Champions League 2026/2027 draw: PSG faces Barcelona and Man City, Arsenal meets Real Madrid

The draw for the 2026/2027 Champions League league phase has set the stage for a series of high-profile clashes, with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) facing a formidable lineup including Barcelona, Manchester City, AS Roma, and Aston Villa. This new format, replacing the traditional group stage, will see 36 teams compete across eight matches each.

PSG, aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive European title, will also face Galatasaray and Slovan Bratislava, alongside Villarreal and Como. This pursuit of a third straight trophy echoes Real Madrid's achievement between 2016 and 2018, a feat not seen in the last 50 years. The league phase is set to kick off between September 8 and 10, 2026.

Meanwhile, Arsenal, the previous season's runner-up and current Premier League champions, have been drawn into a challenging section that includes Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Lille. The Gunners also face a tough away schedule, with matches against Bayern Munich, Real Betis, Napoli, and Slavia Prague.

Andoni Iraola's Liverpool will host Atletico Madrid, Porto, Villarreal, and Lens. Their away fixtures include encounters with Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce, and Austrian debutants LASK. The full schedule for the league phase is expected to be announced soon by UEFA.

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I cannot say bad things about the Champions League, but I will not watch the draw. I will relax and cycle, and then we will see the menu. However, I will hope for the same result as the last two years.