The UEFA Champions League 2025-26 season is set to be an exciting one, with the league phase draw completed in Monaco on August 28, 2025. Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) now know their initial opponents as they embark on their title defense.

The New Format

The 2025-26 season will be the second year of the newly revamped Champions League format, featuring 36 teams in a single league table, replacing the traditional group stage. Each team will play eight matches against eight different opponents, four at home and four away. The top eight teams will automatically advance to the round of 16, while those finishing ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged playoff to secure their place in the last 16. Teams finishing 25th or lower will be eliminated from European competition for the season.

PSG's Opponents

The draw has determined that PSG will face a challenging set of opponents in their quest to retain the title. Their opponents are drawn from four different pots. According to beIN SPORTS, PSG's opponents in the 2025/26 Champions League are:

• Pot 1: Bayern Munich and Barcelona
• Pot 2: Bayer Leverkusen and Atalanta
• Pot 3: Tottenham and Sporting CP
• Pot 4: Athletic Club and Newcastle

This draw means PSG will face tough competition from some of Europe's elite clubs.

Premier League's Strong Representation

England will have six representatives in the Champions League this season: Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Newcastle. Tottenham qualified by winning the Europa League, while the others secured their spots through their Premier League performance.

Other Qualified Teams

Several other teams have already qualified for the league phase, including:

• Spain: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Athletic Club, and Villarreal
• Italy: Napoli, Inter Milan, Atalanta, and Juventus
• Germany: Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Borussia Dortmund
• France: Marseille and Monaco
• Netherlands: PSV Eindhoven and Ajax
• Other: Sporting Lisbon, Galatasaray, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, Union Saint-Gilloise, Bodø/Glimt, Kairat, Qarabag, FC Copenhagen, Club Brugge and Benfica

Draw Restrictions

The draw was conducted with certain restrictions to ensure fairness and variety. Teams from the same country cannot face each other in the league phase. Additionally, a team can face a maximum of two teams from the same association.

Key Dates

The Champions League league phase matches will be played between September 2025 and January 2026:

• Matchday 1: September 16-18
• Matchday 2: September 30-October 1
• Matchday 3: October 21-22
• Matchday 4: November 4-5
• Matchday 5: November 25-26
• Matchday 6: December 9-10
• Matchday 7: January 20-21, 2026
• Matchday 8: January 28, 2026

The final will take place in Budapest on May 30, 2026.

With the draw complete and the stage set, anticipation is building for what promises to be another thrilling Champions League season.