Champions League Draw 2026-27: Arsenal Set for Real Madrid Reunion, City Face Barcelona and PSG

Monte Carlo — The 2026-27 Champions League league phase draw has served up a mouthwatering set of fixtures for England’s five representatives, headlined by Arsenal‘s pairing with Real Madrid and a renewed continental education for a returning Manchester United.

Arsenal Chase Redemption Against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich

Mikel Arteta‘s Arsenal enter the new campaign three months removed from heartbreak in the final, where they were beaten on penalties by Paris Saint-Germain. This season’s draw hands them two standout ties:

• Home to Real Madrid, now managed once again by José Mourinho — a repeat of two seasons ago, when Arsenal won 3-0 in a quarter-final first leg thanks to two memorable free-kicks from Declan Rice
• Away to Bayern Munich, a side Arsenal beat 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium last November

The remainder of Arsenal’s schedule looks comparatively favourable. They will host Borussia Dortmund, Lille and Champions League debutants Sabah, while their other away trips take them to Napoli, Slavia Prague and Real Betis — the latter setting up a reunion with former Gunner Héctor Bellerín.

Manchester City Draw Barcelona and PSG

Enzo Maresca takes charge of his first Champions League campaign at Manchester City, and the draw wastes no time reuniting the club with a familiar face: City travel to Barcelona, where Rodri now plies his trade.

City’s home fixtures include a clash with reigning champions PSG, plus ties against Sporting and AEK Athens. They will also welcome Napoli and Kevin De Bruyne back to the Etihad Stadium, a repeat of last season’s 2-0 win there. Away days at Porto, RB Leipzig and Lens complete their group of opponents.

Manchester United Return to Europe’s Top Table

Manchester United’s return to the Champions League under Michael Carrick brings a testing home slate against Bayern Munich, Roma, RB Leipzig and Sabah. On the road, United will face Como — managed by Cesc Fàbregas — alongside Atlético Madrid, Sporting and Villarreal.

Liverpool Handed Kind-Looking Group

Liverpool will host Atlético Madrid, Porto, Villarreal and Lens at Anfield. Their away fixtures send them to Lask — the newcomers who stunned Celtic earlier this week — as well as Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and Inter, the side that eliminated them from last season’s competition.

Aston Villa Face PSG and Barcelona After Squad Upheaval

Having lost several key players over the summer, Unai Emery’s Aston Villa face an immediate test at home to PSG and away at Barcelona. Villa will take some encouragement from their recent Super Cup performance against Luis Enrique‘s PSG in Salzburg, where they pushed the European champions close. Villa Park will also welcome Borussia Dortmund, Fenerbahce and Norwegian newcomers Viking Stavanger, while Emery’s side travel to Club Brugge, Galatasaray and Slavia Prague.

Quick Reference: Premier League Clubs’ 2026-27 Opponents

• Manchester City: PSG (h), Barcelona (a), Sporting (h), Porto (a), Napoli (h), Leipzig (a), AEK Athens (h), Lens (a)
• Liverpool: Atlético Madrid (h), Inter (a), Porto (h), Club Brugge (a), Villarreal (h), Fenerbahce (a), Lens (h), Lask (a)
• Arsenal: Real Madrid (h), Bayern Munich (a), Borussia Dortmund (h), Real Betis (a), Lille (h), Napoli (a), Sabah (h), Slavia Prague (a)
• Aston Villa: PSG (h), Barcelona (a), Dortmund (h), Club Brugge (a), Fenerbahce (h), Galatasaray (a), Viking (h), Slavia Prague (a)
• Manchester United: Bayern (h), Atlético (a), Roma (h), Sporting (a), Leipzig (h), Villarreal (a), Sabah (h), Como (a)

Note: the order of fixtures is yet to be confirmed by UEFA.

Stamford Bridge to Host Shakhtar Donetsk’s Home Games

Although Chelsea did not qualify for European competition this season, their Stamford Bridge ground will still see Champions League action. Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk, still unable to host continental matches on home soil, will stage their home fixtures there — with Real Madrid among the four visiting sides, bringing José Mourinho back to a stadium where he previously managed.

PSG Target a Third Straight Title

Defending, and back-to-back, champions PSG will pursue a third successive Champions League crown with home fixtures against Barcelona, Roma, Galatasaray and Slovan Bratislava. Their away trips take them to Villarreal, Como, Manchester City and Aston Villa.

When Does the Champions League 2026-27 Season Start?

The opening round of fixtures will be played on 8 and 9 September. UEFA is set to confirm the full schedule and match dates for all eight league-phase match weeks on Saturday.