The League Phase draw for the 2025/26 Champions League season happened on Thursday, 28 August 2025, revealing some fascinating encounters. Following last year's successful format change, the new season promises even more excitement with 36 teams competing for their spots in the knockout rounds. The top eight teams in the single league table, with teams playing eight different opponents home and away, qualify for the Round of 16 stage, whereas the clubs finishing ninth to 24th enter a knockout playoff stage to determine the other eight. Teams ranked from 25th to 36th are eliminated from the competition with no chance of moving into the Europa League as per the new format. The League Phase starts on 16 September 2025.
Bayern Munich
Chelsea (H)
PSG (A)
Club Brugge (H)
Arsenal (A)
Sporting CP (H)
PSV (A)
Union SG (H)
Pafos (A)
Bayern Munich will play out some historical clashes with two Premier League giants in the League Phase of the 2025/26 Champions League season. The 2012 final replay with Chelsea in their first meeting since the 2019-20 season and renew the old rivalry with Arsenal, which produced some interesting games in the past. The Bavarians will also face the defending champions, Paris Saint-Germain, as they did in the last League Phase, coming out 1-0 winners. However, this time they will be travelling to Parc des Princes for the big clash. The other opponents, Club Brugge, Sporting CP, PSV and Pafos should be easy for Bayern, barring any surprises. Vincent Kompany should be among the favourites to finish in the top eight to qualify for the knockouts directly, as they look to replace their disappointment of quarterfinal elimination last time.
Chelsea
Barcelona (H)
Bayern Munich (A)
Benfica (H)
Atalanta (A)
Ajax (H)
Napoli (A)
Pafos (H)
Qarabag (A)
Club World Cup champions Chelsea’s return to the Champions League stage and their first League Phase journey is expected to be a tricky one, with not only facing Bayern Munich away in a heavyweight tie, but also taking on Barcelona at Stamford Bridge. It is with the Catalan giants that the club has experienced some unforgettable matches filled with intense drama and controversies. The remaining teams, aside from Qarabag and the debutant Pafos, could also give a tough time, like Serie A champions Napoli, with whom they played a breathtaking round of 16. The Blues also faced Benfica in crucial ties in the past, while plucky Atalanta or Eredivisie giants Ajax could turn out to be thorns in their progress. However, Chelsea has always performed at its best when expectations are low, as was the case with their previous two Champions League triumphs and their most recent Club World Cup campaign, which they aim to repeat here.
Real Madrid
Man City (H)
Liverpool (A)
Juventus (H)
Benfica (A)
Marseille (H)
Olympiacos (A)
Monaco (H)
Kairat Almaty (A)
Record Champions League winners Real Madrid are aiming to improve on their disappointing season last year, ushering in a new era under club legend Xabi Alonso. They have several important matches in the League Phase this season, including competing against Manchester City for the fifth consecutive campaign. Los Blancos face Liverpool at Anfield again, similar to the last League Phase, while welcoming their 2016/17 final opponents, Juventus, at Santiago Bernabeu. They also play two more home games against two French league teams, Marseille and Monaco, with the latter eliminating the Spanish giants from the quarterfinal stage 21 years ago in one of the most shocking results in the competition's history. Benfica, Olympiacos and the newbies Kairat Almaty from Kazakhstan are the rest of the away games for the side. Alonso’s men will be determined to better their quarterfinal finish and make themselves title favourites again.
Inter Milan
Liverpool (H)
Dortmund (A)
Arsenal (H)
Atletico Madrid (A)
Slavia Praha (H)
Ajax (A)
Kairat Almaty (H)
Union SG (A)
Last season’s runners-up, but hammered 5-0 in the final, Inter Milan are entering the League Phase this term with a new manager at the helm after Simone Inzaghi ended a five-year successful stint at the club following the showpiece to join Saudi league giants Al Hilal. Under Cristian Chivu, now, the Nerazzuri are hoping to eclipse their levels in the new era, although their League Phase campaign will be far more challenging this time. Inter will face four European heavyweights, including two Premier League teams at San Siro and make trips to Germany and Spain. The Reds will be the toughest of all due to their phenomenal league win last season and eye-catching reinforcements this summer, while they meet the Gunners at home for back-to-back years in the League Phase. Dortmund’s and Atletico Madrid’s venues will be difficult places to visit, but the other will also make it harder for Inter to fight for an automatic last-16 berth.
Liverpool
Real Madrid (H)
Inter Milan (A)
Atletico Madrid (H)
Frankfurt (A)
PSV (H)
Marseille (A)
Qarabag (H)
Galatasaray (A)
Liverpool dominated the Premier League in their debut season under Arne Slot and the first campaign after Jurgen Klopp's era, to the surprise of many. Even though they reflected their fantastic domestic form in Europe by topping the League Phase table, their campaign was cut short in the last-16 by eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain on penalties after two dramatic ties ended on level terms. That was the major drawback in the Reds’ otherwise successful season and they will wish to go deeper into the competition, which explained their uncharacteristically high spending this summer. Slot’s side will face the two Madrid clubs in the League Phase this season, both at Anfield and hopes to make it three wins in a row against Inter at San Siro. Dutch league champions PSV, who prevented the Reds from completing the League Phase unbeaten last season, are the visitors this time and Frankfurt, Marseille and Turkish champions Galatasaray will be tricky games in unfamiliar surroundings.
