Arsenal’s road back to the Champions League final has immediately become one of the toughest in the competition after the Premier League champions were drawn against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the 2026/27 league phase.
The Gunners, who lost last season’s final to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties, will host 15-time European champions Real Madrid before travelling to Germany to face Bayern in two of the biggest fixtures of the opening phase.
Mikel Arteta’s side will also take on Borussia Dortmund, Napoli, Real Betis, Lille, Sabah and Slavia Prague as they attempt to finish in the top eight and secure automatic qualification for the last 16.
The meeting with Madrid will carry particular significance. Arsenal eliminated the Spanish giants in the 2025 quarter-finals before reaching the semi-finals, and Thursday’s draw gives the two clubs another opportunity to renew that rivalry.
PSG, meanwhile, begin their defence of the Champions League crown with a star-studded schedule of their own. The holders will host Barcelona and Roma, while their away fixtures include Manchester City and Aston Villa. Galatasaray, Villarreal, Slovan Bratislava and newcomers Como complete their league-phase opponents.
A reunion with Barcelona is among the standout fixtures, while PSG’s trip to Manchester City promises another major test for Luis Enrique’s side as they attempt to become the dominant force in European football.
Barcelona have also been given a challenging route, with home meetings against Manchester City and Aston Villa and away trips to PSG and Sporting CP. Feyenoord, Galatasaray, Como and Sabah make up their remaining opponents.
Real Madrid will face Arsenal and Inter Milan among their headline fixtures, with Jose Mourinho returning to the Champions League with the Spanish giants adding further intrigue to their campaign.
Manchester City will host PSG and Sporting CP and travel to Barcelona and Porto. Napoli, RB Leipzig, Lens and AEK Athens complete their schedule.
Liverpool appear to have received the most favourable draw among the leading English clubs. They will host Atletico Madrid, Porto, Villarreal and Lens, while travelling to Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and LASK.
Manchester United, returning to the Champions League, face Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Sporting CP, while Aston Villa will welcome PSG in a repeat of the recent UEFA Super Cup, which the French champions won 2-1.
The competition continues under its 36-team league format, with every club playing eight matches against eight different opponents, four at home and four away.
The top eight advance directly to the last 16, while teams finishing ninth to 24th enter a two-legged play-off for the remaining knockout places.
The league phase will begin between September 8 and 10, with the final round scheduled for January 27, 2027. The Champions League final will take place on June 5, 2027, at Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium.
