The calendar for the upcoming Champions League campaign involving Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa has now been released. 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 the league phase of this year’s tournament. Having topped their qualifying group with a flawless record in the previous campaign, the Premier League champions will also take on Borussia Dortmund from Germany and Napoli from Italy as they aim to secure a spot among the eight automatic qualifiers for the knockout rounds. In parallel, 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 further clash with Atletico Madrid, while Manchester United have also been paired with Simeone’s Atletico side. The competition’s matchdays are laid out 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 scheduled for 16/17 February and 23/24 February, followed by the round of 16 on 9/10 March and 16/17 March 2027. The quarter‑finals will be contested on 6/7 April and 13/14 April, the semi‑finals on 27/28 April and 4/5 May, and the grand finale will take place on 5 June 2027 at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.
A total of 36 clubs will be competing at this stage. Twenty‑nine of them earned their places by qualifying through the previous season’s results, while the remaining seven spots were filled via the qualification rounds. The format, now in its third year since being introduced, sees each team playing eight league‑phase matches – two opponents from each of the four seeding pots (Pots 1‑4). Half of those games are played at home and the other half away, providing a balanced schedule.
The eight highest‑ranked teams after the league phase automatically progress to the round of 16. Teams that finish 25th or lower are eliminated from European competition entirely and do not drop into the Europa League.
Positions nine through 24 enter a two‑legged knockout‑phase play‑off. Within this bracket, clubs finishing ninth to 16th are seeded and will be drawn against an unseeded side (positions 17‑24), with the second leg of the tie taking place at the seeded club’s home ground. The eight winners of the play‑offs then join the eight seeded teams in the round of 16, where the competition intensifies and the battle for a quarter‑final berth begins.
The draw for the two‑legged knockout‑phase play‑offs has yet to be announced. In summary, the schedule provides a clear roadmap for clubs and fans alike, outlining when and where each high‑profile encounter will occur, from the opening matchdays in September through to the climactic final in Madrid in June. Supporters can download the Sky Sports app to keep up with live coverage, and the league also offers a contract‑free streaming option for the Premier League. Beyond the on‑field action, the tournament also features promotional opportunities such as the "Super 6" competition, where participants can enter for free for a chance to win a £1 million prize.
This blend of elite football, strategic scheduling, and fan engagement initiatives ensures that the Champions League remains one of the most anticipated sporting events on the global calendar.