As we prepare for the second season of the new format UEFA Champions League, the qualifying rounds and play offs are complete and we await the results of the draw being held this afternoon (1700 BST on August 28th) in Monaco. The Groups of Death are no longer, but the path to the knockout phase and on to potential glory in Budapest on May 30th next year is still very much in the lap of the Gods. I’m pretty sure that anyone reading this article will be fully aware of the competition’s structure, but for those that need reminding, everything that you need to know can be found here:
https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0296-1d21e9bdf7e4-808a7511165c-1000–2025-26-champions-league-teams-format-dates-draws-final/
In simple terms, we are in pot two and we play one match at home against one team from each of the four pots and one match away against a different team from each of the pots. A total of eight matches played between mid-September and the End of January. So will the football gods smile upon The Arsenal of laugh in our faces? We will know very soon, but ahead of the draw these are what I consider to be our best and worst set of fixtures (in no particular order):
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First, the worst
Home matches against:
Bayern Munich – Kane bound to score
Atletico (Madrid) – an unwanted battle of attrition
Napoli – way too good to be in pot 3
Athletic (Bilbao) – out for Emirates Cup revenge
Away visits to:
Real Madrid – La Remontada (delayed)
Atalanta – remember last season
Bolo/Glimt – minus 20C
Kairat Almaty – six hours each way journey
Then, the best
Coming to the Emirates:
Barcelona – not what they once were
Club Brugge – Pot 2 qualifiers
Olympiacos – tough in Greece, not so away from home
FC Copenhagen – just not very good
Fruitful away days
Borussia Dortmund – should be good for a point
Benfica – big name, small team
Slavia Prague – absinthe, Budvar and three points
Pafos – sun, sea and so much fun
So there you have it, possibly the kiss of death for the chances of Martin getting to lift ‘old big ears’, but right now, no one knows – unless your are reading this in June 2026. If I’m pushed though, I would expect to get at least 10 home points and seven away ones which would see us comfortably avoid the play off and into the first proper knockout round. From then on it’s a lottery!
Images courtesy of Reuters/Action Images