PSG are aiming for a third successive title after victory over Arsenal on penalties in last season’s final, while five Premier League sides will learn their opponents for the league phase
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The Uefa Champions League trophy
The Uefa Champions League trophy (Getty)
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The Champions League 2026/27 is back with the draw for the league phase here and the Premier League’s contingent of five teams set to learn their opponents.
Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool are involved, but there will be no Celtic after the Scottish champions were thrashed by LASK in their play-off second leg to go out on aggregate.
Mikel Arteta will be desperate for another shot at European glory, following the agonising penalty shoot-out defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last term, with success in Europe the natural next step after claiming the Premier League title.
PSG will be determined to create history and secure a third successive title, too, with Luis Enrique overseeing one of the great modern teams.
Follow all the latest updates, reaction and analysis from the draw below:
Uefa Champions League 26/27 league phase draw
Uefa Champions League 26/27 league phase draw set for 17:00 BST
Premier League represented by Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool
PSG, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid among teams in pot one
PSG favourites for third straight European crown followed by Barcelona, Arsenal and Bayern
4 minutes ago
Champions League 2025/26: PSG triumph over Arsenal on penalties in gripping final
Gabriel of Arsenal reacts after he misses the team's fifth penalty
Gabriel of Arsenal reacts after he misses the team's fifth penalty (Getty)
Luis Enrique celebrates victory over Arsenal
Luis Enrique celebrates victory over Arsenal (Getty)
Marquinhos of Paris Saint-Germain lifts the UEFA Champions League trophy
Marquinhos of Paris Saint-Germain lifts the UEFA Champions League trophy (Getty)
Jack Rathborn27 August 2026 14:52
12 minutes ago
Champions League 2026/27 league phase draw pots in full
Pot 1
PSG
Bayern Munich
Real Madrid
Liverpool
Inter Milan
Manchester City
Arsenal
Barcelona
Atletico Madrid
Pot 2
Borussia Dortmund
Roma
Sporting
Aston Villa
Porto
Manchester United
Club Brugge
Real Betis
PSV Eindhoven
Pot 3
Feyenoord
Lille
Bodo/Glimt
Napoli
RB Leipzig
Villarreal
Fenerbahce
Shakhtar Donetsk
Galatasaray
Pot 4
Slavia Prague
Slovan Bratislava
VfB Stuttgart
AEK Athens
LASK
Como
Lens
Viking
Sabah
Jack Rathborn27 August 2026 14:45
16 minutes ago
When is the draw and how can I watch it?
The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase draw starts at 5pm BST (12pm ET) today, Thursday August 27.
The draw will arrange the eight matches each team contests in the 36-team first phase – facing two teams from pots one, two, three and four. Half of the matches will be at home, the other half away.
Where can I watch the Champions League draw?
The draw will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max in the United Kingdom, the joint host broadcasters in the UK of the Champions League alongside Prime Video.
Jack Rathborn27 August 2026 14:40
21 minutes ago
Champions League 26/27 latest odds
Paris Saint-Germain 5/1
Barcelona 6/1
Arsenal 6/1
Bayern Munich 13/2
Real Madrid 7/1
Man City 8/1
Liverpool 11/1
Man Utd 14/1
Inter Milan 25/1
Atletico Madrid 28/1
Aston Villa 28/1
Jack Rathborn27 August 2026 14:35
26 minutes ago
Champions League 26/27 league phase draw
Good afternoon and welcome to the Independent’s coverage of the Champions League 26/27 league phase draw.
There are 36 teams at this stage all fighting to eventually play for the trophy in the final next year at Atletico Madrid’s Estadio Metropolitano on 5 June.
Arsenal suffered agony last season on penalties at the hands of PSG and will hope to go one better after clinching their first Premier League title under Mikel Arteta.
While Man City, Man United, Aston Villa and Liverpool complete a strong contingent of Premier League sides.
Follow all the build-up and updates from Monaco ahead of this evening’s draw.
Jack Rathborn27 August 2026 14:30