The Grimaldi Forum in Monaco was ablaze with anticipation on August 28, 2025, as the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 league phase draw set the stage for a season of heart-stopping football. Thirty-six teams, from giants like PSG and Real Madrid to underdogs like Qarabağ and Kairat Almaty, learned their fates in the revamped “Swiss Model” format. With blockbuster matchups like Liverpool vs. Real Madrid, Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich, and Tottenham vs. PSG stealing the headlines, the road to the final at Budapest’s Puskás Aréna on May 30, 2026, promises drama, upsets, and glory. Fresh off their Super Cup clash, PSG and Tottenham face off again, while new stars and old rivalries ignite the continent. Let’s dive into the draw, the key battles, and why this season could redefine European football.
The Draw: A New Era Unfolds
The 2025/26 Champions League, the 71st edition and second under the Swiss Model, ditches the old group stage for a single 36-team league. Each club plays eight matches—four home, four away—against two teams from each of four pots, seeded by UEFA club coefficients (except for titleholders PSG, auto-placed in Pot 1). Teams can’t face domestic rivals, and there’s a cap of two matchups per nation, making for diverse, unpredictable clashes. The draw, held at 6:00 PM CET, blended manual team selections with automated software to assign opponents, a process UEFA.com called “smooth and speedy.” Exact dates and kickoff times were confirmed on August 30, with the league phase kicking off September 16–18, 2025.
The top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16, while 9th to 24th enter a two-legged playoff. The bottom 12 are eliminated, with no Europa League parachute. The draw’s stakes were sky-high: PSG, fresh off a 4-3 Super Cup penalty win over Tottenham, aim to defend their 2024/25 title, while Real Madrid, under Xabi Alonso, chase a 16th crown after a trophyless 2024/25.
The Pots: Powerhouses and Dark Horses
The 36 teams were split into four pots, per UEFA.com:
- Pot 1: PSG (FRA, titleholders), Real Madrid (ESP), Manchester City (ENG), Bayern Munich (GER), Liverpool (ENG), Inter Milan (ITA), Chelsea (ENG), Borussia Dortmund (GER), Barcelona (ESP).
- Pot 2: Arsenal (ENG), Bayer Leverkusen (GER), Atlético Madrid (ESP), Benfica (POR), Atalanta (ITA), Villarreal (ESP), Juventus (ITA), Eintracht Frankfurt (GER), Club Brugge (BEL).
- Pot 3: Tottenham (ENG), PSV Eindhoven (NED), Ajax (NED), Napoli (ITA), Sporting CP (POR), Olympiacos (GRE), Slavia Prague (CZE), Bodø/Glimt (NOR), Marseille (FRA).
- Pot 4: Copenhagen (DEN), Monaco (FRA), Galatasaray (TUR), Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL), Qarabağ (AZE), Athletic Bilbao (ESP), Newcastle United (ENG), Pafos (CYP), Kairat Almaty (KAZ).
England’s six clubs—Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Newcastle—set a record, boosted by Tottenham’s Europa League win and UEFA coefficient rankings. Newcomers like Pafos and Kairat Almaty add intrigue, while Qarabağ’s second straight appearance marks Azerbaijan’s rise.
Key Matchups: Rivalries and Revenge
The draw delivered mouthwatering ties, per UEFA.com and Olympics.com:
- Liverpool vs. Real Madrid: A rematch of the 2018 and 2022 finals, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, now at Real Madrid, returning to Anfield. Liverpool, Premier League champs, also face Bayern Munich and Bodø/Glimt, the Norwegian giant-killers who stunned Tottenham in last season’s Europa League.
- Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich: Harry Kane returns to north London, facing an Arsenal side fresh off a Women’s Champions League title. The Gunners also draw Inter Milan, Atlético Madrid, and Kairat Almaty, testing their depth.
- Tottenham vs. PSG: A Super Cup rematch after PSG’s 4-3 penalty win in Udine. Tottenham, led by Thomas Frank, also face Borussia Dortmund, Villarreal, and Qarabağ, a chance to prove their mettle after last season’s Europa League glory.
