*Also, Trent Alexander-Arnold Returns To Face Former Team Liverpool
*De Bruyne Squares Up Against Man City
*Bayern’s Kane, Arsenal’s Old Nemesis, Battles Gunners
Though on Saturday, August 30, UEFA will provide times and exact dates for each 2025-26 Champions League league match for the 36 teams participating in the tournament, the draw on Thursday, August 28 set up some potentially thrilling matchups.
Chelsea vs Barcelona at Stamford Bridge; Bayern Munich vs Chelsea at Alliance Arena; Liverpool vs Real Madrid at Anfield are some of the heart-stopping games fans will experience.
The full fixtures are: Bayern Munich will face Chelsea (H), PSG (A), Club Brugge (H), Arsenal (A), Sporting CP (H), PSV (A), Union SG (H), Pafos (A).
Chelsea will play Barcelona (H), Bayern Munich (A), Benfica (H), Atalanta (A), Ajax (H), Napoli (A), Pafos (H), Qarabag (A).
Real Madrid take on Manchester City (H), Liverpool (A), Juventus (H), Benfica (A), Marseille (H), Olympiacos (A), Monaco (H), Kairat Almaty (A).
In some of the individual features of the draw,
Trent Alexander-Arnold will make a swift return to Anfield.
The right-back will face his old teammates months after his controversial move to the Bernabéu, which drew vocal disapproval from sections of the Liverpool support.
It was one of several high-profile reunions produced in a league phase draw that also pits Kevin De Bruyne, now with Napoli, against Manchester City.
Napoli manager, Antonio Conte, will also meet his former club Chelsea.
Arsenal will prime themselves for the latest appearance of Harry Kane, a long-time nemesis while at Spurs, in Bayern Munich colours at the Emirates.
One of the rules for this sprawling league phase, which starts mid-September, is that the clubs that make it into the top eight will qualify automatically for the knockout stages.
The teams that finish ninth to 24th place will be drawn in a two-legged play-off to secure a place in the last 16 of the competition.
All others, from 25-36, are sent home, eliminated from all competitions (that is, Europa League, Conference League).
PHOTO CAPTION: UEFA’s Deputy General Secretary, Giorgio Marchetti, flanked by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kaká at the draw. Photograph:
UEFA.
