Arsenal will face Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, while Manchester City meet defending champions PSG and Barcelona in the Champions League league phase. The post Champions League draw: Arsenal face Real Madrid as Man City land PSG and Barcelona appeared first on Nehanda Radio .
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain have been handed heavyweight meetings with Manchester City and Barcelona in the league phase of the 2026-27 Champions League.
The French giants, who defeated Arsenal on penalties in last season’s final to retain the trophy, will host Barcelona at the Parc des Princes and travel to the Etihad Stadium and Villa Park.
Five Premier League clubs — Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Aston Villa — discovered their eight league-phase opponents during Thursday’s draw in Monaco. UEFA
Arsenal will welcome record 15-time European champions Real Madrid to the Emirates Stadium and travel to Germany to face Bayern Munich.
Mikel Arteta’s side will also host Borussia Dortmund, Lille and Azerbaijani champions Sabah, while their other away fixtures are against Real Betis, Napoli and Slavia Prague.
The Gunners will be seeking another deep run after coming agonisingly close to winning their first Champions League title last season, only to lose the final to PSG in a penalty shootout.
Arsenal opponents: Real Madrid (home), Bayern Munich (away), Borussia Dortmund (home), Real Betis (away), Lille (home), Napoli (away), Sabah (home), Slavia Prague (away).
Manchester City have arguably been given the most demanding draw among the English representatives.
Enzo Maresca’s side will host PSG, Sporting, Napoli and AEK Athens while travelling to Barcelona, Porto, RB Leipzig and Lens.
The Barcelona fixture will reunite City with Spanish midfielder Rodri, who moved to the Catalan club for £65 million during the summer transfer window.
Kevin de Bruyne will also return to Manchester when Napoli visit the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City opponents: PSG (home), Barcelona (away), Sporting (home), Porto (away), Napoli (home), RB Leipzig (away), AEK Athens (home), Lens (away).
Manchester United are returning to the Champions League following a two-year absence and will welcome Bayern Munich, Roma, RB Leipzig and Sabah to Old Trafford.
Their away programme consists of challenging trips to Atletico Madrid, Sporting, Villarreal and Italian newcomers Como.
Manchester United opponents: Bayern Munich (home), Atletico Madrid (away), Roma (home), Sporting (away), RB Leipzig (home), Villarreal (away), Sabah (home), Como (away).
Europa League winners Aston Villa are back in Europe’s premier club competition after missing last season’s tournament.
Unai Emery’s team will host defending champions PSG and Borussia Dortmund, alongside Fenerbahce and Norwegian club Viking.
Villa face daunting trips to Barcelona and Galatasaray, with Club Brugge and Slavia Prague completing their away schedule.
Aston Villa opponents: PSG (home), Barcelona (away), Borussia Dortmund (home), Club Brugge (away), Fenerbahce (home), Galatasaray (away), Viking (home), Slavia Prague (away).
Liverpool will play Atletico Madrid, Porto, Villarreal and Lens at Anfield. Their four away matches will take them to Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and Austrian side LASK.
Liverpool opponents: Atletico Madrid (home), Inter Milan (away), Porto (home), Club Brugge (away), Villarreal (home), Fenerbahce (away), Lens (home), LASK (away).
The 36 clubs will each play eight matches — four at home and four away — during the league phase.
The opening matches are scheduled for September 8, with the eighth and final round taking place on January 27, 2027. UEFA will release the complete fixture schedule, including dates and kick-off times, on Saturday.
The top eight clubs in the final table will qualify automatically for the last 16. Teams finishing between ninth and 24th will enter the knockout play-offs, while the bottom 12 will be eliminated.
The Champions League final will be staged at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium on June 5, 2027.
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