Draw by computer
© Imago
The champions League, which was launched last year, was drawn for this season. For the four German representatives FC Bayern, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt, well -known and attractive opponents. This was the result of the draw again in Monaco, which was largely carried out by computer on Thursday.
FC Bayern meets Chelsea FC at home and away on PSG and Arsenal. Other opponents: Club Bruges (H), Sporting (H), PSV Eindhoven (A), Union Saint-Gilloise (H), Pafos FC (A). “FC Bayern, among others, against Paris, Chelsea and Arsenal – there is a lot in it, that is real highlights for every fan,” commented Bayern sports director Max Eberl. “Such encounters have everything that makes football. We are very much looking forward to these challenges and will call up everything in every game to achieve our goals.”
BVB has to do with Inter Milan in front of its own audience, it goes away to Manchester City, Tottenham and Juventus Turin. Other opponents: Villarreal (h), Bodøglimt (H), Athletic Bilbao (H) and Copenhagen with ex-striker Youssoufa Moukoko. (A) Bayer 04 expect duels with Paris (h) and the Skyblues (a), other opponents are: Villarreal (h), Benfica (a), PSV (h), Olympiakos Piraeus (a), Newcastle (H) and Copenhagen (a). The SGE, which is represented in the premier class for the second time after 2022/23, receives Liverpool FC and also has to ran at FC Barcelona. Otherwise, the Frankfurter meet: Atalanta Bergamo (H), Atletico (A), Tottenham (H), Naples (A), Galatasaray (H) and Qarabag Agdam (A).
With the so-called Swiss model, the group phase in the European Cup competitions has been history since the 2024/25 season, instead playing in a league in the preliminary round. As a result, the number of participating teams rose from 32 to 36. In the Champions and Europa League, each club plays eight games against eight different opponents in the league, in the Conference League there are only six.
Mode and appointments: This is how the Champions League 2025/26
Once the league is finished, the clubs qualify in places one up to eight for the round of 16. The teams in the ranks nine to 24 have to in play-offs to solve the ticket for the round of the last 16. The clubs from 25th place out, there is no longer a change to Europe or Conference League. In order to keep up the sporting incentive in the league, the placements also have an impact on the pairings in the KO phase. In the play-offs, the clubs in the ranks meet nine to 16 on the clubs from 17th to 24 and, as well as the teams qualified directly for round of 16, have home rights in the second leg. From the round of 16, the tournaments run in the usual mode.
What’s next after the draw?
The teams know their opponents after the draw – the game plans will only be announced later. The exact approaches should be determined on Saturday at the latest. The first match day will take place from 16 to September 18, the leagueapse ends with the eighth matchday on 20/21. January and parallel 18 approaches. The subsequent KO-phase starts on 17/18. February initially with the play-offs, the draw will take place on January 30th. The final class final will increase on May 30, 2026 in the Hungarian capital Budapest.
Most participating clubs – six – come from the Premier League with Manchester City, FC Liverpool, FC Chelsea, FC Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, followed by Laliga with five clubs (Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, FC Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao).
How much money can be earned in the Champions League?
For the start in the league, each club receives a premium of 18.62 million euros. But that’s just the beginning. The clubs receive 2.1 million euros for every win in the leagueapse, and at least 700,000 euros for each draw. And then there is also money for the placement in the final table of the league. The team in first place receives the highest bonus, the bottom of the smallest sum. In addition, there are ranking bonuses for the top eight teams, each with 2 million euros and for the clubs in ranks 9 to 16, each with one million euros. The premiums will of course continue in the KO phase.