Arsenal draw Real Madrid, Man City face Barcelona in Champions League

The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase has produced several heavyweight clashes, with Arsenal drawn against Real Madrid and Manchester City handed a meeting with Barcelona.

Arsenal, who lost last season’s final to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties, will welcome 15-time European champions Real Madrid to the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta’s side will also travel to Bayern Munich in a demanding league-phase schedule.

The Gunners will additionally face Borussia Dortmund, Real Betis, Lille, Napoli, Azerbaijan champions Sabah and Slavia Prague.

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Manchester City have arguably one of the most eye-catching schedules. Pep Guardiola’s side will host reigning champions PSG at the Etihad Stadium and travel to Barcelona.

The trip to Spain will see City come up against former midfielder Rodri, who joined Barcelona in a £65 million move this summer. Napoli’s visit to Manchester will also reunite City with former midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.

City’s other opponents are Sporting CP, Porto, RB Leipzig, AEK Athens and Lens.

Aston Villa, returning to the Champions League after a season away, will host PSG and Borussia Dortmund while travelling to Barcelona and Galatasaray. Unai Emery’s side will also face Club Brugge, Fenerbahce, Viking and Slavia Prague.

Liverpool have been paired with Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Porto, Club Brugge, Villarreal, Fenerbahce, Lens and LASK. The Reds will host Atletico, Porto, Villarreal and Lens, while travelling to Inter, Brugge, Fenerbahce and LASK.

Manchester United, meanwhile, will face Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Roma, Sporting CP, RB Leipzig, Villarreal, Sabah and Como.

Elsewhere, PSG will face Barcelona, Manchester City, Roma, Aston Villa, Galatasaray, Villarreal, Slovan Bratislava and Como, while Barcelona also face City, PSG and Villa.

Debutants Como face a daunting introduction, with PSG, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid among their opponents.

Sabah, meanwhile, will host Manchester United and travel to Arsenal and Barcelona. Their other opponents include PSG, Napoli, Borussia Dortmund, Villarreal and Galatasaray.

Slovan Bratislava, who qualified under former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Touré, will face PSG, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Sporting CP and Galatasaray.

The league phase begins on 8 September 2026, with the 36 teams each playing eight matches before the knockout stages begin.

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