Liverpool and Manchester City are set to face Real Madrid in this season’s Champions League, while reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain were drawn into a demanding set of fixtures that includes Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid will meet Manchester City at the Bernabéu and then travel to Anfield to clash with Liverpool, creating two of the most anticipated encounters of the league phase.
Liverpool, under new manager Arne Slot, who last season topped the league phase before being eliminated by PSG in the round of 16, will welcome Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven and Qarabag of Azerbaijan to Anfield. They also have challenging away matches against Inter Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille and Turkish champions Galatasaray.
Manchester City, who lifted the Champions League trophy in 2023, will play host at the Etihad Stadium to Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Italian champions Napoli and Galatasaray. Away from home, Pep Guardiola’s men will travel to face Villarreal, Monaco and Norwegian debutants Bodo/Glimt, in addition to their highly anticipated showdown with Real Madrid.
PSG, coached by Luis Enrique, will host Bayern Munich and journey to Barcelona, with further home clashes against Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United. The French side, who went on to win last season’s Champions League after finishing 15th in the league phase, again face a grueling path this year. Their campaign will also see them up against Atalanta at home and away trips to Leverkusen, Sporting Lisbon and Athletic Bilbao, leaving little room for easy contests.
Under the new format introduced last year, every club now plays eight fixtures against different opponents, with all 36 teams placed into a single league instead of the traditional group system. The top eight automatically qualify for the last 16, while those finishing between ninth and 24th proceed to the knockout play-off round. Teams placed from 25th to 36th will exit the competition.
Other mouthwatering ties include Barcelona visiting both Chelsea and Newcastle, while Arsenal face Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid at home before difficult away trips to Inter Milan and Bilbao. New entrants Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan, who eliminated Celtic on penalties in the play-off stage, will have the opportunity to host Real Madrid and also travel to London to take on Arsenal. Cyprus’ Pafos, another newcomer, will travel to Chelsea and also play Bayern Munich on their home soil.
UEFA has not yet confirmed exact fixture dates, but announcements are expected from Friday onwards. The first set of matches will be staged between September 16 and 18, with the final matchday taking place on January 28. This season’s Champions League final has been scheduled for May 30 in Budapest, Hungary, and in a change from tradition, the game will kick off at 6:00 pm local time instead of the customary 9:00 pm start.
What you should know
The Champions League has shifted into a new single-league format, heightening the level of competition and creating more heavyweight clashes earlier in the tournament.
Liverpool, Manchester City, PSG, and Real Madrid all face demanding paths, ensuring high drama throughout the campaign.
The final in Budapest promises to be a historic occasion, especially with its earlier evening kick-off time.
