The path to the 2027 UEFA Champions League final has been set following Thursday's league phase draw. Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain have been handed a challenging schedule, including high-profile encounters against Barcelona, Manchester City, and Aston Villa as they look to retain the title they secured in May.
Luis Enrique’s squad will enjoy home advantage against Barcelona, Roma, Galatasaray, and Slovan Bratislava. However, the French champions face significant tests on the road, with trips to England to face Manchester City and Aston Villa, as well as away fixtures against Villarreal and Cesc Fabregas’s Como side.
Key Fixtures and Tournament Structure
Last season’s runners-up, Arsenal, face a demanding campaign. The Premier League champions are scheduled to host Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Lille, and Azerbaijani side Sabah. Their away itinerary is equally testing, featuring trips to Bayern Munich, Real Betis, Napoli, and Slavia Prague.
Other notable matchups include Manchester City’s visit to Barcelona and Real Madrid’s home clash against Inter Milan. Meanwhile, Aston Villa, fresh from their Europa League success, will host Borussia Dortmund and travel to face Barcelona. Manchester United, entering from a lower seeding pot, will host Bayern Munich, Roma, RB Leipzig, and Sabah, while navigating away games against Atletico Madrid, Sporting, Villarreal, and Como.
The competition continues with its 36-team league format, where each club plays eight distinct opponents. The league phase is set to commence between September 8 and September 10, with the final round of matches scheduled for late January. UEFA is expected to release the comprehensive fixture list this Saturday.
This season features several notable debutants and returnees, including Como, Sabah, and LASK, who secured their place after a dramatic play-off victory against Celtic. Additionally, Norwegian champions Viking have reached the competition proper for the first time, earning a schedule that includes fixtures against Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Aston Villa, and Napoli. The tournament will culminate in the final at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on June 5, 2027.
