UEFA Champions League fixtures 2025–26 — full guide to the draw, format and match schedule

The season is officially here, and football fans across the globe are preparing for months of drama, excitement and unforgettable matches. This season carries even more weight because UEFA has introduced a new format. Instead of the traditional group stage, the competition now follows a featuring 36 teams from across Europe.

Each team will play eight games in this new system, four at home and four away, against opponents of varying strength. The top eight clubs after the league phase will advance directly to the round of 16, while the clubs that finish between ninth and 24th will battle it out in a play-off round. The new format means more big games early on and fewer predictable results. Every fixture now feels like a knockout clash, and the stakes have never been higher.

The road to the final will conclude on May 30, 2026, at the in , Hungary, where one club will lift Europe’s most prestigious trophy. With the new system in place, the upcoming months promise a thrilling ride for fans worldwide.

English Clubs Face Exciting Battles

The has provided six representatives this season: , , , , and . Each of these clubs has been handed tough and mouthwatering fixtures.

Arsenal will welcome , , and to London. On the road, the Gunners will travel to Italy to face , to Belgium to battle , to the Czech Republic to meet and to Spain for a clash with . For Mikel Arteta, this mix of fixtures represents both opportunity and danger, as Arsenal seek to prove they belong among Europe’s elite once again.

Chelsea also have a challenging path ahead. The Blues will host , , and Cypriot side at , while tough away trips will take them to Bayern Munich, , and Qarabağ. These fixtures will test Enzo Maresca’s tactical flexibility and his ability to balance European glory with domestic ambitions.

Liverpool find themselves in a true test of character. Their home games include blockbuster encounters with , Atlético de Madrid, and Qarabağ. Away, ’s men will travel to Inter Milan, , and . These matchups evoke memories of classic European nights, especially the clash with Real Madrid, which has become a modern Champions League rivalry.

Manchester City, have another strong run of fixtures. ’s side will play at home against , , Napoli and Galatasaray. Their away journey includes visits to Real Madrid, , Norwegian champions and . With City hungry to reclaim the Champions League title, these matches will test their depth and consistency.

Tottenham Hotspur return to the competition determined to make a statement. Their home games are against Borussia Dortmund, Villarreal, Slavia Praha and Copenhagen. On the road, Spurs face Paris Saint-Germain, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bodø/Glimt and Monaco. For Thomas Frank’s men, these fixtures provide a blend of glamour and tough atmospheres.

Newcastle United, one of the most talked-about teams in Europe, will experience a baptism of fire. will host Barcelona, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven and Athletic Club, while the Magpies travel to Paris Saint-Germain, Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille and . Newcastle fans can look forward to magical European nights at home, particularly against Barcelona and Benfica.

Spanish Heavyweights Ready for Action

Spain’s top clubs also carry significant weight this season. Barcelona will host Paris Saint-Germain, Eintracht Frankfurt, Olympiacos and Copenhagen. Their away games include Chelsea, Club Brugge, Slavia Praha and Newcastle. With Hansi Flick at the helm, Barcelona aim to rebuild their reputation in Europe, and these fixtures offer a real test of progress.

Real Madrid, the most successful club in Champions League history, have once again been handed fixtures worthy of their stature. will play Manchester City, Juventus, Marseille and Monaco at the . Away, they travel to Liverpool, Benfica, Olympiacos and Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty. These matchups ensure another chapter in Real Madrid’s historic European legacy.

Atlético de Madrid and Athletic Club also bring Spanish passion to the tournament. With Atlético facing giants like Arsenal and Liverpool, ’s men will need to be at their defensive best. Athletic Club, meanwhile, face Arsenal at home in what promises to be one of their most memorable fixtures in years.

Germany and Italy Bring Their Powerhouses

Germany’s is strongly represented, with Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt all competing. Bayern face Arsenal and Chelsea, Dortmund will battle Manchester City and Tottenham, Leverkusen meet City and Newcastle, while Frankfurt have Liverpool and Barcelona on their path. This spread ensures that German football will be at the heart of the Champions League drama.

From Italy, the representation is equally strong. Inter Milan have Arsenal and Liverpool in their fixtures, Juventus will lock horns with Real Madrid, Napoli are set to face both Chelsea and Manchester City, and Atalanta also carry Italy’s hopes. Italian football has resurged in recent years, and these matchups may continue that trend.

French Ambition with PSG and Marseille

Paris Saint-Germain, last season’s champions and current Champions League holders, face another demanding campaign. They will meet Newcastle and Tottenham among others, with Barcelona also on their radar. Marseille will clash with Liverpool and Newcastle, giving France two strong chances to make a deep run.

One of the beauties of the Champions League is that it offers smaller clubs the chance to shine on the biggest stage. Teams like Slavia Praha, Copenhagen, Qarabağ, Pafos, Bodø/Glimt and Union Saint-Gilloise are all part of the mix. For them, every fixture is historic, every point is a dream, and every upset is remembered forever. Clubs like Bodø/Glimt in Norway and Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan bring fresh stories to the Champions League, making this season more diverse than ever before.

The league-phase fixtures will be spread across eight matchdays: September 16–18, September 30–October 1, October 21–22, November 4–5, November 25–26, December 9–10, January 20–21 and January 28, 2026. After that, the knockout rounds begin, leading to the grand final in Budapest on May 30, 2026.

These dates will be circled in calendars worldwide, as fans plan their evenings around the biggest games of the season. From Liverpool vs Real Madrid to Barcelona vs Chelsea and Arsenal vs Bayern Munich, there will be no shortage of drama.

The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League is not just another season—it marks a new chapter in football history. The expanded format ensures more blockbuster clashes, more teams with a chance to dream, and more drama for fans around the globe.

English clubs will be aiming to dominate, Spanish giants will look to reclaim supremacy, and clubs from smaller leagues will fight for respect and recognition. By the time May arrives, one team will emerge from the battles across Europe to lift the famous trophy in Budapest.

Until then, fans can prepare for thrilling nights under the floodlights, unforgettable goals and stories that will live on in football folklore.