(BREAKING) UCL 2025/26 DRAW: REAL MADRID FACE MAN CITY AGAIN, BARCELONA TO HOST PSG {FULL FIXTURES}

By: Sefiu Ajape 

The UEFA Champions League draw for the 2025/26 season has confirmed some high-profile matchups as part of the revamped “league phase” format.

Notably, Real Madrid will face Manchester City once more, while Barcelona will host reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain at the Camp Nou.

In this expanded structure, 36 teams are divided into four pots of nine based on UEFA club coefficients. Each team will play eight different opponents—two from each pot—with no repeat pairings. The top eight teams will progress directly to the Round of 16, while those placed 9th to 24th will enter a knockout playoff to fight for the remaining slots.

Below is how the pots were organized for the draw:

Draw Highlights:

• Real Madrid vs Manchester City renews one of Europe’s premier rivalries.
• Barcelona vs PSG sets up a titanic encounter between two football powerhouses at Camp Nou.

Format Overview:

• Each club plays eight matches (four home, four away) against different opponents across the pots.
• Teams cannot face opponents from their domestic league in this phase.
• The modified format replaces the old group stage while boosting variety and avoiding repetitive fixtures.

Next Steps:

• The league phase kicks off between September 16 and 18, 2025, continuing through to January 28, 2026.
• Following this, the Round of 16 and beyond unfold in true knockout fashion, culminating in the final at Budapest’s Puskás Aréna in May 2026.