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UEFA Champions League (2025/26)

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The 2025–26 UEFA Champions League is the 71st season of Europe's premier club football tournament organised by UEFA, and the 34th season since it was rebranded from the European Cup to the UEFA Champions League. Paris Saint-Germain are the defending champions, having secured their maiden title the previous season.

The final will be played on 30 May 2026 at Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary.[1] The winners of the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League will automatically qualify for the 2026–27 UEFA Champions League league phase, the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup finals, the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup group stage, and earn the right to play against the winners of the 2025–26 UEFA Europa League in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup.

This is the first Champions League season to feature six clubs from one nation, with England earning an extra spot through UEFA coefficient ranking and Tottenham Hotspur having won the previous season's Europa League

As of 27 August 2025, the following teams have qualified for the league phase:

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Russell Martin's hapless 10-man Rangers crashed out of the Champions League play-offs in humiliating fashion as a record-equalling six-goal European loss at relentless Club Brugge inflicted a 9-1 aggregate defeat.
 
Tough fixtures for Chelsea

Barcelona (home), Bayern Munich (away), Benfica (home), Atalanta (away), Ajax (home), Napoli (away), Pafos (home) and Qarabag (away)
 
Good draw for Liverpool.

Real Madrid will be visiting Anfield again, see you soon again Trent...on the bench
:klopp
 
Trent Derby for Liverpool

Liverpool will play: Real Madrid (home), Inter Milan (away), Atletico Madrid (home), Eintracht Frankfurt (away), PSV Eindhoven (home), Marseille (away), Qarabag (home) and Galatasaray (away)
 
Manchester City will play: Borussia Dortmund (home), Real Madrid (away), Bayer Leverkusen (home), Villarreal (away), Napoli (home), Bodo/Glimt (away), Galatasaray (home) and Monaco (away).
 
Tough games and draw for holders PSG

Paris St-Germain will play: Bayern Munich (home), Barcelona (away), Atalanta (home), Bayer Leverkusen (away), Tottenham Hotspur (home), Sporting (away), Newcastle United (home) and Athletic Club (away).
 
Trent Derby for Liverpool

Liverpool will play: Real Madrid (home), Inter Milan (away), Atletico Madrid (home), Eintracht Frankfurt (away), PSV Eindhoven (home), Marseille (away), Qarabag (home) and Galatasaray (away)

Im seriously considering going to Qarabag as its a country Ive wanted to visit.

Not the easiest group, we are unlikely to finish top again lol.
 
Haram football Derby for Arsenal

Arsenal will play: Bayern Munich (home), Inter Milan (away), Atletico Madrid (away), Club Brugge (home), Olympiacos (away), Slavia Prague (home), Kairat Almaty (away) and Athletic Bilbao (home).
 
Im seriously considering going to Qarabag as its a country Ive wanted to visit.

Not the easiest group, we are unlikely to finish top again lol.
It's meant to be a very long travel and place to go.

You should go to Galatasaray (away). I went to see Galatasaray vs fenerbache many years ago with my Aunties husband. The game was delayed as well by 25 minutes due to flairs thrown on ground and stuff, for a few seasons they stopped away fans going in these Derby games.
 
Tottenham will meet: Borussia Dortmund (home), Paris St-Germain (away), Villarreal (home), Eintracht Frankfurt (away), Slavia Prague (home), Bodo/Glimt (away) Copenhagen (home) and Monaco (away).
 
It's meant to be a very long travel and place to go.

You should go to Galatasaray (away). I went to see Galatasaray vs fenerbache many years ago with my Aunties husband. The game was delayed as well by 25 minutes due to flairs thrown on ground and stuff, for a few seasons they stopped away fans going in these Derby games.

Never been to a match in turkey , this would be perfect but difficult to get a ticket .

Liverpool have to take this competition seriously from game 1 , a few losses and we might have to go through qualifying
 
Both Liverpool and Manchester City will face 15-time winners Real Madrid in the league phase of the Champions League, while Tottenham and Newcastle must both play holders Paris St-Germain.

The 36-team league - introduced last season - will see six Premier League teams in action for the first time, but they can not face each other until the knockout stages.

As well as coming up against Trent Alexander-Arnold and Real at Anfield, six-time winners Liverpool face Atletico Madrid and beaten finalists Inter Milan in their eight games, with Pep Guardiola's City taking on Napoli and Borussia Dortmund.

