Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City have been handed challenging opponents in the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase following Thursday’s draw.
The 36-team league phase draw has produced several high-profile fixtures, with reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain set to face Barcelona and Manchester City.
Arsenal face Real Madrid, Bayern
Arsenal, who reached last season’s Champions League final, will face a difficult set of opponents.
Mikel Arteta’s side will host Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Lille and Sabah, while travelling to Bayern Munich, Real Betis, Napoli and Slavia Prague.
The meeting with Real Madrid will be one of the standout fixtures of the league phase.
Liverpool draw Atletico Madrid, Inter
Liverpool will face Atletico Madrid at home and travel to Inter Milan in what are among the toughest fixtures in their schedule.
The Reds will also play Porto and Villarreal at home, with away trips to Club Brugge and Fenerbahce.
Their other fixtures will see them host Lens and travel to LASK.
Manchester City handed PSG, Barcelona tests
Manchester City have arguably received one of the most difficult draws, with the Premier League club set to face both Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.
City will host PSG, while their meeting with Barcelona will take place in Spain.
They will also face Sporting Club and Napoli at home, with away games against Porto, RB Leipzig and Lens. AEK Athens will visit the Etihad.
The Barcelona fixture will also provide a reunion with former City midfielder Rodri, who is now at the Catalan club.
PSG face Barcelona, Man City
Defending champions PSG will begin their title defence against a formidable group of opponents.
Luis Enrique’s side will host Barcelona and Manchester City, while also facing Roma and Aston Villa at home.
Their away fixtures will be against Manchester City, Aston Villa, Galatasaray, Villarreal and Como.
PSG are aiming to win the Champions League for a third consecutive season.
Barcelona draw Man City, PSG
Barcelona have also been handed a demanding league-phase schedule.
They will host Manchester City, Aston Villa, Feyenoord and Como, while travelling to PSG, Sporting Club, Galatasaray and Sabah.
Real Madrid to face Arsenal
Real Madrid will host Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven, RB Leipzig and LASK.
Their away fixtures will be against Arsenal, Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk and AEK Athens.
Atletico Madrid to meet Liverpool, Man United
Atletico Madrid will host Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Fenerbahce and Viking.
Diego Simeone’s side will travel to Liverpool, PSV Eindhoven, Bodo/Glimt and Stuttgart.
Inter Milan draw Liverpool, Real Madrid
Inter Milan will host Liverpool, Club Brugge, Shakhtar Donetsk and Stuttgart.
Their away fixtures will see them face Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Feyenoord and Slovan Bratislava.
The league phase sees each team play eight matches against eight different opponents, with four games at home and four away.
A new UEFA rule for this season also prevents a club from hosting a team it faced at home in either of the previous two league-phase campaigns.
That rule affects potential fixtures involving Liverpool and Real Madrid, as well as Inter Milan and Arsenal.
Vanguard News
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