The UEFA Champions League draw has set up a series of huge clashes, with Liverpool facing both Manchester City and Real Madrid, world champions Chelsea taking on European giants Barcelona and Bayern Munich, while Paris Saint-Germain prepares for a stern test against Newcastle United.

The draw was held on Thursday in Monaco as the 36-team Champions League format, introduced by UEFA last season, continues, setting up exciting clashes between Europe’s biggest clubs, with both Liverpool and Manchester City gearing up to take on the 15-time champions, Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United and Europa League winners Tottenham Hotspur will face the current holders, Paris Saint-Germain.

The first games of the tournament will kick off on Tuesday, Sept. 16, while the final round of league matches will be played on Jan. 28, 2026. The full schedule will be confirmed in the coming days.

This season’s final will take place in Budapest.

In the new league format, all 36 teams play eight matches—four at home and four away—against different opponents. The top eight qualify directly for the round of 16, while teams finishing 9th to 24th will contest a two-legged play-off to join them. Any side finishing 25th or lower is eliminated completely and does not drop into the Europa League.

Liverpool will clash with Real Madrid at Anfield in a game that marks Trent Alexander-Arnold’s return, and also host Atlético Madrid, while making tough trips to Inter Milan and Galatasaray. Manchester City face a repeat of last season’s tie with Real Madrid away, and will host tough games against Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, and Napoli.

World champions Chelsea have a tricky path with home matches against Barcelona and Benfica, with away trips to Bayern Munich, Atalanta, and Napoli. Arsenal take on Bayern Munich at the Emirates and Atlético Madrid, while travelling to Inter Milan and Club Brugge. Tottenham host Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal, but also face a tough away night against Paris Saint-Germain.

Newcastle return to the competition, facing Barcelona and Benfica at St James’ Park, plus an away trip to PSG.

Current holders Paris Saint-Germain are set to host Bayern Munich as Barcelona will take on PSG at Camp Nou, and Real Madrid will meet Juventus at the Bernabéu.

Full details of the 2025–26 Champions League draw below:

Pot 1 teams

Real Madrid

Home: Manchester City, Juventus, Marseille, Monaco

Away: Liverpool, Benfica, Olympiacos, Kairat Almaty

Manchester City

Home: Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, Galatasaray

Away: Real Madrid, Villarreal, Bodø/Glimt, Monaco

Bayern Munich

Home: Chelsea, Club Brugge, Sporting CP, Union Saint-Gilloise

Away: Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Pafos

Liverpool

Home: Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, Qarabağ

Away: Inter, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille, Galatasaray

Paris Saint-Germain

Home: Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Tottenham, Newcastle

Away: Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting CP, Athletic Club

Inter

Home: Liverpool, Arsenal, Slavia Prague, Kairat Almaty

Away: Borussia Dortmund, Atlético Madrid, Ajax, Union Saint-Gilloise

Chelsea

Home: Barcelona, Benfica, Ajax, Pafos

Away: Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Napoli, Qarabağ

Borussia Dortmund

Home: Inter, Villarreal, Bodø/Glimt, Athletic Club

Away: Manchester City, Juventus, Tottenham, Copenhagen

Barcelona

Home: Paris Saint-Germain, Eintracht Frankfurt, Olympiacos, Copenhagen

Away: Chelsea, Club Brugge, Slavia Prague, Newcastle

Pot 2 teams

Arsenal

Home: Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid, Olympiacos, Kariat Almaty

Away: Inter, Club Brugge, Slavia Prague, Athletic Club

Bayer Leverkusen

Home: Paris Saint-Germain, Villarreal, PSV Eindhoven, Newcastle

Away: Manchester City, Benfica, Olympiacos, Copenhagen

Atlético Madrid

Home: Inter, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bodø/Glimt, Union Saint-Gilloise

Away: Liverpool, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, Galatasaray

Benfica

Home: Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, Qarabağ

Away: Chelsea, Juventus, Ajax, Newcastle

Atalanta

Home: Chelsea, Club Brugge, Slavia Prague, Athletic Club

Away: Paris Saint-Germain, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille, Union Saint-Gilloise

Villarreal

Home: Manchester City, Juventus, Ajax, Copenhagen

Away: Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham, Pafos

Juventus

Home: Borussia Dortmund, Benfica, Sporting CP, Pafos

Away: Real Madrid, Villarreal, Bodø/Glimt, Monaco

Eintracht Frankfurt

Home: Liverpool, Atalanta, Tottenham, Galatasaray

Away: Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Napoli, Qarabağ

Club Brugge

Home: Barcelona, Arsenal, Marseille, Monaco

Away: Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Sporting CP, Kairat Almaty

Pot 3 teams

Tottenham Hotspur

Home: Borussia Dortmund, Villarreal, Slavia Prague, Copenhagen

Away: Paris Saint-Germain, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bodø/Glimt, Monaco

PSV Eindhoven

Home: Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid, Napoli, Union Saint-Gilloise

Away: Liverpool, Bayer Leverkusen, Olympiacos, Newcastle

Ajax

Home: Inter, Benfica, Olympiacos, Galatasaray

Away: Chelsea, Villarreal, Marseille, Qarabağ

Napoli

Home: Chelsea, Eintracht Frankfurt, Sporting CP, Qarabağ

Away: Manchester City, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, Copenhagen

Sporting CP

Home: Paris Saint-Germain, Club Brugge, Marseille, Kairat Almaty

Away: Bayern Munich, Juventus, Napoli, Athletic Club

Olympiacos

Home: Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, PSV Eindhoven, Pafos

Away: Barcelona, Arsenal, Ajax, Kairat Almaty

Slavia Prague

Home: Barcelona, Arsenal, Bodø/Glimt, Athletic Club

Away: Inter, Atalanta, Tottenham, Pafos

Bodø/Glimt

Home: Manchester City, Juventus, Tottenham, Monaco

Away: Borussia Dortmund, Atlético Madrid, Slavia Prague, Galatasaray

Marseille

Home: Liverpool, Atalanta, Ajax, Newcastle

Away: Real Madrid, Club Brugge, Sporting CP, Union Saint-Gilloise

Pot 4 teams

Copenhagen

Home: Borussia Dortmund, Leverkusen, Napoli, Kairat Almaty

Away: Barcelona, Villarreal, Tottenham, Qarabağ

Monaco

Home: Manchester City, Juventus, Tottenham, Galatasaray

Away: Real Madrid, Club Brugge, Bodø/Glimt, Pafos

Galatasaray

Home: Liverpool, Atlético Madrid, Bodø/Glimt, Union Saint-Gilloise

Away: Manchester City, Eintracht Frankfurt, Ajax, Monaco

Union Saint-Gilloise

Home: Inter, Atalanta, Marseille, Newcastle

Away: Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, Galatasaray

Qarabağ

Home: Chelsea, Eintracht Frankfurt, Ajax, Copenhagen

Away: Liverpool, Benfica, Napoli, Athletic Club

Athletic Club

Home: Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Sporting CP, Qarabağ

Away: Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, Slavia Prague, Newcastle

Newcastle

Home: Barcelona, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, Athletic Club

Away: Paris Saint-Germain, Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille, Union Saint-Gilloise

Pafos

Home: Bayern Munich, Villarreal, Slavia Prague, Monaco

Away: Chelsea, Juventus, Olympiacos, Kairat Almaty

Kairat Almaty

Home: Real Madrid, Club Brugge, Olympiacos, Pafos

Away: Inter, Arsenal, Sporting CP, Copenhagen