Chalien Dantes / Contributor

The Champions League league-phase draw has produced some amazing matchups, with defending European champions Paris Saint-Germain set to face Manchester City, Aston Villa and five-time winners Barcelona.

PSG will welcome Barcelona to the Parc des Princes, while trips to England will see them take on City at the Etihad Stadium and Villa at Villa Park. Arsenal also face a demanding campaign, with 15-time European champions Real Madrid heading to the Emirates and Mikel Arteta’s side travelling to Germany to battle Bayern Munich.

Manchester City’s road through the league phase includes PSG, Barcelona and Napoli, along with Sporting, Porto, RB Leipzig, AEK Athens and Lens. Aston Villa, back in the Champions League after a season away, will entertain PSG and Borussia Dortmund while travelling to Barcelona and Galatasaray.

Manchester United return to Europe’s elite competition with Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Roma and Villarreal among their opponents. Liverpool have also been handed a tough schedule, including clashes with Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Porto and Villarreal.

The league phase kicks off on September 8 and concludes on January 27, 2027, before the competition moves into the knockout rounds. The race for European football’s biggest club prize will end in Madrid, with the Champions League final scheduled for June 5.