Fascinating draw English teams in 2025-2026 Champions League

This marks the second year of the expanded 36-team league phase format, where teams play eight matches against different opponents, and English football will be represented by more clubs than ever before in the competition's main stage.

The Debutants' Journey: Kairat Almaty Makes History

The Kazakh champions will face some of Europe's biggest clubs, with their trip to Sporting CP in Lisbon representing the longest journey in Champions League history at 6,900 kilometers, a flight exceeding 12 hours each way. For Arsenal, who will host Kairat at the Emirates, this represents a unique opportunity to face a team nicknamed "The Nation's Team" for their status as Kazakhstan's leading football club.

Kairat's qualification represents only the second time Kazakhstan has been represented in the Champions League, following Astana's appearance in 2015/16. Their journey through qualifying was remarkable, eliminating Olimpija Ljubljana, Kuopion Palloseura, and Slovan Bratislava before their famous penalty shootout victory over Celtic.

Manchester City vs Real Madrid: The Modern Rivalry Continues

The draw has served up another chapter in what has become the Champions League's defining rivalry of recent years. Manchester City and Real Madrid will meet for the fourth consecutive season, with City holding a slight edge in their 12 previous encounters, winning four times to Madrid's three victories.

This fixture has produced some of the most memorable Champions League moments in recent memory, including City's stunning 4-3 home victory in the 2021/22 semi-finals, only for Madrid to deliver a dramatic 3-1 comeback in the return leg. The following season saw City exact revenge with a dominant 4-0 victory at home after drawing 1-1 in Spain, propelling them to their first Champions League title.

Between them, these clubs have knocked each other out for three years running, with the winner of their head-to-head going on to lift the trophy on each occasion. This year, with City needing to visit the Santiago Bernabéu, the stakes couldn't be higher for Pep Guardiola's side as they look to return to Europe's elite.

Liverpool's Emotional Return to Face Real Madrid

Liverpool's draw against Real Madrid carries particular emotional weight this season. The fixture could mark Trent Alexander-Arnold's first return to Anfield, having joined Real Madrid this summer after 20 years at his boyhood club. This adds a deeply personal dimension to what is already one of European football's most prestigious fixtures.

Madrid lost 2-0 at Anfield in last season's league phase, making this return fixture all the more significant. Liverpool will be hoping to capitalize on their home advantage against the Spanish giants, while also managing the emotional complexities of facing their former academy graduate.

Arsenal's Tough European Test

Arsenal face a challenging path with fixtures against both Bayern Munich and Inter Milan among their eight opponents. The meeting with Bayern will see them come up against Harry Kane, adding another layer of Premier League interest to the fixture. Their hosting of Kairat Almaty may seem like a more straightforward affair on paper, but the Kazakhs have already proven they can upset the odds.

The Gunners' draw reflects their placement in Pot 2, ensuring they would face two non-English teams from the top tier of seeding, making their European campaign particularly demanding.

Chelsea's Star-Studded Schedule

Chelsea have been handed a glamorous set of fixtures, facing Barcelona at home in what promises to be one of the standout matches of the league phase. Their trip to Bayern Munich will also test their European credentials, while matches against Benfica and Atalanta provide further quality opposition.

The Blues' draw suggests they will need to be at their best to secure a top-eight finish that guarantees automatic qualification for the Round of 16, avoiding the newly introduced knockout phase playoffs.

Newcastle's European Adventure Continues

Newcastle United's second consecutive Champions League campaign sees them face Paris Saint-Germain away, the defending champions who delivered a thumping 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final last May. This fixture represents a significant test for Eddie Howe's side as they continue their European journey.

Their home fixtures against Barcelona and Benfica will provide St. James' Park with some memorable European nights, while the trip to Marseille ensures a passionate atmosphere in the south of France.

Tottenham's Return to Elite Competition

Tottenham qualified for the Champions League by virtue of their Europa League success, despite finishing 17th in the Premier League, making their return to Europe's premier competition all the more remarkable. Their fixtures against Borussia Dortmund at home and trips to Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich's conquerors Frankfurt will test their European readiness.

The match against PSG will be particularly significant, given the two sides met in the UEFA Super Cup just two weeks before the draw, providing recent tactical knowledge for both teams.

The New Format's Impact

The expanded format sees all teams playing eight league-phase matches—four home and four away—with the top eight advancing automatically to the Round of 16, while teams finishing 9th-24th enter a knockout playoff round. This creates additional pressure on England's representatives to perform consistently across all eight matches.

The league phase concludes on January 28, 2026, with all 36 teams playing simultaneously in 18 matches, creating a dramatic final matchday that could determine the fate of several English clubs.

Complete Draw for English Teams

Looking Ahead

The draw has produced a fascinating blend of familiar rivalries and fresh challenges for English football. From Kairat Almaty's historic debut to the continuation of the City-Madrid saga, from Alexander-Arnold's emotional return to Liverpool to Newcastle's continued European adventure, the 2025-26 Champions League promises to deliver compelling narratives throughout the league phase.

With games beginning on September 16, 2025, English fans can look forward to months of elite European football, with their six representatives facing some of the continent's finest clubs in what promises to be another memorable Champions League campaign.