The UEFA Champions League enters another decisive stage today as the draw for the league phase takes place in Monaco, setting the opening fixtures for Europe’s leading clubs.
The draw will be held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco at 10pm Bangladesh time. For the third consecutive season, the competition will not feature the traditional group-stage format. Instead, 36 clubs will compete in a single league phase, with each side facing eight different opponents.
The new format was introduced in the 2024-25 season, replacing the previous system in which teams were divided into groups. Paris Saint-Germain have won both editions played under the new structure and will begin their pursuit of a third successive European title next month under head coach Luis Enrique.
The final qualifying stage, the play-offs, concluded last night, completing the line-up for the league phase. Seven clubs have secured their places through the qualifying rounds, while the remaining 29 earned direct entry based on their performances in domestic competitions.
How the draw will work
The 36 clubs will be divided into four pots according to their UEFA club coefficient rankings. The composition of the pots is due to be determined earlier today.
Each club will then be drawn against eight opponents, with teams coming from the different pots. The resulting schedule will give every side four home matches and four away fixtures during the league phase.
The change means clubs will no longer play the same three opponents twice, as they did under the former group-stage system. Instead, every team will face eight different sides, creating a broader and potentially more demanding fixture list.
The draw therefore carries considerable significance. Europe’s leading clubs could be handed difficult schedules from the outset, while teams with lower profiles will have the opportunity to meet some of the continent’s biggest names.
The 29 clubs directly qualified
England has five clubs in the directly qualified line-up: Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool.
Spain also has five representatives, with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Villarreal, Atlético Madrid and Real Betis all securing places in the league phase.
Italy will be represented by Inter Milan, Napoli, Roma and Como, while Germany has four clubs: Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Leipzig and Stuttgart.
France has three directly qualified teams — Paris Saint-Germain, Lens and Lille. Portugal’s representatives are Porto and Sporting CP, while the Netherlands will have PSV and Feyenoord.
Club Brugge will represent Belgium, Galatasaray will carry Turkey’s challenge, Shakhtar Donetsk will represent Ukraine and Slavia Prague will be the Czech Republic’s representative.
With the qualifying play-offs now complete, attention turns entirely to the draw. The identity of each club’s eight opponents will provide the first clear indication of the challenges awaiting Europe’s elite in the league phase.
For reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain, the stakes are particularly high. Having claimed the title in both of the first two seasons under the revised format, Luis Enrique’s side will be aiming to begin another campaign on the path towards an unprecedented third consecutive triumph.
The league phase will ultimately determine which clubs progress into the knockout stages, making every fixture significant. Today’s draw will therefore do more than simply pair teams with opponents; it will establish the competitive landscape for the opening stage of the Champions League season.
