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Sports

Champions League Draw: Arsenal vs Real, City vs PSG

Arsenal face Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, while Man City and Aston Villa both play PSG in the new league phase.

The Briefly Pulse Desk August 27, 2026 1 min read 2 views
Champions League Draw: Arsenal vs Real, City vs PSG

The update

The Champions League 2026-27 league phase draw has been completed, revealing several high-profile matchups. Arsenal, last season’s finalists, will face both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in their eight-game league phase. Manchester City and Aston Villa will both host holders PSG, with the Villa Park fixture repeating this season’s Super Cup.

Why it matters

The new league phase format replaces the traditional group stage, with each team playing eight partly randomized fixtures based on seeding. The top eight teams advance directly to the knockout rounds, while teams ninth-24th enter play-offs for the remaining spots. This creates strategic challenges as clubs balance squad depth across more games against top-tier opponents.

What to watch

Watch how teams adjust their strategies to the new format, which could favor deeper squads. The Arsenal-Real Madrid rematch adds extra narrative after last season’s final. The complete fixture dates and times will be announced on Saturday, with the first round scheduled for September 8-10.

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