Bayern Munich will lock horns with Chelsea, while Liverpool take on Atletico Madrid, as UEFA has officially unveiled the complete fixtures, dates, and kick-off times for the 2025/26 Champions League league phase, promising a series of blockbuster clashes featuring Europe’s elite clubs.
The schedule comes following Thursday’s draw on 28 August 2025, which determined the opponents for all 36 clubs under the revamped league-phase format.
According to the fixtures, Chelsea will host Barcelona on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, in one of Matchday Five’s standout encounters, with kick-off set for 21:00 CET.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are set to face German powerhouse Bayern Munich the following day, Wednesday, 26 November 2025, also at 21:00 CET.
Matchday 1 sees Bayern Munich welcome Chelsea to the Allianz Arena in a nostalgic repeat of the 2012 Champions League final, which the Blues won 4-3 on penalties.
On Wednesday, 1 October 2025, Barcelona host PSG in the highlight fixture of Matchday 2.
Matchday 4 promises more fireworks as Paris Saint-Germain host Bayern Munich on Wednesday, 5 November.
Liverpool will reignite their heated rivalry with Real Madrid at Anfield on the same evening, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00 CET.
Now in its second season under UEFA’s new “league phase” format, the competition has replaced the traditional group stage.
Instead of eight groups of four, all 36 teams are placed in a single league table, each playing eight different opponents, four at home and four away.
The top eight clubs will progress directly to the round of 16, while teams finishing 9th to 24th enter a play-off round to fight for a spot in the knockout stage.
Opening Champions League fixtures (1900 GMT unless stated):
Tuesday, September 16
Athletic Bilbao (ESP) v Arsenal (ENG) (1645 GMT)
PSV Eindhoven (NED) v Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL) (1645 GMT)
Juventus (ITA) v Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Real Madrid (ESP) v Marseille (FRA)
Benfica (POR) v Qarabag (AZE)
Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) v Villarreal (ESP)
Wednesday, September 17
Olympiacos (GRE) v Pafos (CYP) (1645 GMT)
Slavia Prague (CZE) v Bodo/Glimt (NOR) (1645 GMT)
Ajax (NED) v Inter Milan (ITA)
Bayern Munich (GER) v Chelsea (ENG)
Liverpool (ENG) v Atletico Madrid (ESP)
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) v Atalanta (ITA)
Thursday, September 18
Club Brugge (BEL) v Monaco (FRA) (1645 GMT)
FC Copenhagen (DEN) v Bayer Leverkusen (GER) (1645 GMT)
Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) v Galatasaray (TUR)
Manchester City (ENG) v Napoli (ITA)
Newcastle United (ENG) v Barcelona (ESP)
Sporting (POR) v Kairat Almaty (KAZ)