Five Premier League clubs will take part in the league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League, and here is who they could face

There is significant Premier League interest in this week's Champions League draw and at least one of Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool is likely to face a humdinger of a league phase match. All five teams will represent England in this season's competition, with the strong showing from English clubs last season ensuring an extra spot.

The Champions League league phase draw will take place on Thursday August 27 at 6pm CET (5pm UK time). Match dates and kick-off times will be confirmed by Saturday at the latest, with the first league phase matches to be held on September 8.

As has been the case since the competition brought in its new league phase system, every club will take on two opponents seeded in pot one, two from pot two, two from pot three and two from pot four. That makes for some high-profile match-ups early on, for example the October 2024 clash between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, two teams who would end up meeting again in the semi-finals that season.

We have simulated the entire league phase draw to bring up a potential set of fixtures for the 2026/27 edition of the tournament. It has brought up some huge match-ups, including a number of opportunities for revenge after high-profile recent clashes.

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Arsenal

Pot 1: Atletico Madrid (h), Paris Saint-Germain (a)

Pot 2: Real Betis (h), Porto (a)

Pot 3: Napoli (h), Shakhtar (a)

Pot 4: Como (h), AEK Athens or Levski Sofia (a)

One of the stand-out results of last season's Champions League league phase was Arsenal's 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid. Our simulation has thrown up a rematch at the Emirates Stadium in gameweek two, with the Gunners also handed a trip to the Parc des Princes to take on Paris Saint-Germain in a repeat of the 2025/26 final.

Mikel Arteta's side will take on Porto and Real Betis from pot two and Napoli and Shakhtar from pot three. The latter will be a relatively short trip, with the Ukrainian side playing their home games at Stamford Bridge this term.

They also have a reunion with Cesc Fabregas' Como, who are making their Champions League debut and are in pot four. Our simulator was used before the second legs of the play-off matches, but pits the London side against the winner of AEK Athens vs Levski Sofia as their other pot four match-up.

Manchester City

Pot 1: Barcelona (h), Real Madrid (a)

Pot 2: Sporting CP (h), Borussia Dortmund (a)

Pot 3: Feyenoord (h), Bodo/Glimt (a)

Pot 4: LASK (h), Stuttgart (a)

Enzo Maresca's first Champions League match as Manchester City boss is a big one if our simulator gets it right. It's got them heading to the Bernabeu to face Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid on the first matchday, with Barcelona - in gameweek three - their other pot one opponents.

The pot two opponents are Sporting CP - who beat them in Lisbon when Ruben Amorim was manager - and Borussia Dortmund. From pot three, they're given Feyenoord and Bodo/Glimt.

Maresca's team are also predicted to take on LASK after their historic play-off comeback win against Celtic. Their other pot four opponents, per our predictor, are German side VfB Stuttgart.

Manchester United

Pot 1: Real Madrid (h), Paris Saint-Germain (a)

Pot 2: Club Brugge (h), Porto (a)

Pot 3: Napoli (h), Bodo/Glimt (a)

Pot 4: Slavia Prague (h), LASK (a)

Manchester United will return to the Champions League under Michael Carrick, and one of their big games sees them take on a Paris Saint-Germain side against whom they recorded a famous win in 2019. They will have to wait until gameweek five for their other pot one opponents, but it's a big one with Real Madrid heading to Old Trafford.

United's absence from Europe last term is a factor in them only being in pot two. That's also where you can find Porto and Club Brugge, two of the predicted opponents for Carrick's side.

Pot three gives them Napoli at home in their opener, as well as a trip to face Bodo/Glimt. As for pot four, it's Slavia Prague and play-off heroes LASK.

Aston Villa

Pot 1: Barcelona (h), Inter Milan (a)

Pot 2: Borussia Dortmund (h), Roma (a)

Pot 3: Lyon or Fenerbahce (h), Lille (a)

Pot 4: Slovan Bratislava or Celje (h), Stuttgart (a)

Villa's fourth-place finish in the league last term would have seen them into the Champions League even without their Europa League triumph. Our simulation hands them a spicy start away to Inter Milan, as well as a home meeting with Barcelona on the final matchday of the league phase.

Pot two throws up a reunion with Donyell Malen, who has been flying since leaving Villa for Roma, as well as a home game against Malen's former club, Dortmund. There's also a game against Lille as one of the pot three encounters, alongside the winner of the play-off between Fenerbahce and Lyon.

On to pot four and, in addition to Stuttgart, there's another play-off winner in store. Slovan Bratislava and Celje are finely poised at 1-1 ahead of Wednesday's second leg, and our simulator has the victor heading to Villa Park on gameweek three.

Liverpool

Pot 1: Inter Milan (h), Atletico Madrid (a)

Pot 2: Roma (h), Real Betis (a)

Pot 3: Galatasaray (h), Lille (a)

Pot 4: Sabah (h), Slovan Bratislava or Celje (a)

Andoni Iraola's predecessor Arne Slot started with a dramatic win against Atletico Madrid in September last year, and our simulator has the new Liverpool boss beginning against the same opponents - albeit away from home. The pot one visitors to Anfield would be Inter Milan - another rematch after the Reds' late 1-0 victory at the San Siro last term.

There's more Italian opposition in store from pot two, with a chance for Roma to face off against their former goalkeeper Alisson, while Betis also await from that pot. The simulation also offers a tasty rematch from pot three in the form of Galatasaray, along with a trip to Lille.

As for pot four, it's the winner of Slovan Bratislava and Celje. There's also a meeting with a league-phase debutant, Sabah of Azerbaijan.