Chelsea face giants Barcelona and Bayern Munich while Arsenal also play Harry Kane's Bayern and Inter.

Newcastle's return to the competition includes a trip to St James' Park for Barcelona, while Tottenham - who qualified by winning the Europa League - play Dortmund and Monaco.

The first matches will be played on Tuesday, 16 September and the last round of league games take place on 28 January 2026, with exact scheduling to follow in the coming days.

This season's final will be held in Budapest.

Who the Premier League sides will face​

Liverpool: Real Madrid (home), Inter Milan (away), Atletico Madrid (home), Eintracht Frankfurt (away), PSV Eindhoven (home), Marseille (away), Qarabag (home) and Galatasaray (away).

Manchester City: Borussia Dortmund (home), Real Madrid (away), Bayer Leverkusen (home), Villarreal (away), Napoli (home), Bodo/Glimt (away), Galatasaray (home) and Monaco (away).

Chelsea: Barcelona (home), Bayern Munich (away), Benfica (home), Atalanta (away), Ajax (home), Napoli (away), Pafos (home) and Qarabag (away)

Arsenal: Bayern Munich (home), Inter Milan (away), Atletico Madrid (away), Club Brugge (home), Olympiacos (away), Slavia Prague (home), Kairat Almaty (away) and Athletic Bilbao (home).

Tottenham: Borussia Dortmund (home), Paris St-Germain (away), Villarreal (home), Eintracht Frankfurt (away), Slavia Prague (home), Bodo/Glimt (away) Copenhagen (home) and Monaco (away).

Newcastle: Barcelona (home), Paris St-Germain (away), Benfica (home), Bayer Leverkusen (away), PSV (home), Marseille (away), Athletic Bilbao (home) and Union SG (away).

Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle secured their spots with top-five Premier League finishes. Tottenham sealed their place by winning the Europa League.

Sixth-placed Aston Villa had to settle for the Europa League, along with Nottingham Forest. FA Cup winners Crystal Palace are in the Conference League, having been demoted from the Europa League over multi-club ownership rules.

Celtic and Rangers both missed out on qualifying for the main draw.

Who got the luck of the draw?​

Based on the average Uefa coefficient of their opponents, PSV Eindhoven have been handed the toughest draw in the league phase. Not only do they face the champions of England, Germany and Italy – Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Napoli – but they will also play two of the top three seeds from Pot 2 in Bayer Leverkusen and Atletico Madrid.

Manchester City and Liverpool have also been given a fairly tough gauntlet of games, with both sides drawn against 15-time winners Real Madrid. Pep Guardiola's side will also play Bayer Leverkusen and Napoli as well as two of the top seeds from Pot 4 in Galatasaray and Monaco. Arne Slot's side will play last year's finalists Inter and Atletico Madrid.

Atalanta will likely be the happiest club following the draw after being given the most favourable fixtures. While they do have to face champions Paris St-Germain and Club World Cup champions Chelsea, they were also drawn against the two lowest seeds in Pot 2 – Eintracht Frankfurt and Club Brugge – as well as two of the three lowest seeds in Pot 3 in Slavia Prague and Marseille.

Both north London clubs should also be fairly happy with the draw. While they do have to play Bayern Munich, Inter and Atletico Madrid, Arsenal were otherwise drawn against low-seeded teams in Pots 2, 3 and 4, including Celtic's Kazakh conquerors Kairat Almaty. Tottenham also received favourable draws in terms of opponents from Pots 2 and 3, avoiding the likes of Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid and Napoli.

BBC
 
Adidas unveils UEFA Champions League balls made in Pakistan

Adidas has unveiled the new official match balls for the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Women's Champions League, which are both apparently manufactured in Pakistan.

The launch happened shortly after the conclusion of the Champions League play-off matches.

According to Adidas, the men's Champions League ball is inspired by the night sky, whereas the women's edition is inspired by deep space and the Northern lights. Both designs pay tribute to football stars as they prepare for the finals, which will be held in Budapest and Oslo in May.


 
Nice I like this part of the change to format. Although I didn’t mind 6 group stage matches.

What I don’t like at all is 2 more matches for teams finishing 9-24, which means a team could play 10 matches to just get out of group stage and that’s excessive.
 
UEFA announce major Champions League rule change less than a week before tournament starts

UEFA have made a late change to European competition squad rules less than a week before the start of the Champions League, with overlooked Premier League players in line to benefit.

