The official calendar for the Champions League fixtures involving Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa has now been published. Arsenal, who reached the final of the competition last season, will be drawn against the Spanish giants Real Madrid as well as German powerhouse Bayern Munich during this year’s league phase.
In addition, the Premier League champions will also meet Borussia Dortmund from Germany and Napoli from Italy as they pursue a top‑eight finish that guarantees direct entry into the knockout round. Arsenal entered the qualification stage unbeaten last term, which earned them the top seed for this campaign.
Both Manchester City and Aston Villa are set to host the defending champions Paris Saint‑Germain. The Villa Park encounter will be a repeat of the recent UEFA Super Cup, a match that PSG won 2‑1 in Salzburg. Liverpool’s itinerary includes a challenging away trip to Inter Milan and a second fixture against Atletico Madrid, while Manchester United will also travel to face Simeone’s Atletico side. The schedule is broken down as follows: - Matchday 1: 8–10 September - Matchday 2: 13–14 October - Matchday 3: 20–21 October - Matchday 4: 3–4 November - Matchday 5: 24–25 November - Matchday 6: 8–9 December - Matchday 7: 19–20 January - Matchday 8: 27 January The knockout‑phase play‑offs are slated for 16/17 February and 23/24 February.
The round of 16 will be contested on 9/10 March and 16/17 March 2027. Quarter‑final legs are scheduled for 6/7 April and 13/14 April, while the semi‑finals will take place on 27/28 April and 4/5 May. The grand finale is set for 5 June 2027 at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid. A total of 36 clubs will be competing at this stage.
Twenty‑nine of those earned their places by qualifying at the end of the previous season, while the remaining seven spots were filled through the qualifying rounds. This is the third season of the revamped format, which pairs each team with eight different opponents – two clubs drawn from each of the four seeding pots (Pots 1, 2, 3 and 4).
Half of the league‑phase matches are played at home and the other half away, providing a balanced schedule for all participants. The top eight finishers in the league phase automatically advance to the round of 16. Teams that finish 25th or lower are eliminated from European competition altogether and do not drop into the Europa League.
Clubs placed between ninth and 24th enter a two‑legged knockout‑phase play‑off. Within this bracket, the teams finishing ninth to 16th are seeded and will be drawn against an unseeded side that finished between 17th and 24th, with the second leg taking place on the seeded team’s home ground.
The eight winners of these play‑offs then join the eight seeded clubs in the round of 16, where the competition intensifies and the path to the quarter‑finals is forged. The exact draw for the two‑legged play‑offs has yet to be announced.
However, the structure remains clear: the play‑offs occur in mid‑February, followed by the round of 16 in early March, then the quarter‑finals in early April, semi‑finals in late April and early May, culminating in the final in early June. The final will be hosted at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain, providing a spectacular backdrop for the season’s climax.
Fans can stay up‑to‑date by downloading the Sky Sports app, which offers live streaming of matches and comprehensive coverage without the need for a long‑term contract. The app also provides real‑time statistics, expert analysis and exclusive behind‑the‑scenes content for all participating clubs.
In addition to the main competition, Sky Sports promotes its "Super 6" promotion, giving participants a chance to win a £1 million prize at no cost. This adds an extra layer of excitement for viewers who follow the action throughout the season.
Overall, the 2026‑27 Champions League promises a packed itinerary of high‑stakes encounters, with English clubs facing some of Europe’s most storied teams. The blend of home and away fixtures, the new format’s emphasis on varied opposition, and the clear pathway from league‑phase matches to the ultimate showdown in Madrid ensure that supporters will have plenty to look forward to as the tournament unfolds.