Arsenal - UEFA Champions League Trophy
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UEFA have officially released the full schedule for the league phase of the 2025/26 Champions League, giving Arsenal fans a detailed look at their European campaign under the competition’s new format.
The Gunners, who qualified as one of the Premier League’s top representatives, will play eight matches in the expanded 36-team league phase, which replaces the traditional group stage. Each team faces four opponents at home and four away, with the top eight sides advancing directly to the round of 16. Clubs finishing between ninth and 24th will enter the knockout play-offs.
Arsenal’s campaign begins away to Spanish side Athletic Club in Bilbao on Tuesday, September 16, with a 5:45pm BST kick-off. The first home match at the Emirates follows on Wednesday, October 1, when the Gunners host Greek champions Olympiacos.
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Two marquee home fixtures headline the schedule: Atletico Madrid visit North London on Tuesday, October 21, and German giants Bayern Munich arrive on Wednesday, November 26. Arsenal will conclude their league-phase run at home against Kazakh champions Kairat Almaty on Wednesday, January 28, in what could prove decisive for their final position in the standings.
@Arsenal league phase fixtures of the 25/26 @ChampionsLeague season. pic.twitter.com/P2qyHYdtMl
— nycgunners (@nycgunners01) August 30, 2025
On the road, Mikel Arteta’s side will face Slavia Prague on November 4, Club Brugge on December 10, and Italian powerhouse Inter Milan on January 20 in one of the toughest tests of the group stage.
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Arsenal’s 2025/26 Champions League fixtures (BST):
Matchday 1: Athletic Club (A) – September 16, 5:45pm
Matchday 2: Olympiacos (H) – October 1, 8:00pm
Matchday 3: Atletico Madrid (H) – October 21, 8:00pm
Matchday 4: Slavia Prague (A) – November 4, 5:45pm
Matchday 5: Bayern Munich (H) – November 26, 8:00pm
Matchday 6: Club Brugge (A) – December 10, 8:00pm
Matchday 7: Inter Milan (A) – January 20, 2026, 8:00pm
Matchday 8: Kairat Almaty (H) – January 28, 2026, 8:00pm
The draw has spared Arsenal from immediate meetings with fellow favourites Real Madrid and Manchester City, though the clashes with Bayern, Inter, and Atletico Madrid will provide stern tests. Meanwhile, fixtures against Slavia Prague and Kairat Almaty present opportunities to secure crucial points.
With Arteta’s squad strengthened by summer signings, Arsenal enter the competition looking to build on their strong domestic form and push deeper into Europe. The league phase concludes in late January, with the knockout rounds set to begin in February 2026.
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