The pathway to glory for all 36 teams has been revealed, as UEFA has confirmed the complete schedule for the 2025/26 Champions League season following Thursday’s draw in Monaco.
The upcoming season will again feature an expanded field and a format that still feels fresh for fans. After decades of group‑stage football, Europe’s most prestigious club competition will be played in a league phase that promises more big games and fewer dead rubbers.
Instead of the old eight‑group structure, all 36 teams are placed into a single league table. Each side will play eight matches in the league phase—four at home and four away—against eight different opponents.
To keep things balanced, teams are drawn to face two opponents each from Pots 1, 2, 3, and 4. The draw itself is conducted by a UEFA supercomputer to ensure no repeat matchups.
| Team | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | Bayern (H) | Inter Milan (A) | Atletico Madrid (H) | Club Brugge (A) | Olympiacos (H) | Slavia Prague (A) | Kairat (H) | Athletic Club (A) |
| Liverpool | Real Madrid (H) | Inter Milan (A) | Atletico Madrid (H) | Eintracht Frankfurt (A) | PSV (H) | Marseille (A) | Qarabag (H) | Galatasaray (A) |
| Chelsea | Barcelona (H) | Bayern (A) | Benfica (H) | Atalanta (A) | Ajax (H) | Napoli (A) | Pafos (H) | Qarabag (A) |
| Juventus | Borussia Dortmund (H) | Real Madrid (A) | Benfica (H) | Villarreal (A) | Sporting CP (H) | Bodø/Glimt (A) | Pafos (H) | Monaco (A) |
| Tottenham | Borussia Dortmund (H) | PSG (A) | Villarreal (H) | Eintracht Frankfurt (A) | Slavia Prague (H) | Bodø/Glimt (A) | Copenhagen (H) | Monaco (A) |
| Real Madrid | Man City (H) | Liverpool (A) | Juventus (H) | Benfica (A) | Marseille (H) | Olympiacos (A) | Monaco (H) | Kairat Almaty (A) |
| Barcelona | PSG (H) | Chelsea (A) | Eintracht Frankfurt (H) | Club Brugge (A) | Olympiacos (H) | Slavia Prague (A) | Copenhagen (H) | Newcastle (A) |
| Bayern Munich | Chelsea (H) | PSG (A) | Club Brugge (H) | Arsenal (A) | Sporting CP (H) | PSV (A) | Union SG (H) | Pafos (A) |
| Manchester City | Borussia Dortmund (H) | Real Madrid (A) | Bayer Leverkusen (H) | Villarreal (A) | Napoli (H) | Bodø/Glimt (A) | Galatasaray (H) | Monaco (A) |
| Paris Saint‑Germain | Bayern (H) | Barcelona (A) | Atalanta (H) | Bayer Leverkusen (A) | Tottenham (H) | Sporting CP (A) | Newcastle (H) | Athletic Club (A) |
At the end of the league phase, the top eight teams qualify directly for the round of 16, while teams placed 9th to 24th enter a two‑legged play‑off for the remaining spots. Teams finishing 25th or lower are eliminated outright.
| Matchday | Dates |
|---|---|
| 1 | September 16–18 |
| 2 | September 30–October 1 |
| 3 | October 21–22 |
| 4 | November 4–5 |
| 5 | November 25–26 |
| 6 | December 9–10 |
| 7 | January 20–21 |
| 8 | January 28 |
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Play-off Draw | January 30, 2026 |
| Knockout Play-offs | February 17/18 and 24/25 |
| Round of 16 | March 10/11 and 17/18 |
| Quarter-finals | April 7/8 and 14/15 |
| Semi-finals | April 28/29 and May 5/6 |
| Final | May 30 |
The new format ensures fans will see more blockbuster matchups in the league phase itself. With eight different opponents per team, the variety is far greater than before, making every matchday an event.
For Pakistani fans, who often stay up late for European nights, the new system promises even more excitement and meaningful football from the very start.
The road to Budapest is officially underway, and Europe’s giants are ready tochase PSG’s crown. Who will prevail? The answer will unfold under the brightest lights.