Paris Saint-Germain have been handed a blockbuster route in their bid to make Champions League history, drawing Barcelona, Manchester City and Aston Villa among their eight league-phase opponents. The defending champions will also face Roma, Galatasaray, Slovan Bratislava, Villarreal and Cesc Fabregas’ Como as they chase an unprecedented third consecutive European crown.
Highlights
- PSG will face Barcelona, Manchester City and Aston Villa.
- Arsenal have been drawn against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
- Liverpool will meet Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Porto.
- Manchester United face Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Roma.
- The Champions League final will be played in Madrid in June 2027.
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PSG Get a Blockbuster Schedule
PSG’s defence of the Champions League title will begin with some of Europe’s biggest names standing in their way.
Luis Enrique’s side will welcome Barcelona, Roma, Galatasaray and Slovan Bratislava, while their away trips include Manchester City, Aston Villa, Villarreal and Como.
The fixtures against City and Villa will carry extra significance. PSG defeated both English clubs during their run to their first Champions League title in 2025, before also overcoming Villa in the UEFA Super Cup earlier this month.
The Paris club are now targeting a third successive European title, a feat that has been achieved only once in the past half-century by Real Madrid between 2016 and 2018.
Luis Enrique, however, appeared relaxed about the draw and joked that he had no intention of watching it live.
He said he preferred to spend the time cycling before later checking the opponents on offer, while making it clear that he would happily accept another Champions League-winning campaign.
Arsenal Handed Real Madrid Test
Last season’s runners-up Arsenal have also been given a demanding league phase.
The Premier League champions will host Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Lille and Azerbaijan’s Sabah, who have reached the competition’s main stage for the first time.
Their away schedule could prove even more challenging, with trips to Bayern Munich, Real Betis, Napoli and Slavia Prague.
The Gunners will therefore have little room for error as they look to go one step further after falling short in last season’s final.
Liverpool Face Inter and Atletico
Liverpool, under Andoni Iraola, will host Atletico Madrid, Porto, Villarreal and Lens.
Their away assignments include Italian giants Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and Austrian debutants LASK.
The fixtures give Liverpool a mix of established European opposition and clubs making their first appearances at this level.
Manchester United Given Difficult Route
Manchester United, meanwhile, will welcome Bayern Munich, Roma, RB Leipzig and Sabah to Old Trafford.
Their away games could be particularly demanding, with Atletico Madrid, Sporting CP, Villarreal and Como awaiting them.
United’s position outside the first seeding pot has contributed to a challenging list of opponents as they return to Europe’s elite competition.
Villa Draw Barcelona
Aston Villa, fresh from their Europa League success, will also have a major European test.
Unai Emery’s side must travel to Barcelona and will host Borussia Dortmund. They will also face Istanbul giants Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.
Fenerbahce are returning to the Champions League proper for the first time since the 2008/09 season after overcoming Lyon in the play-offs.
Newcomers Add Fresh Competition
This season’s competition will also feature several clubs breaking new ground.
Como have earned their place after disrupting the traditional hierarchy in Serie A, while Sabah have made it through to the league phase for the first time.
LASK also secured a historic appearance after producing a dramatic comeback against Celtic in the qualifying play-offs.
Norwegian champions Viking have gone a step further by reaching the Champions League proper for the first time. Their reward includes fixtures against Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Aston Villa and Napoli.
New Champions League Format Continues
The 2026/27 campaign is the third season under the expanded Champions League format.
Instead of separate traditional groups, 36 clubs now compete in one league table, with every team playing eight matches against different opponents.
The league-phase campaign is scheduled to begin in September, with the final games coming in January. UEFA is expected to confirm the exact fixture dates shortly.
The season will culminate at Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium on June 5, 2027, where the next European champion will be crowned.
With Europe’s biggest clubs now on the schedule, the road to Madrid promises to test whether PSG can turn their recent dominance into Champions League history.
