Champions League 2026-27: Man City and Villa face PSG
The 2026-27 UEFA Champions League league phase draw sets up heavyweight clashes as holders PSG face Manchester City and Aston Villa, while Arsenal meet Real Madrid.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Holders Paris St-Germain will face Premier League sides Manchester City and Aston Villa in the league phase.
- Arsenal will host 15-time winners Real Madrid at Emirates Stadium.
- Rodri will reunite with Manchester City after his 65 million pound summer transfer to Barcelona.
- The league phase matches run from 8 September to 27 January 2027.
The draw for the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League league phase has delivered thrilling fixtures, with European champions Paris St-Germain set to face Premier League duo Manchester City and Aston Villa alongside five-time winners Barcelona.
The back-to-back Champions League winners will welcome Barcelona to Parc des Princes, while also travelling to Villa Park and Manchester during the league phase campaign.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Meanwhile, Premier League champions Arsenal, managed by Mikel Arteta and runners-up following a penalty shootout defeat to PSG in last season's final, will host 15-time winners Real Madrid at Emirates Stadium and travel to face Bayern Munich. Their fixtures also include Borussia Dortmund, Real Betis, Lille, Napoli, Azerbaijan champions Sabah, and Slavia Prague.
Enzo Maresca's Manchester City will welcome PSG to Etihad Stadium and travel to Barcelona, where they will encounter former Spanish World Cup-winner Rodri following his 65 million pound move to the Nou Camp this summer.
"European champions Paris St-Germain will face Premier League duo Manchester City and Aston Villa."
UEFA Champions League
City will also face another former midfielder, Kevin de Bruyne, when Napoli visit Manchester, alongside matches against Sporting, Porto, RB Leipzig, AEK Athens, and Lens.
The league phase format requires each of the 36 participating teams to play eight different opponents—four at home and four away. Teams finishing in the top eight automatically advance to the last 16, while those placed ninth through 24th compete in a two-legged knockout play-off. Sides finishing 25th or lower are eliminated entirely without dropping into the Europa League.
Europa League winners Aston Villa, returning to the competition after a one-year absence, will host PSG and Borussia Dortmund while visiting Barcelona and Galatasaray. Unai Emery's side will also face Club Brugge, Fenerbahce, Viking, and Slavia Prague.
The opening league phase fixtures will take place on Tuesday, 8 September, and the final round of matches is scheduled for 27 January 2027, with the exact schedule to be released on Saturday. The season's final will be held at Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on 5 June.
Source: BBC Sport
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