The UEFA Champions League 2025/26 is ready to kick off, and Paris Saint-Germain already know the path they’ll have to take in this new edition. The draw held in Monaco determined the eight teams the reigning champions will face in the league phase, a stage that promises maximum challenges for Luis Enrique’s side.

As with last season, there will be no traditional group stage but rather a single league table where each team plays against eight different opponents—two from each pot—while avoiding clashes with clubs from the same federation. Thus, PSG, fresh off their unforgettable final win in Munich to claim their first-ever Champions League title, now know their initial hurdles.

👉 PSG’s opponents in the 2025/26 Champions League:

From Pot 1: Bayern Munich y Barcelona
From Pot 2: Leverkusen y Atalanta
From Pot 3: Tottenham y Sporting CP
From Pot 4: Athletic Club y Newcastle

A champion under pressure

PSG begin their title defense with the obligation to prove their triumph was no fluke. With stars like Ousmane Dembélé, a Ballon d’Or frontrunner, and Portuguese midfielder Vitinha, a key piece in the middle of the park, the Parisian side will look to assert their dominance from the opening rounds.

The league phase format demands consistency: the top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16, while those finishing from ninth to 24th must battle through a two-legged playoff to stay alive in the competition.

All qualifiers and a historic debut

The Champions League features 36 elite clubs, with six from England (Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Newcastle) and five from Spain (Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid, Athletic Club, and Villarreal). Italy and Germany each have four representatives, while France will be represented by three: PSG, Marseille, and Monaco.

This edition also brings a historic debut: Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan will play the league phase for the first time, after stunning Celtic in the playoffs.

The league phase will run from September 16, 2025, to January 28, 2026. Afterwards, the tournament will continue with playoffs in February, the round of 16 in March, and conclude with the grand final on May 30, 2026, at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest.