• PSG set to play Bayern Munich and Barcelona in the Champions League.
• Real Madrid faces Manchester City and Liverpool in the group stage.
• The league phase's matches start on September 16, 2025.
• Teams will compete in eight matches, with the top eight advancing to the knockout stage.
• New format includes 36 teams and eliminates the bottom 12.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has been given a challenging start to its Champions League title defense, facing formidable opponents including Bayern Munich and Barcelona. In addition to these matches, PSG will also compete against Newcastle United and Athletic Bilbao, making for a tough league phase. Tottenham Hotspur, the Europa League champions, adds to the challenge by playing against PSG as well, with the total schedule completed by Bayer Leverkusen, Atalanta, and Sporting Lisbon, according to Le Monde and Al Jazeera.

Real Madrid, the record 15-time champions, also faces a tough lineup that includes Manchester City and Liverpool. They will host City, a team they defeated in last season's knockout rounds, while also making a return trip to Anfield to play Liverpool, where Trent Alexander-Arnold will notably return to his former club. Additionally, Madrid will compete against Juventus, Olympique de Marseille, and AS Monaco, reflecting a highly competitive draw, according to Dawn and Le Monde.

The league phase kicks off on September 16, 2025, with its final matchday scheduled for January 28, 2026. This season marks the second instance of the new competition format, which features 36 teams competing against eight different opponents. The top eight teams will advance to the knockout stage in March, and the bottom 12 teams will be eliminated, according to Al Jazeera and Dawn.

This year’s draw involved retired football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic selecting teams from pots and Ballon d’Or laureate Kaka revealing the opponents for each team. The computerized system ensured teams faced opponents of varied rankings in an effort to enhance competition throughout the league phase, reflecting the growing global excitement surrounding the Champions League, according to Al Jazeera and Le Monde.