The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase draw has been completed, with Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa discovering the eight teams standing between them and a place in the knockout stages.
Europe’s biggest club competition returns in September, with 36 teams competing in the league phase and each club facing eight different opponents – four at home and four away.
For the five Premier League representatives, the draw has produced some huge fixtures. Manchester United will welcome Bayern Munich to Old Trafford, Manchester City face Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad Stadium, Liverpool host Atlético Madrid, Arsenal welcome Real Madrid and Aston Villa will face reigning champions PSG at Villa Park.
Here’s a full breakdown of the Champions League draw for the English clubs, the biggest fixtures to look out for and the key dates for the 2026/27 competition.
Five Premier League clubs will compete in the Champions League league phase this season: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United.
Manchester United face a fascinating set of opponents on their return to the Champions League, with Bayern Munich among the headline visitors to Old Trafford.
The visit of Bayern Munich immediately stands out as one of the biggest European nights scheduled for Old Trafford, while Roma and RB Leipzig will also travel to Manchester.
United’s away schedule includes a difficult trip to Atlético Madrid, alongside visits to Sporting CP, Villarreal and Champions League newcomers Como.
For a closer look at the draw, the biggest games and what United’s European campaign could mean for their season, read our Manchester United Champions League Draw 2026/27 breakdown.
Manchester City have been handed several heavyweight fixtures as they look to challenge for the Champions League once again.
The standout fixture at the Etihad Stadium is undoubtedly the visit of Paris Saint-Germain, while Italian champions Napoli will also make the trip to Manchester.
City’s away schedule provides another huge European occasion, with a trip to Barcelona among their four matches on the road. Pep Guardiola’s side will also visit Porto, RB Leipzig and Lens.
Read our Manchester City Champions League Draw 2026/27 guide for a full analysis of City’s opponents and their biggest European fixtures.
Liverpool’s Champions League draw features some familiar European opponents as they prepare for another campaign in the competition.
Atlético Madrid’s visit to Anfield is arguably the standout home fixture, although meetings with Porto and Villarreal should also provide memorable European nights on Merseyside.
Away from home, Liverpool face a major test against Inter Milan at San Siro, as well as trips to Club Brugge, Fenerbahçe and LASK.
Read our full Liverpool Champions League Draw 2026/27 breakdown for more on Liverpool’s opponents and the key fixtures to watch.
Arsenal have been handed one of the most eye-catching draws of the five English representatives, including meetings with two of European football’s biggest clubs.
Real Madrid will travel to the Emirates Stadium in one of the headline fixtures of the entire league phase, while Borussia Dortmund will also visit North London.
Arsenal’s away schedule includes a trip to Bayern Munich as well as challenging fixtures against Napoli and Real Betis.
Aston Villa return to the Champions League with another opportunity to welcome some of Europe’s biggest clubs to Villa Park.
Reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain will visit Villa Park, while Borussia Dortmund and Fenerbahçe are also among Villa’s home opponents.
Their away fixtures include a major trip to Barcelona as well as visits to Club Brugge, Galatasaray and Slavia Prague.
The league phase draw has created a number of huge fixtures involving the Premier League clubs.
Among the standout matches are:
With every team facing eight different opponents, there will be major European fixtures throughout the league phase rather than the traditional home-and-away group-stage format.
The 2026/27 season is the third Champions League campaign to use UEFA’s 36-team league phase format.
Instead of being divided into groups, all 36 clubs compete in a single league table.
Each team plays eight matches against eight different opponents, consisting of four matches at home and four away. Clubs face two opponents from each of the four seeding pots, with one home and one away fixture against teams from each pot.
Once all eight matches have been played, the final league table determines which clubs progress.
The teams finishing 1st to 8th qualify automatically for the Round of 16, while those finishing 9th to 24th enter the knockout phase play-offs for the remaining places.
Teams finishing 25th or lower are eliminated from European competition.
The full 2026/27 Champions League league phase fixture schedule has now been confirmed, with the competition beginning on 8 September 2026 and the final league phase matches taking place simultaneously on 27 January 2027.
The league phase will then be played across eight matchdays:
| Matchday | Date |
|---|---|
| Matchday 1 | 8–10 September 2026 |
| Matchday 2 | 13–14 October 2026 |
| Matchday 3 | 20–21 October 2026 |
| Matchday 4 | 3–4 November 2026 |
| Matchday 5 | 24–25 November 2026 |
| Matchday 6 | 8–9 December 2026 |
| Matchday 7 | 19–20 January 2027 |
| Matchday 8 | 27 January 2027 |
Following the conclusion of the league phase in January, the competition moves into the knockout stages.
The key dates are:
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Knockout phase play-offs | 16/17 & 23/24 February 2027 |
| Round of 16 | 9/10 & 16/17 March 2027 |
| Quarter-finals | 6/7 & 13/14 April 2027 |
| Semi-finals | 27/28 April & 4/5 May 2027 |
| Champions League Final | 5 June 2027 |
The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League final will take place at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid on Saturday 5 June 2027.
It will be the second Champions League final held at Atlético Madrid’s stadium, following the 2019 final when Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 to lift the trophy.
For the 36 clubs beginning their league phase campaigns in September, Madrid is the ultimate destination.
The Champions League produces some of the biggest nights in club football, and the 2026/27 draw has brought several of Europe’s leading teams to England.
Sport and Music provides access to premium football hospitality, with a range of packages available for some of the season’s biggest fixtures.
From Manchester United v Bayern Munich at Old Trafford to Manchester City v Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad Stadium, Champions League hospitality offers the opportunity to experience European football alongside premium seating and first-class matchday facilities.
Explore our latest Manchester United hospitality, Manchester City hospitality and Liverpool FC options to find upcoming fixtures and available packages.
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The European fixtures that fans never want to miss.
Manchester United will face Bayern Munich, Roma, RB Leipzig and Sabah at Old Trafford. Their away opponents are Atlético Madrid, Sporting CP, Villarreal and Como.
Manchester City will host Paris Saint-Germain, Sporting CP, Napoli and AEK Athens. City will travel to Barcelona, Porto, RB Leipzig and Lens.
Liverpool will face Atlético Madrid, Porto, Villarreal and Lens at Anfield, with away fixtures against Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Fenerbahçe and LASK.
Arsenal will host Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Lille and Sabah, while travelling to Bayern Munich, Real Betis, Napoli and Slavia Prague.
Aston Villa will welcome Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Fenerbahçe and Viking to Villa Park. Their away opponents are Barcelona, Club Brugge, Galatasaray and Slavia Prague.
UEFA has confirmed that the complete 2026/27 Champions League league phase fixture list, including match dates and kick-off times, will be announced no later than Saturday 29 August 2026.
The opening Champions League league phase matches will be played between 8 and 10 September 2026.
The 2027 UEFA Champions League final will take place on Saturday 5 June 2027 at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid.
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