheduled for April 6/7 and 13/14, the semi‑finals for April 27/28 and May 4/5, and the final will be held on June 5, 2027 at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.
Fans can download the Sky Sports app to follow live coverage, statistics and expert analysis throughout the competition. In addition, a promotional "Super 6" contest offers participants a chance to win £1 million, with free entry available to anyone who registers online. The Champions League promises a thrilling blend of established powerhouses and fresh challengers, ensuring that the 2026‑27 season will be remembered for its dramatic matchups, surprising upsets, and the ever‑evolving narrative of European club football.