The continent's premier competition kicks off next week with a record six English clubs taking part in the Champions League.

The highlights of the first matchweek include Chelsea travelling to face Harry Kane and Bayern Munich, Premier League champions and current leaders Liverpool hosting Atletico Madrid and Newcastle welcoming Barcelona to St James' Park.

And all of those clubs - as well as fellow Champions League trio Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham, Europa League qualifiers Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest and Conference League contenders Crystal Palace will be able to make a change to their submitted squads during the group phase.

UEFA said in a statement on Thursday: "The Executive Committee approved an amendment to the 2025/26 UEFA men’s club competitions’ regulations to admit the temporary replacement of a maximum of one outfield player with long-term injury or illness during the league phase until matchday 6 included.

"The reasoning for the adaptation is to ensure that squad lists are not unfairly reduced and players are safeguarded from additional workload pressure."

Matchday 6 is the final matchday in the initial Conference League league phase, while the Champions League and Europa League play Matchday 7 and 8 of their league phases in the new year.

It isn't yet clear what would constitute a 'long-term injury or illness' but Chelsea may now be able to replace Liam Delap in their Champions League squad after he was sidelined with a hamstring injury. New signing Facundo Buononotte could be his replacement after he was disappointed to be left out.

Other notable players to miss out on their side's Champions League squads were Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa, Tottenham striker Mathys Tel and Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus, who himself is nursing an injury.

UEFA have also announced that Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano stadium will host the 2027 Champions League final, having last hosted it in 2019 when Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-0 in an all Premier League affair.

The National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland will host the Women's Champions League final in the same year.

 
Ten teenage stars to look out for in Champions League

Desire Doue was one of the teenage stars of last season as he helped Paris St-Germain win the Champions League for the first time.

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, another teenager, was named in the team of the competition.

But which young stars will be impressing in this year's tournament?

The Champions League is back - with matches this week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. And BBC Sport has taken a look at 10 teenagers that will be aiming to make their mark this season.

Vasilije Adzic (Juventus)

Age:
19. Position: Midfielder. Nationality: Montenegrin.

Montenegro midfielder Vasilije Adzic joined Juventus on a three-year deal in 2024 after helping Buducnost Podgorica win the league title in his home country in his first season when only 16.

He played nine times for Juve in 2024-25, including one Champions League appearance, and played in their Club World Cup loss to Manchester City on 26 June.

Adzic has already represented his country, scoring on his debut, on 9 June, in a 2-2 draw against Armenia.

Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)

Age:
19. Position: Midfielder. Nationality: English.

Just like older brother Jude did, Jobe Bellingham moved from England to Borussia Dortmund, leaving Sunderland in the summer after helping them win promotion from the Championship.

Jobe Bellingham, who cost the German giants an initial £27m, plays largely as either a defensive or box-to-box midfielder, although he did occasionally feature as a centre-forward for Sunderland.

He has represented England at under-21 level and will be back in his home country for the Champions League, with Dortmund facing away games at Manchester City and Tottenham.

Claudio Echeverri (Bayer Leverkusen, on loan from Manchester City)

Age:
19. Position: Attacking midfielder/winger. Nationality: Argentine.

Manchester City fans will be very keen to see how Claudio Echeverri gets on during a season-long loan at Bayer Leverkusen. City do have the option to bring the Argentine back to Etihad Stadium in January if they wish to.

Echeverri joined City in a £12.5m deal in January 2024, but remained on loan back at River Plate for the next 12 months. He made his Premier League debut on the final day of the 2024-25 season and then made a substitute appearance in City's FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace.

He scored his first City goal in style with a wonderful free-kick against Al-Ain during the Club World Cup in the summer.

Jorrel Hato (Chelsea)

Age:
19. Position: Defender. Nationality: Dutch.

At the age of 19, Jorrel Hato has played more than 120 club games and represented the Netherlands senior team on six occasions.

Hato, who can play either at full-back or in central defence, made his debut for Ajax at 16 and captained the side when only 17 - becoming the youngest Ajax captain in a European match.

Last season his performances led to him being named the top under-21 player in the Dutch Eredivisie before a £37m move to Chelsea in August.

George Ilenikhena (Monaco)

Age:
19. Position: Striker. Nationality: Nigerian / French.

Fast and powerful striker George Ilenikhena's career is progressing at a rapid rate.

He had a spell in the French second division with Amiens, then had a fine campaign in 2023-24 at Royal Antwerp, whom he helped win the Belgian Super Cup in 2023.

