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Who is playing who in the Champions League draw?

PSG lifting Champions League trophy in 2026.Image source, Getty Images
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The Champions League is back, and the draw for the league phase of this season's competition has revealed some huge matches to look forward to.

Some of Europe's biggest men's football teams will go head-to-head, including plenty of exciting fixtures involving the five English clubs taking part.

Last season's beaten finalists Arsenal will face 15-time winners Real Madrid at home, while Manchester City have been drawn against reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain and five-time winners Barcelona.

Let's take a closer look at what we can look forward to this season..

Who do you think will win the Champions League? Let us know in the comments below..

Which are the biggest Champions League fixtures?

Arsenal playing PSG in the 2025 final.Image source, Getty Images

There are five Premier League teams in this season's Champions League draw - Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United.

Both Manchester City and Aston Villa will go up against Barcelona as well as current holders Paris Saint-Germain.

The French giants retained the trophy last season, after beating Arsenal on penalties in May's final.

Premier League champions Arsenal will welcome Real Madrid to the Emirates Stadium, and will also face Harry Kane's Bayern Munich side away in Germany.

Manchester United, who are returning to the Champions League after two seasons away, will also face Bayern Munich, while Liverpool have been drawn against Atletico Madrid and 2025 Champions League finalists Inter Milan.

This season's final will be held in Madrid on 5 June 2027.

How does the Champions League work?

The Champions League trophy.Image source, Getty Images

There are 36 clubs in the league stage of the Champions League.

Each team plays eight matches in this stage, facing eight different opponents, four at home and four away.

The eight opponents are chosen based on a draw that uses four 'pots'.

Teams are seeded (ranked) into pots using their recent performance in Europe: Pot 1, Pot 2, Pot 3, Pot 4.

Then each club gets drawn to play two opponents from each pot, one at home and one away.

After the eight league matches, the top eight teams in the table go straight to the round of 16 (the first big knockout round).

Teams finishing between 9th and 24th go into a play-off round to try and reach the knockout stages.

Teams ranked 25th to 36th are eliminated from the competition.

Who will the English sides face in this season's Champions League?

Arsenal

 Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrating with his teammates after scoring a goal.Image source, Getty Images

Home

Real Madrid

Borussia Dortmund

Lille

Sabah

Away

Bayern Munich

Real Betis

Napoli

Slavia Prague

Aston Villa

John McGinn celebrates scoring a goal.Image source, Getty Images

Home

Paris Saint-Germain

Borussia Dortmund

Fenerbahce

Viking

Away

Barcelona

Club Brugge

Galatasaray

Slavia Prague

Liverpool

Ryan Gravenberch celebrates scoring a goal.Image source, Getty Images

Home

Atletico Madrid

Porto

Villarreal

Lens

Away

Inter Milan

Club Brugge

Fenerbahce

LASK

Manchester City

Erling Haaland celebrates with Omar Marmoush after scoring for City.Image source, Getty Images

Home

Paris Saint-Germain

Sporting Club

Napoli

AEK Athens

Away

Barcelona

Porto

Leipzig

Lens

Manchester United

Noussair Mazraoui and Bruno Fernandes smiling.Image source, Getty Images

Home

Bayern Munich

Roma

Leipzig

Sabah

Away

Atletico Madrid

Sporting Club

Villarreal

Como