Champions League: Man City, Aston Villa Draw PSG As Arsenal Face Real Madrid
European champions Paris Saint-Germain have been handed a challenging league-phase schedule in the UEFA Champions League, with the reigning champions set to face Premier League giants Manchester City and Aston Villa, as well as five-time winners Barcelona.
PSG will welcome Barcelona to the Parc des Princes, while they will travel to England to face Manchester City and Aston Villa in what promises to be one of the standout league-phase schedules.
Arsenal handed Real Madrid, Bayern tests
Premier League champions Arsenal have also been handed a difficult assignment, with Mikel Arteta’s side set to host 15-time European champions Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners will also travel to face German giants Bayern Munich, while Borussia Dortmund, Real Betis, Lille, Napoli, Sabah and Slavia Prague complete their league-phase opponents.
Arsenal were beaten by PSG on penalties in last season’s Champions League final and will be hoping to go one step further this time around.
Man City to face PSG and Barcelona
Manchester City will host PSG at the Etihad Stadium and travel to Barcelona, where they will reunite with former midfielder Rodri, who joined the Spanish giants this summer in a £65 million transfer.
City will also welcome Napoli to Manchester, providing another reunion with former midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.
Their remaining opponents are Sporting Club, Porto, RB Leipzig, AEK Athens and Lens.
Villa return with heavyweight schedule
Europa League winners Aston Villa will return to the Champions League after a season away and face an imposing set of fixtures.
Unai Emery’s side will host PSG and Borussia Dortmund at Villa Park while travelling to face Barcelona and Galatasaray.
Club Brugge, Fenerbahce, Viking and Slavia Prague complete Villa’s opponents.
Manchester United and Liverpool learn their opponents
Manchester United, returning to Europe’s elite competition after a two-year absence, will face Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid, Roma, Sporting Club, RB Leipzig, Villarreal, Sabah and Como.
Meanwhile, Liverpool will host Atlético Madrid, Porto, Villarreal and Lens at Anfield while travelling to face Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and LASK.
When does the Champions League begin?
The first league-phase matches are scheduled for Tuesday, September 8, 2026, with the final round of league-phase fixtures set for January 27, 2027.
The exact fixture schedule is expected to be released on Saturday.
The Champions League final will be played in Madrid on June 5, 2027.
Premier League Clubs’ League-Phase Opponents
Arsenal: Real Madrid (H), Bayern Munich (A), Borussia Dortmund (H), Real Betis (A), Lille (H), Napoli (A), Sabah (H), Slavia Prague (A)
Aston Villa: PSG (H), Barcelona (A), Borussia Dortmund (H), Club Brugge (A), Fenerbahce (H), Galatasaray (A), Viking (H), Slavia Prague (A)
Liverpool: Atlético Madrid (H), Inter Milan (A), Porto (H), Club Brugge (A), Villarreal (H), Fenerbahce (A), Lens (H), LASK (A)
Manchester City: PSG (H), Barcelona (A), Sporting Club (H), Porto (A), Napoli (H), RB Leipzig (A), AEK Athens (H), Lens (A)
Manchester United: Bayern Munich (H), Atlético Madrid (A), Roma (H), Sporting Club (A), RB Leipzig (H), Villarreal (A), Sabah (H), Como (A)
The road to European glory is set, and the biggest clubs in Europe now know the challenges standing between them and the Champions League trophy.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