After getting 14 goals in 49 games in that season, he moved to Monaco. He has scored against Barcelona in the Champions League in both of the past two seasons - in Antwerp's 3-2 win in December 2023 at the age of 17, and then again in Monaco's 2-1 victory in September 2024.

Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid)

Age:
18. Position: Midfielder. Nationality: Argentine.

Real Madrid's Franco Mastantuono is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in world football.

On 13 June, Real announced that Mastantuono would join the club on his 18th birthday, 14 August, signing a six-year deal after they agree to pay his £39m (45m euros) release clause to buy him from River Plate.

He made his international debut for Argentina aged 17 in June and has played in all three of Real's La Liga matches so far in 2025-26.

Senny Mayulu (Paris St-Germain)

Age:
19. Position: Midfielder. Nationality: French.

At the age of 19, Senny Mayulu has two French Ligue 1 titles to his name, has won two French Cups, scored in Paris St-Germain's Champions League final victory and played in the final of the Club World Cup.

He made his professional PSG debut in 2024 and has represented France at Under-20 level.

Midfielder Mayulu has largely been used as a substitute for PSG, but enhanced his growing reputation when came off the bench to score the club's fifth goal in their 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan in the Champions League final in May.

Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool)

Age:
17. Position: Winger / attacking midfielder. Nationality: English.

Rio Ngumoha was at Chelsea's academy before he moved to Liverpool in 2024 and was only 16 when he made his debut for the Reds, in a 4-0 FA Cup third-round win over Accrington in January 2025.

Fast, direct and skilful, Ngumoha scored superb individual goals in pre-season this summer against both Yokohama and Athletic Club.

He then secured his place in the Reds' record books in August by becoming their youngest scorer in the Premier League with his winner in the thrilling 3-2 victory over Newcastle - with the goal coming four days before his 17th birthday.

Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)

Age:
18. Position: Attacking midfielder / winger. Nationality: English.

After coming through the ranks of Arsenal's academy, Ethan Nwaneri, at the age of 15, became the youngest player to appear in England's top flight when he featured against Brentford in September 2022.

He started in 16 matches in all competitions for Arsenal in 2024-25, with another 21 appearances as a substitute, with him scoring nine goals, including two in the Champions League.

His performances led to him being nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award and in the summer he helped England win the European Under-21 Championship.

Geovany Quenda (Sporting)

Age:
18. Position: Winger / wing-back. Nationality: Portuguese.

Chelsea fans will be watching Geovany Quenda closely this season as the skilful Portuguese winger will be joining the Blues next summer for a fee of up to £44m.

He played an integral part as Sporting won the league and cup double in 2024-25, with his move to Chelsea announced in March.

Quenda then impressed at the European Under-21 Championship, scoring three goals for Portugal and being named in the team of the tournament.

BBC
 
Ten teenage stars to look out for in Champions League

Desire Doue was one of the teenage stars of last season as he helped Paris St-Germain win the Champions League for the first time.

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, another teenager, was named in the team of the competition.

But which young stars will be impressing in this year's tournament?

The Champions League is back - with matches this week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. And BBC Sport has taken a look at 10 teenagers that will be aiming to make their mark this season.

Vasilije Adzic (Juventus)

Age:
19. Position: Midfielder. Nationality: Montenegrin.

Montenegro midfielder Vasilije Adzic joined Juventus on a three-year deal in 2024 after helping Buducnost Podgorica win the league title in his home country in his first season when only 16.

He played nine times for Juve in 2024-25, including one Champions League appearance, and played in their Club World Cup loss to Manchester City on 26 June.

Adzic has already represented his country, scoring on his debut, on 9 June, in a 2-2 draw against Armenia.

Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)

Age:
19. Position: Midfielder. Nationality: English.

Just like older brother Jude did, Jobe Bellingham moved from England to Borussia Dortmund, leaving Sunderland in the summer after helping them win promotion from the Championship.

Jobe Bellingham, who cost the German giants an initial £27m, plays largely as either a defensive or box-to-box midfielder, although he did occasionally feature as a centre-forward for Sunderland.

He has represented England at under-21 level and will be back in his home country for the Champions League, with Dortmund facing away games at Manchester City and Tottenham.

Claudio Echeverri (Bayer Leverkusen, on loan from Manchester City)

Age:
19. Position: Attacking midfielder/winger. Nationality: Argentine.

