The road to European glory is about to begin as clubs across the continent learn their fate in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League draw. With heavyweights like Real Madrid, PSG, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Barcelona in Pot One, and rising challengers scattered across the other pots, this year’s expanded league phase promises blockbuster clashes from the very start.
How the Draw Works
UEFA’s new Swiss-style league phase means that every club will play eight different opponents — four at home, four away. Here’s how the process unfolds:
1. A ball is drawn manually from Pot One.
• The UEFA software then randomly assigns eight opponents: two from each of the other pots, while also deciding who plays home and away.
• The process is repeated for all Pot One teams.
2. The draw then shifts to Pot Two.
• Since two Pot One opponents are already fixed, the software allocates two teams each from Pots Two, Three, and Four.
3. The same procedure is applied to Pot Three and Pot Four until all fixtures are set.
This system ensures variety and balance while still giving fans the chance to see elite clubs face off in the league phase.
Key Fixture Dates
The Champions League group phase will unfold across eight matchdays:
• Matchday 1: September 16–18, 2025
• Matchday 2: September 30–October 1, 2025
• Matchday 3: October 21–22, 2025
• Matchday 4: November 4–5, 2025
• Matchday 5: November 25–26, 2025
• Matchday 6: December 9–10, 2025
• Matchday 7: January 20–21, 2026
• Matchday 8: January 28, 2026
The Pots for the 2025/26 Draw
Pot One (Champions & Heavyweights)
• PSG (France)
• Real Madrid (Spain)
• Manchester City (England)
• Bayern Munich (Germany)
• Liverpool (England)
• Inter (Italy)
• Chelsea (England)
• Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
• Barcelona (Spain)
Pot Two (Top Challengers)
• Arsenal (England)
• Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
• Atletico Madrid (Spain)
• Benfica (Portugal)
• Atalanta (Italy)
• Villarreal (Spain)
• Juventus (Italy)
• Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)
• Club Brugge (Belgium)
Pot Three (Strong Contenders)
• Tottenham (England)
• PSV (Netherlands)
• Ajax (Netherlands)
• Napoli (Italy)
• Sporting (Portugal)
• Olympiacos (Greece)
• Slavia Prague (Czech Republic)
• Bodo/Glimt (Norway)
• Marseille (France)
Pot Four (Underdogs with Bite)
• Copenhagen (Denmark)
• Monaco (France)
• Galatasaray (Turkey)
• Union SG (Belgium)
• Qarabag (Azerbaijan)
• Athletic Club (Spain)
• Newcastle United (England)
• Pafos (Cyprus)
• Kairat Almaty (Kazakhstan)
What to Expect
With Europe’s giants spread across the four pots, fans can look forward to clashes that feel like knockout ties as early as the league stage. A draw pairing Liverpool with Juventus and Galatasaray, or Barcelona with Arsenal and Marseille, is entirely possible under the new system.
The drama begins today with the live draw, and the action kicks off on September 16, 2025