Who will English clubs face in the 2026/27 Champions League League Phase?

The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase draw has been completed, with Liverpool, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City discovering the eight clubs standing between them and a place in the knockout stages.

All five English representatives will play four matches at home and four away as part of the 36-team league phase, facing two opponents from each of the four seeding pots. The league phase begins across 8th to 10th September 2026 before concluding on 27th January 2027.

There are some huge European nights heading to England over the coming months, including visits from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid.

Here is who each of the five Premier League clubs will face in the 2026/27 Champions League.

Liverpool’s 2026/27 Champions League opponents

Liverpool are back in the Champions League this season and Andoni Iraola’s side have been handed an intriguing set of fixtures across the league phase.

The Reds will welcome Atletico Madrid, FC Porto, Villarreal and Lens to Anfield, while their four away matches will see them travel to face Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and Austrian side LASK.

There is plenty of European history among Liverpool’s home opponents. Atletico Madrid have been regular Champions League challengers and have shared several memorable European encounters with the Reds, while Porto are another club Liverpool know particularly well from previous campaigns.

Villarreal will also make the trip to Merseyside, while French club Lens complete Liverpool’s four home opponents.

With Champions League football returning to Anfield for another season, supporters have four very different European occasions to look forward to.

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Liverpool’s Champions League home opponents

Atletico Madrid
FC Porto
Villarreal
Lens

Liverpool’s Champions League away opponents

Inter Milan
Club Brugge
Fenerbahce
LASK

Aston Villa’s 2026/27 Champions League opponents

Aston Villa’s return to the Champions League has produced an eye-catching collection of opponents for Unai Emery’s side.

Villa Park will host Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Fenerbahce and Viking FK during the league phase. Away from home, Villa will take on Barcelona, Club Brugge, Galatasaray and Slavia Prague.

The visit of Paris Saint-Germain immediately catches the eye, bringing one of European football’s biggest clubs to Birmingham. Borussia Dortmund will provide another major occasion under the Villa Park lights, while Turkish giants Fenerbahce arrive with their own rich European history and passionate following.

Norwegian side Viking FK complete the home schedule, adding another very different opponent to Villa’s Champions League campaign.

Their travels are equally fascinating. A trip to Barcelona is among the biggest fixtures available in European football, while visits to Club Brugge, Galatasaray and Slavia Prague will provide very different challenges across the continent.

Eventmasters’ Aston Villa Champions League hospitality packages allow guests to experience the European atmosphere at Villa Park from premium hospitality facilities, with all four league-phase home opponents now confirmed.

Aston Villa’s Champions League home opponents

Paris Saint-Germain
Borussia Dortmund
Fenerbahce
Viking FK

Aston Villa’s Champions League away opponents

Barcelona
Club Brugge
Galatasaray
Slavia Prague

Arsenal’s 2026/27 Champions League opponents

Premier League champions Arsenal will once again be aiming to challenge deep into the Champions League after reaching last season’s final.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been handed some major fixtures, particularly at the Emirates Stadium, where they will welcome Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Lille and Sabah.

Their away schedule contains another heavyweight European fixture against Bayern Munich, alongside trips to Real Betis, Napoli and Slavia Prague.

Real Madrid’s visit promises to be one of the most anticipated Champions League nights in north London. Arsenal have increasingly established themselves among Europe’s leading sides in recent seasons, and another meeting with the record European champions gives the Emirates Stadium a huge league-phase occasion.

Borussia Dortmund will also travel to north London, while Lille provide French opposition and Azerbaijani champions Sabah make the journey to the Emirates.

There is little let-up on the road either. Bayern Munich and Napoli represent two demanding European trips, with Real Betis and Slavia Prague completing Arsenal’s eight opponents.

Champions League hospitality at Arsenal offers the chance to enjoy some of the biggest European fixtures at the Emirates Stadium in premium surroundings.

Arsenal’s Champions League home opponents

Real Madrid
Borussia Dortmund
Lille
Sabah

Arsenal’s Champions League away opponents

Bayern Munich
Real Betis
Napoli
Slavia Prague

Manchester United’s 2026/27 Champions League opponents

Champions League football is returning to Old Trafford, and Manchester United have been handed four home fixtures that should produce some memorable European nights.

