Arsenal, who reached the European Cup final last season, have been drawn against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the upcoming Champions League group phase. The London side will also encounter Borussia Dortmund and Napoli as they chase a top‑eight finish that guarantees automatic qualification for the knockout rounds.
Arsenal entered the competition as the reigning Premier League champions after an unbeaten qualifying campaign the previous year, and they will now look to replicate that consistency on the continental stage. In parallel, Manchester City and Aston Villa have both been allocated home matches against the defending champions Paris Saint‑Germain. Villa's encounter at Villa Park will be a repeat of the recent UEFA Super Cup, a contest that PSG won 2‑1 in Salzburg.
The two English clubs will therefore have the opportunity to test themselves against the French giants early in the campaign. Liverpool’s schedule also promises high‑profile clashes, including an away trip to Inter Milan and a home tie against Atletico Madrid.
Meanwhile, Manchester United have been paired with Simeone’s Atletico side as well, adding another Spanish heavyweight to their list of opponents. Below is a breakdown of the group fixtures for each of the highlighted clubs: **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 September 8‑10, with the initial six matchdays running through to early December. After the winter break, the league phase resumes in January, culminating with the eighth and final round on January 27.
The eight teams that finish at the top of the overall standings will earn direct entry into the round of 16 in March. Teams placed ninth through twenty‑fourth will enter a knockout play‑off round in February to compete for the remaining eight spots in the round of 16, while clubs finishing twenty‑fifth to thirty‑sixth will be eliminated from the competition. Exact dates, kickoff times and full match schedules are expected to be released on Saturday.
This season also introduces four debutants to the Champions League proper: Como from Italy, coached by former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas; LASK of Austria; Viking from Norway; and Azerbaijani champions Sabah, a club founded only in 2017. Their presence adds fresh storylines and new geographic representation to the tournament. Another historic first is the appointment of an African head coach at the highest level of European club football. Former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure, now in charge of Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava, guided his side through the qualifying play‑off round on Wednesday, marking a milestone for African coaching talent on the continent’s biggest stage.
The matchday 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 phase will proceed with play‑off ties on February 16/17 and 23/24, followed by the round of 16 on March 9/10 and 16/17. The quarter‑finals are slated for April 6/7 and 13/14, the semi‑finals for April 27/28 and May 4/5, and the grand final will be contested on June 5, 2027 at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid. Fans can stay up‑to‑date by downloading the Sky Sports app, which will provide live scores, in‑depth analysis and exclusive video content throughout the season.
Additionally, a promotional "Super 6" competition offers a chance to win a £1 million prize, with free entry available to all registered users. Overall, the new Champions League format promises a blend of familiar powerhouses and fresh challengers, offering plenty of drama, travel across Europe, and the chance for clubs to cement their status on the continental stage. Whether you are supporting Arsenal’s quest to navigate a group featuring two of the continent’s most decorated clubs, cheering on Manchester City’s showdown with PSG, or following the underdog stories of clubs like Sabah and Viking, the upcoming season is set to deliver compelling football from start to finish.