UCL fixtures out: Real Madrid face Arsenal, Barcelona host Man City as UEFA confirms league phase schedule
UEFA has confirmed the dates for the 2026/27 Champions League league phase, setting up heavyweight clashes including Arsenal vs Real Madrid, Barcelona vs Manchester City, Manchester United vs Bayern Munich and Inter Milan vs Liverpool.
1h ago·5 min read
UEFA has released the complete fixture schedule for the 2026/27 Champions League league phase, confirming the dates for all eight matchdays and setting up a string of blockbuster encounters involving some of Europe's biggest clubs.
The league phase will begin on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 and run until Wednesday, January 27, 2027, when all 36 clubs will play their final matches.
Under the league-phase format, each club faces eight different opponents — four at home and four away — before the competition moves into the knockout rounds.
Real Madrid begin their campaign with a heavyweight home encounter against Inter Milan on September 8, while Liverpool welcome Atlético Madrid to Anfield a day later.
Arsenal travel to Napoli for their opener, Barcelona host Feyenoord and Manchester City begin away at Porto. Manchester United start their European campaign at Old Trafford against Azerbaijani side Sabah.
But some of the biggest games arrive later in the competition.
Paris Saint-Germain host Barcelona on October 20 before Bayern Munich welcome Arsenal to Germany the following night.
Manchester City face PSG on October 14 and travel to Barcelona on December 8, while Manchester United have a difficult run featuring Atlético Madrid, Roma, Sporting CP and Bayern Munich.
One of the standout fixtures of the entire league phase will take place at the Emirates Stadium on December 9 when Arsenal host Real Madrid.
Liverpool will also have a major European night to negotiate in January when they travel to Italy to face Inter Milan.
Biggest games to watch
Among the headline fixtures confirmed by UEFA are:
- September 8: Real Madrid vs Inter Milan
- September 9: Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid
- September 9: Napoli vs Arsenal
- October 13: Atlético Madrid vs Manchester United
- October 14: Manchester City vs PSG
- October 20: PSG vs Barcelona
- October 21: Bayern Munich vs Arsenal
- November 3: Atlético Madrid vs Bayern Munich
- November 3: Barcelona vs Aston Villa
- November 3: Manchester United vs Roma
- November 24: Arsenal vs Borussia Dortmund
- November 24: Manchester City vs Napoli
- November 25: PSG vs Roma
- November 25: Sporting CP vs Manchester United
- December 8: Barcelona vs Manchester City
- December 9: Arsenal vs Real Madrid
- January 19: Inter Milan vs Liverpool
- January 20: Manchester United vs Bayern Munich
Real Madrid's Champions League fixtures
Real Madrid have been handed an intriguing route through the league phase, with trips to Roma and Arsenal among their toughest assignments.
- September 8: Real Madrid vs Inter Milan
- October 14: Roma vs Real Madrid
- October 21: Real Madrid vs Leipzig
- November 4: AEK Athens vs Real Madrid
- November 24: Real Madrid vs PSV Eindhoven
- December 9: Arsenal vs Real Madrid
- January 19: Real Madrid vs LASK
- January 27: Shakhtar Donetsk vs Real Madrid
Madrid's December trip to Arsenal is arguably the headline game on their schedule, while opening the campaign against Inter should provide an immediate test.
Arsenal's Champions League fixtures
Arsenal face one of the most eye-catching schedules, with Napoli, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid all waiting for the Gunners.
- September 9: Napoli vs Arsenal
- October 13: Arsenal vs Lille
- October 21: Bayern Munich vs Arsenal
- November 4: Slavia Prague vs Arsenal
- November 24: Arsenal vs Borussia Dortmund
- December 9: Arsenal vs Real Madrid
- January 20: Real Betis vs Arsenal
- January 27: Arsenal vs Sabah
The sequence of Bayern, Dortmund and Madrid gives Arsenal three heavyweight European tests, although two of those matches will be played at the Emirates.
Liverpool's Champions League fixtures
Liverpool begin with Atlético Madrid at Anfield before later travelling to Turkey, Belgium and Italy.
- September 9: Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid
- October 14: LASK vs Liverpool
- October 20: Liverpool vs Villarreal
- November 4: Fenerbahçe vs Liverpool
- November 25: Club Brugge vs Liverpool
- December 9: Liverpool vs Porto
- January 19: Inter Milan vs Liverpool
- January 27: Liverpool vs Lens
The Reds' January trip to Inter could prove particularly significant as the battle for automatic qualification reaches its closing stages.
Manchester United's Champions League fixtures
Manchester United are back among Europe's elite and have been given several potentially difficult assignments.
- September 10: Manchester United vs Sabah
- October 13: Atlético Madrid vs Manchester United
- October 21: Como vs Manchester United
- November 3: Manchester United vs Roma
- November 25: Sporting CP vs Manchester United
- December 8: Manchester United vs Leipzig
- January 20: Manchester United vs Bayern Munich
- January 27: Villarreal vs Manchester United
United start with what appears to be a favourable home fixture against Sabah, but their schedule quickly becomes more demanding with Atlético Madrid away.
A January 20 showdown with Bayern Munich at Old Trafford is likely to be one of the most anticipated games of Matchday 7.
Barcelona's Champions League fixtures
Barcelona have been handed major games against PSG and Manchester City as part of their eight-match schedule.
- September 9: Barcelona vs Feyenoord
- October 13: Galatasaray vs Barcelona
- October 20: PSG vs Barcelona
- November 3: Barcelona vs Aston Villa
- November 25: Sabah vs Barcelona
- December 8: Barcelona vs Manchester City
- January 20: Sporting CP vs Barcelona
- January 27: Barcelona vs Como
The October trip to Paris and December home game against Manchester City stand out as Barça's two biggest tests on paper.
Manchester City's Champions League fixtures
Manchester City face a schedule packed with major European names, including PSG, Napoli and Barcelona.
- September 8: Porto vs Manchester City
- October 14: Manchester City vs PSG
- October 20: Manchester City vs AEK Athens
- November 4: Leipzig vs Manchester City
- November 24: Manchester City vs Napoli
- December 8: Barcelona vs Manchester City
- January 20: Lens vs Manchester City
- January 27: Manchester City vs Sporting CP
City's October home meeting with PSG will be followed less than two months later by a blockbuster trip to Barcelona.
When are the Champions League matchdays?
UEFA has scheduled the eight league-phase rounds as follows:
- Matchday 1: September 8–10, 2026
- Matchday 2: October 13–14, 2026
- Matchday 3: October 20–21, 2026
- Matchday 4: November 3–4, 2026
- Matchday 5: November 24–25, 2026
- Matchday 6: December 8–9, 2026
- Matchday 7: January 19–20, 2027
- Matchday 8: January 27, 2027
All 18 matches on the final matchday will be played simultaneously.
UEFA says kick-off times are 21:00 CET unless otherwise indicated, with selected fixtures scheduled for 18:45 CET.
The top eight teams in the final league table will qualify directly for the Round of 16, while teams finishing from ninth to 24th will have to negotiate the knockout phase play-offs.
The knockout play-offs are scheduled for February 16/17 and 23/24, with the Round of 16 following in March.
The competition will ultimately return to Spain for the final, which is scheduled for June 5, 2027 at Atlético Madrid's Estadio Metropolitano.