Arsenal, who reached the European final last season, have been drawn against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the group phase of this year’s Champions League. The Gunners will also take on Borussia Dortmund and Napoli as they chase an automatic top‑eight finish, a goal they achieved with a flawless record in the previous campaign. Meanwhile, the Premier League champions will also have to navigate a challenging schedule that includes fixtures against some of Europe’s most storied clubs.
In addition to Arsenal’s high‑profile clashes, both Manchester City and Aston Villa will welcome the defending champions Paris Saint‑Germain at their home grounds. Villa’s encounter with PSG at Villa Park will be a repeat of the recent UEFA Super Cup, a match that saw the French side edge out a 2‑1 victory in Salzburg. Liverpool’s itinerary features a trip to Italy to face Inter Milan and a home tie against Atletico Madrid, while Manchester United are also slated to meet Simeone’s Atletico side during the group stage.
Below is a detailed breakdown of the group fixtures for each English club: Arsenal: Real Madrid (home), Bayern Munich (away), Borussia Dortmund (home), Real Betis (away), Lille (home), Napoli (away), Sabah (home), Slavia Prague (away) Aston Villa: Barcelona (away), PSG (home), Borussia Dortmund (home), Club Brugge (away), Fenerbahçe (home), Galatasaray (away), Viking (home), Slavia Prague (away) Liverpool: Inter Milan (away), Atletico Madrid (home), FC Porto (home), Club Brugge (away), Villarreal (home), Fenerbahçe (away), Lens (home), LASK (away) Manchester City: PSG (home), Barcelona (away), Sporting CP (home), Porto (away), Napoli (home), RB Leipzig (away), AEK Athens (home), Lens (away) Manchester United: Atletico Madrid (away), Bayern Munich (home), Roma (home), Sporting CP (away), RB Leipzig (home), Villarreal (away), Sabah (home), Como (away) The first round of matches is scheduled for 8‑10 September, with the initial six rounds running through to December. The group stage will resume in January, culminating with the eighth and final round on 27 January. The eight teams that finish at the top of the table after the group phase will advance directly to the round of 16 in March. Those finishing in positions nine through 24 will enter the knockout play‑offs in February, battling for the remaining eight spots in the round of 16.
Teams placed 25th to 36th will see their European campaign end at this stage. Exact dates, kick‑off times and the full match schedule are expected to be released on Saturday. Four clubs are making their Champions League debut this season: Como from Italy, coached by former England midfielder Cesc Fàbregas; LASK of Austria; Viking from Norway; and Azerbaijani champions Sabah, a club founded only in 2017. This edition also marks a historic moment for African coaching representation, as former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure will guide Slovak champions Slovan Bratislava through the qualifying play‑off round.
The match calendar is 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 will commence with play‑offs on 16‑17 and 23‑24 February, followed by the round of 16 on 9‑10 and 16‑17 March. The quarter‑finals are set for 6‑7 and 13‑14 April, the semi‑finals for 27‑28 April and 4‑5 May, and the final will be staged on 5 June 2027 at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid. Fans can download the Sky Sports app to stay up‑to‑date with live scores, analysis and exclusive content throughout the competition. Additionally, a promotional "Super 6" competition offers participants a chance to win a £1 million prize, with free entry available for those who register.
Overall, the Champions League group stage promises a blend of familiar powerhouses and fresh challengers, ensuring a thrilling campaign for clubs and supporters alike.