- Chelsea vs. Barcelona: A nod to their 2012 Champions League knockout ties. The Blues, under Enzo Maresca, also tackle Bayern, Benfica, and Napoli.
- Newcastle vs. PSG and Barcelona: A brutal draw for the Magpies, who also face Benfica and Galatasaray. After a strong Europa League run, Eddie Howe’s side aim to upset the odds.
- Manchester City vs. Real Madrid: The 11th meeting of the 2020s, with Pep Guardiola seeking revenge after last season’s playoff exit. City also face Napoli and Bodø/Glimt, a trip inside the Arctic Circle.
- Barcelona vs. Borussia Dortmund: Hansi Flick’s treble-winning Barça, led by Lamine Yamal, take on Dortmund’s new star Serhou Guirassy, plus Leverkusen, Napoli, and Kairat Almaty.
Underdog clashes like Qarabağ vs. Tottenham and Kairat Almaty vs. Barcelona could spark shocks, while Slavia Prague’s ties against Dortmund and Atlético Madrid promise grit.
The Context: A Season of Change
The 2025/26 Champions League, running from 2025, to the May 30, 2026, final, builds on last season’s Swiss Model debut. PSG, led by Ousmane Dembélé’s 32 goals, are favorites after their 5-0 rout of Inter Milan in the 2024/25 final. Real Madrid, trophyless last season, have bolstered their squad with Alexander-Arnold and Franco Mastantuono, per The Athletic. Liverpool, under Arne Slot, and Arsenal, with Declan Rice and Viktor Gyökeres, aim to end England’s three-year title drought.
The draw, broadcast on UEFA.com, Paramount+, and TNT Sports, drew millions, with exact fixtures confirmed August 30. Matchdays span September 16 to January 28, 2026, with knockout playoffs starting February 17. The Puskás Aréna final, at a revised 6:00 PM CEST, awaits the winner, who’ll also earn a 2026 UEFA Super Cup spot and a 2026/27 Champions League berth.
The Stars: New and Old Faces
PSG’s nine Ballon d’Or nominees—Dembélé, Kvaratskhelia, Hakimi, and more—set the tone, but Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, the 2024 Kopa Trophy winner, could steal the show. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz, Arsenal’s Rice, and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer bring Premier League flair. Tottenham’s Cristian Romero, captaining a young squad, faces a defining test, while Newcastle’s grit under Howe could surprise.
Notably absent is Lionel Messi, now chasing 1,000 goals with Inter Miami, his MLS move costing him a 2025 Ballon d’Or nod. His former club, PSG, carry the torch, with Dembélé tipped for the Golden Ball after his Super Cup heroics.
Why It Matters
This draw isn’t just about fixtures—it’s about stories. Alexander-Arnold’s Anfield return, Kane facing Arsenal, PSG vs. Tottenham’s redemption arc—these are narratives that’ll grip fans. The Swiss Model’s eight-match gauntlet ensures more competitive games, with underdogs like Qarabağ and Kairat Almaty dreaming of upsets. England’s six clubs, a record, underline the Premier League’s might, but Spain’s Barcelona and Real Madrid, plus Germany’s Bayern and Dortmund, won’t go quietly.
The road to Budapest is paved with rivalries, revenge, and raw passion. From Liverpool’s clash with Real Madrid to Tottenham’s shot at PSG, every match is a chance for history. The Champions League’s magic is back, and it’s louder than ever.
Wrap-Up
The UEFA Champions League 2025/26 draw has set the stage for a season of fireworks. Liverpool vs. Real Madrid, Arsenal vs. Bayern, Tottenham vs. PSG—these blockbuster ties headline a 36-team league phase that promises chaos and glory. With PSG defending their crown, Real Madrid chasing redemption, and underdogs like Qarabağ ready to shock, the journey to Budapest’s Puskás Aréna on May 30, 2026, is loaded with drama. The Swiss Model’s intensity, England’s six-club army, and stars like Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembélé ensure this Champions League will be unforgettable. Let the games begin.
