Champions League 2025/26 Draw: Who Europe's Elite Will Face - And When
The draw for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League main stage has been completed — and it promises another thrilling season under the competition's new Swiss-style format. For the second year in a row, the group stage will feature 36 clubs, with each side playing eight different opponents — four home, four away.
Here’s who the European giants will face this season:
Chelsea will travel to face Qarabag, and are also set to play against Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Atalanta, Ajax, Napoli, and tournament debutants Pafos FC.
Real Madrid have been drawn to play away at Kairat — now the easternmost club in Champions League history. The Spanish giants will also face Manchester City, Liverpool, Juventus, Benfica, Marseille, Olympiacos, and Monaco.
Liverpool will host Qarabag and also face Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Eintracht Frankfurt, PSV Eindhoven, Marseille, and Galatasaray.
Inter Milan will play at home against Kairat and meet Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Slavia Prague, Ajax, and Union Saint-Gilloise.
Arsenal, seeded in Pot 2, will host Kairat and face Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, and Athletic Club.
Barcelona will welcome Paris Saint-Germain to the Camp Nou, while their away fixtures include Chelsea, Club Brugge, and Newcastle United. Other opponents are Eintracht Frankfurt, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, and FC Copenhagen.
Napoli will host Qarabag and face a challenging lineup that includes Chelsea, Manchester City, Eintracht Frankfurt, Benfica, Sporting CP, PSV, and FC Copenhagen.
Bayern Munich have drawn Chelsea at home and will travel to face PSG. Their remaining opponents are Club Brugge, Arsenal, Sporting CP, PSV, Union Saint-Gilloise, and Pafos FC.
Ajax will travel to play Qarabag and also face Inter, Chelsea, Benfica, Villarreal, Olympiacos, Marseille, and Galatasaray.
Champions League 2025/26 Matchday Schedule:
Matchday 1: 16–18 September 2025
Matchday 2: 30 September – 1 October 2025
Matchday 3: 21–22 October 2025
Matchday 4: 4–5 November 2025
Matchday 5: 25–26 November 2025
Matchday 6: 9–10 December 2025
Matchday 7: 20–21 January 2026
Matchday 8: 28 January 2026