United will host Bayern Munich, Roma, RB Leipzig and Sabah, while their four away opponents are Atletico Madrid, Sporting CP, Villarreal and Como.

Bayern Munich’s visit immediately provides one of the headline fixtures of United’s league phase. The two clubs have considerable European history, while another major continental name arrives in the shape of Italian side Roma.

RB Leipzig will bring Bundesliga opposition to Manchester, with Sabah completing the quartet of clubs heading to Old Trafford.

United’s away programme is just as varied, taking them from Atletico Madrid in Spain to Sporting CP in Portugal, before further meetings with Villarreal and Italian side Como.

With four Champions League matches taking place at Old Trafford during the league phase, supporters will have several opportunities to experience European football in Manchester this season.

Manchester United’s Champions League home opponents

Bayern Munich
Roma
RB Leipzig
Sabah

Manchester United’s Champions League away opponents

Atletico Madrid
Sporting CP
Villarreal
Como

Manchester City’s 2026/27 Champions League opponents

Manchester City complete England’s five representatives and Pep Guardiola’s side have also been handed a fascinating set of league-phase opponents.

The Etihad Stadium will welcome Paris Saint-Germain, Sporting CP, Napoli and AEK Athens, while City will travel to Barcelona, FC Porto, RB Leipzig and Lens.

Paris Saint-Germain’s visit is the obvious heavyweight home encounter, bringing together two clubs that have been regular contenders at the latter stages of the Champions League.

Italian champions Napoli and Portuguese giants Sporting CP add further pedigree to City’s home programme, before Greek club AEK Athens complete their four fixtures at the Etihad.

Away from Manchester, City’s trip to Barcelona provides another huge European occasion. Porto, Leipzig and Lens complete a varied schedule that will take Guardiola’s side across Spain, Portugal, Germany and France.

Manchester City’s Champions League home opponents

Paris Saint-Germain
Sporting CP
Napoli
AEK Athens

Manchester City’s Champions League away opponents

Barcelona
FC Porto
RB Leipzig
Lens

When will the 2026/27 Champions League fixtures be confirmed?

While every club now knows its eight opponents and whether each game will be played at home or away, the exact order of the fixtures, match dates and kick-off times have not yet been announced.

UEFA has confirmed that the complete league-phase fixture schedule will be communicated no later than Saturday 29th August 2026.

The eight matchdays will take place between September 2026 and January 2027, beginning from 8th to 10th September and concluding with all clubs playing their final league-phase fixture on 27th January.

How does the Champions League league phase work?

Each of the 36 clubs plays eight different opponents, with four matches at home and four away. Teams were drawn against two clubs from each of the four seeding pots, playing one at home and the other away.

Once all eight rounds have been completed, the top eight clubs in the league table qualify automatically for the Round of 16. Teams finishing from ninth to 24th enter the knockout phase play-offs, while those finishing 25th or below are eliminated from European competition.

The competition eventually reaches the 2026/27 Champions League Final at Atletico Madrid’s Estadio Metropolitano on Saturday 5th June 2027.

FAQs

Which English clubs are in the 2026/27 Champions League?

Liverpool, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City are England’s five representatives in the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase. England received five league-phase places after earning an additional European Performance Spot.

How many Champions League matches does each club play in the league phase?

Each club plays eight league-phase fixtures, consisting of four home matches and four away matches against eight different opponents.

When does the 2026/27 Champions League league phase begin?

The opening Champions League league-phase matches will be played between Tuesday 8th and Thursday 10th September 2026. The eighth and final matchday takes place on Wednesday 27th January 2027.

When will the Champions League fixture dates and kick-off times be announced?

UEFA has stated that the full fixture schedule will be announced no later than Saturday 29th August 2026. Until then, the order, dates and kick-off times of each club’s eight matches remain to be confirmed.

Can I book Champions League hospitality with Eventmasters?

Eventmasters offers a range of football hospitality experiences, including opportunities to watch Champions League football from premium facilities. Guests can explore available hospitality packages for some of the biggest European fixtures taking place in England during the 2026/27 season.