Manchester City fans will be very keen to see how Claudio Echeverri gets on during a season-long loan at Bayer Leverkusen. City do have the option to bring the Argentine back to Etihad Stadium in January if they wish to.

Echeverri joined City in a £12.5m deal in January 2024, but remained on loan back at River Plate for the next 12 months. He made his Premier League debut on the final day of the 2024-25 season and then made a substitute appearance in City's FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace.

He scored his first City goal in style with a wonderful free-kick against Al-Ain during the Club World Cup in the summer.

Jorrel Hato (Chelsea)

Age:
19. Position: Defender. Nationality: Dutch.

At the age of 19, Jorrel Hato has played more than 120 club games and represented the Netherlands senior team on six occasions.

Hato, who can play either at full-back or in central defence, made his debut for Ajax at 16 and captained the side when only 17 - becoming the youngest Ajax captain in a European match.

Last season his performances led to him being named the top under-21 player in the Dutch Eredivisie before a £37m move to Chelsea in August.

George Ilenikhena (Monaco)

Age:
19. Position: Striker. Nationality: Nigerian / French.

Fast and powerful striker George Ilenikhena's career is progressing at a rapid rate.

He had a spell in the French second division with Amiens, then had a fine campaign in 2023-24 at Royal Antwerp, whom he helped win the Belgian Super Cup in 2023.

After getting 14 goals in 49 games in that season, he moved to Monaco. He has scored against Barcelona in the Champions League in both of the past two seasons - in Antwerp's 3-2 win in December 2023 at the age of 17, and then again in Monaco's 2-1 victory in September 2024.

Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid)

Age:
18. Position: Midfielder. Nationality: Argentine.

Real Madrid's Franco Mastantuono is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in world football.

On 13 June, Real announced that Mastantuono would join the club on his 18th birthday, 14 August, signing a six-year deal after they agree to pay his £39m (45m euros) release clause to buy him from River Plate.

He made his international debut for Argentina aged 17 in June and has played in all three of Real's La Liga matches so far in 2025-26.

Senny Mayulu (Paris St-Germain)

Age:
19. Position: Midfielder. Nationality: French.

At the age of 19, Senny Mayulu has two French Ligue 1 titles to his name, has won two French Cups, scored in Paris St-Germain's Champions League final victory and played in the final of the Club World Cup.

He made his professional PSG debut in 2024 and has represented France at Under-20 level.

Midfielder Mayulu has largely been used as a substitute for PSG, but enhanced his growing reputation when came off the bench to score the club's fifth goal in their 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan in the Champions League final in May.

Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool)

Age:
17. Position: Winger / attacking midfielder. Nationality: English.

Rio Ngumoha was at Chelsea's academy before he moved to Liverpool in 2024 and was only 16 when he made his debut for the Reds, in a 4-0 FA Cup third-round win over Accrington in January 2025.

Fast, direct and skilful, Ngumoha scored superb individual goals in pre-season this summer against both Yokohama and Athletic Club.

He then secured his place in the Reds' record books in August by becoming their youngest scorer in the Premier League with his winner in the thrilling 3-2 victory over Newcastle - with the goal coming four days before his 17th birthday.

Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)

Age:
18. Position: Attacking midfielder / winger. Nationality: English.

After coming through the ranks of Arsenal's academy, Ethan Nwaneri, at the age of 15, became the youngest player to appear in England's top flight when he featured against Brentford in September 2022.

He started in 16 matches in all competitions for Arsenal in 2024-25, with another 21 appearances as a substitute, with him scoring nine goals, including two in the Champions League.

His performances led to him being nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award and in the summer he helped England win the European Under-21 Championship.

Geovany Quenda (Sporting)

Age:
18. Position: Winger / wing-back. Nationality: Portuguese.

Chelsea fans will be watching Geovany Quenda closely this season as the skilful Portuguese winger will be joining the Blues next summer for a fee of up to £44m.

He played an integral part as Sporting won the league and cup double in 2024-25, with his move to Chelsea announced in March.

Quenda then impressed at the European Under-21 Championship, scoring three goals for Portugal and being named in the team of the tournament.

BBC

Some great talent in this list.

Rio is in the squad over Cheisa for LFC, I hope he gets some good game time, its a valuable experience at a young age.

Liverpool have a tough match at home v A Madrid. They will defend deep and look to counter.
 
what a hit from Rashford. Goal of the UCL campaign, so far. Barca 2-0 up!
 
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