Barcelona
PSG (H)
Chelsea (A)
Frankfurt (H)
Club Brugge (A)
Olymplicacos (H)
Slavia Praha (A)
Copenhagen (H)
Newcastle (A)
Hansi Flick’s rejuvenated Barcelona side was heading for a magnificent quadruple, but had to settle for a domestic treble instead after their journey to the Champions League final was snapped at the last moment by Inter. It was a stinker in a magnificent campaign that saw the Catalan giants redeem themselves after years of doldrums and embarrassing exit from the competition by displaying flamboyant football under the German manager. The side will hope to finally quench their thirst for a first Champions League title since 2015, but first have to go through a challenging League Phase, which sees them welcome title holders PSG at home as the toughest fixture among all. The next big opponent is certainly Chelsea, who will give a strong fight at Stamford Bridge, with Newcastle also being one to watch out for, visiting them at St James’ Park. However, Barcelona, who finished second in the League Phase, are expected to make a high finish again this season in the top eight.
Paris Saint-Germain
Bayern Munich (H)
Barcelona (A)
Atalanta (H)
Leverkusen (A)
Tottenham (H)
Sporting CP (A)
Newcastle (H)
Athletic Club (A)
It was a historic season for Paris Saint-Germain as they finally overcame their agony and heartbreak in the competition to lift the Champions League title for the first time in record-breaking fashion. The success came straight after the club decided to move away from building the team around glamorous superstars and instead focus on constructing a squad that works as a unit. Now, Luis Enrique’s men want to build on their achievement last season in the hope of being among the handful of clubs that have successfully defended the trophy. It is fair to say PSG will face even stiffer competition this time to fulfil that desire, with the League Phase producing a lot of obstacles. It is a nightmarish schedule to face former winners Bayern Munich and Barcelona, or even Europa League holders Tottenham Hotspur, whom they defeated to win the UEFA Super Cup on penalties, albeit coming from behind. The other opponents in the group are more than capable of making it hard for the Parisians, but this was the same for the team last season and they went on to crown themselves champions.
Man City
Dortmund (H)
Real Madrid (A)
Bayer Leverkusen (H)
Villarreal (A)
Napoli (H)
Bodo Glimt (A)
Galatasaray (H)
Monaco (A)
Finishing third in the Premier League and getting knocked out by Real Madrid in the knockout playoffs of the Champions League described the horrendous season Manchester City suffered last time. This was a huge disappointment for the club that had remained at the summit of English football for the previous four years and had progressed further in this competition almost every time under Pep Guardiola. So the response has to be strong this time as City look to reinstate their might with the new signings in the window, but the League Phase will bring up some tough challenges. Guardiola’s side will face Los Blancos once again in the competition, seeking revenge in making the trip to Santiago Bernabeu, but winning just once in this fixture in the Spanish capital. That will be their most difficult encounter out of all in this phase, but Dortmund should not be taken lightly, considering the close fights they have given in the past. The emotional fixture for City will be reuniting with their club icon, Kevin de Bruyne, when the Belgian visits Etihad with Napoli this time after joining the Serie A champions this summer.
Arsenal
Bayern Munich (H)
Inter Milan (A)
Atletico Madrid (H)
Club Brugge (A)
Olympiacos (H)
Kairat Almaty (A)
Slavia Praha (H)
Athletic Club (A)
Arsenal enjoyed a remarkable journey in the Champions League last season, reaching the semifinals of the competition for the first time since 2006. However, unlike their feat 19 years ago, they failed to progress to the final. Holders PSG was the culprit behind it, but Arsenal suffered most of the season with a lot of issues of their own, primarily being without a proper number nine because of an injury crisis in the position. They appear to have resolved the situation with the signing of goal machine Viktor Gyokores, who comes in with a lot of reputation. However, there will be extreme pressure on the Gunners to finally deliver a trophy this time. Mikel Arteta’s men finished third in the League Phase last season and it will be a hustle for them to achieve something similar here, tackling old foes Bayern, making a challenging trip to San Siro to face Inter and welcoming Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid as the three big challenges in the League Phase.
Tottenham Hotspurs
Borussia Dortmund (H)
PSG (A)
Villarreal (H)
Frankfurt (A)
Slavia Praha (H)
Bodø/Glimt (A)
Copenhagen (H)
Monaco (A)
Tottenham finally broke their trophy curse last season by lifting the Europa League title, and consequently, they returned to the Champions League after reaching the final of the competition in 2019. However, their disappointing domestic performance, which concluded with their worst season in Premier League history, compelled the club to implement significant changes, including parting ways with Ange Postecoglou, who had been the architect of their success. Thomas Frank was brought in to usher in a new era and he will be responsible for taking the club to new heights, with one of them being making a mark at the continental level. Spurs will have to battle a lot in the League Phase, facing holders PSG, whom they lost to Super Cup despite being two goals up and Dortmund, among other tough fixtures.
