The Champions League league phase has produced a sharp spread of tests for Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Aston Villa. Arsenal and City have been handed blockbuster nights, while Liverpool’s route looks comparatively manageable on paper.
Arsenal land marquee nights
Arsenal’s draw stands out immediately because it includes Real Madrid at home and Bayern Munich away, a combination that guarantees high-profile pressure from the start. Their schedule also brings Borussia Dortmund, Real Betis, Lille, Napoli, Sabah, and Slavia Prague.
- Home: Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Lille, Sabah
- Away: Bayern Munich, Real Betis, Napoli, Slavia Prague
The headline tie is the Madrid visit to north London, a clash that will draw major attention across the tournament.
City, United, and Villa face very different paths
Manchester City have been paired with PSG and Barcelona, plus Sporting, Porto, Napoli, RB Leipzig, AEK Athens, and Lens. That gives them two of the most demanding meetings in the league phase, along with several tricky away trips.
| Club | Notable home fixtures | Notable away fixtures |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | PSG, Sporting, Napoli, AEK Athens | Barcelona, Porto, RB Leipzig, Lens |
| Manchester United | Bayern Munich, Roma, RB Leipzig, Sabah | Atlético Madrid, Sporting, Villarreal, Como |
| Aston Villa | PSG, Borussia Dortmund, Fenerbahce, Viking | Barcelona, Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Slavia Prague |
United’s return to the competition brings a tough mix, with Bayern Munich, Roma, RB Leipzig, and Sabah at Old Trafford, plus away matches against Atlético Madrid, Sporting, Villarreal, and Como. Aston Villa also received a stern test, especially with PSG at home and Barcelona away.
Liverpool look strongest on paper
Liverpool’s list is arguably the most favourable among the English clubs, even though it still includes difficult fixtures. They will host Atlético Madrid, Porto, Villarreal, and Lens, while their away schedule includes Inter, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce, and LASK.
- Home: Atlético Madrid, Porto, Villarreal, Lens
- Away: Inter, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce, LASK
The trip to Inter is the standout challenge, given the Italian side’s recent success against them.
Key dates and what comes next
The league phase starts on 8 and 9 September, and UEFA is expected to finalise the full match schedule shortly after the draw. Each club will play eight league-phase matches, split evenly between home and away.
Every team in the new format faces two opponents from each pot, which is why the draw can create such a wide range of difficulty.
One extra venue to watch
Stamford Bridge will also be in the spotlight because Shakhtar Donetsk will stage their home matches there while they remain unable to play on home soil. That arrangement means the London ground will still host Champions League football even without Chelsea involved.
