Porto, Napoli, Leipzig, AEK Athens and Lens complete the lineup of teams we’ll play in the first stage of this year’s competition, with the dates and times of the fixtures to be confirmed no later than this Saturday.
The 2026/27 campaign will represent the third year of the new format, which pits all 36 teams into one league table.
It is also the 16th successive season in which City have taken part in Europe’s elite club competition.
As with last year, every side will play eight matches, with one home and one away tie against a club from each of the four seeded pots.
In an event held in Monaco on Thursday, City were drawn out of Pot 1 thanks to our coefficient gained in the competition over the last five years.
Full list of City’s league phase opponents:
PSG (H)
Barcelona (A)
Sporting CP (H)
Porto (A)
Napoli (H)
Leipzig (A)
AEK Athens (H)
Lens (A)
Please note, this is the order in which the sides were drawn and not necessarily the order in which we will play the fixtures.
The Champions League fixture list with match dates and kick-off times will be communicated no later than Saturday 29 August.
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When are the matchdays?
League phase fixture dates
Matchday 1: 8–10 September 2026
Matchday 2: 13/14 October 2026
Matchday 3: 20/21 October 2026
Matchday 4: 3/4 November 2026
Matchday 5: 24/25 November 2026
Matchday 6: 8/9 December 2026
Matchday 7: 19/20 January 2027
Matchday 8: 27 January 2027
Knockout phase dates:
Knockout phase play-offs: 16/17 & 23/24 February 2027
Round of 16: 9/10 & 16/17 March 2027
Quarter-finals: 6/7 & 13/14 April 2027
Semi-finals: 27/28 April & 4/5 May 2027
Final: 5 June 2027 (Madrid)
Hugo Viana reaction
“Of course, it’s always a challenge to play against the European champions [PSG]. We are also really happy that we face Barcelona with Rodri there, we are happy to see him again.
“And also Napoli that we played last year and we had the pleasure to have Kevin on the field - facing an opponent when you have friends on the pitch it’s always good.
“And I’m happy also that I will see Sporting coming to Manchester, my former club, and I go to my country to face Porto.
“We go to France to play Lens they were doing really well. AEK also, they were doing really well last season and Leipzig is a really tough opponent also.
“So we are happy with the opponents and we know that we have to do our best.”
Who is in the league phase?
Pot 1
Paris (FRA)
Bayern München (GER)
Real Madrid (ESP)
Liverpool (ENG)
Inter (ITA)
Man City (ENG)
Arsenal (ENG)
Barcelona (ESP)
Atleti (ESP)
Pot 2
B. Dortmund (GER)
Roma (ITA)
Sporting CP (POR)
Aston Villa (ENG)
Porto (POR)
Man Utd (ENG)
Club Brugge (BEL)
Real Betis (ESP)
PSV (NED)
Pot 3
Feyenoord (NED)
Lille (FRA)
Bodø/Glimt (NOR)
Napoli (ITA)
Leipzig (GER)
Villarreal (ESP)
Fenerbahçe (TUR)
Shakhtar (UKR)
Galatasaray (TUR)
Pot 4
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A player in Manchester City training attire dribbling a football on a field. The uniform features the Super Dry Asahi logo.
Two men in suits during an interview with a UEFA Champions League backdrop featuring various sponsor logos.
Two Manchester City players celebrating on the field with a player in the background at a stadium.