The league phase of the Champions League is back, with 36 teams battling it out for Europe’s top prize.
In the second edition of the competition’s revamped format, the premier continental club tournament already saw plenty of drama in the qualification rounds, with Celtic and Rangers embarrassingly knocked out, as first-timers such as Kairat Almaty prepare for battle with the big guns.
With six English clubs involved and the rest of the usual heavyweights vying for the famous trophy, there is plenty to keep tabs on, so we’ve created a handy guide to help you through the season.
Find all the latest fixtures, results, draw dates and standings here, along with where to watch the action this term.
QUICK LINKS
- Champions League format
- 2025/26 Champions League rule changes
- 2025/26 Champions League draw
- 2025/26 Champions League fixture & draw dates
- 2025/26 Champions League results
- Champions League standings
- How to watch the Champions League on UK TV
Champions League format
The league phase returns for a second season, with clubs battling it out for a top-8 finish to seal an automatic last-16 place.
Each side will play eight times, with fixtures determined at August’s draw. The schedules ensured that each side plays two teams from each pot (one at home, one away), with clubs ranked by their UEFA coefficient.
Teams were also blocked from playing sides from their own country, and could not face more than two teams from another nation in the league phase.
The top eight teams after eight fixtures go through to the round of 16. Clubs placed between 9th and 24th qualify for the two-legged play-off round, while those finishing 25th-36th go out of Europe altogether.
2025/26 Champions League rule changes
There is one slight change to the knockout stages this year, as potential paths towards the final have been altered. Last year, teams in the top 8 were guaranteed home advantage in the round of 16, with the rest of the bracket determined by a draw.
This season, home advantage in the second leg is earned either through placing in the league phase or defeating a team that possesses that advantage.
It means that teams placed in the top four are guaranteed a second leg at home in the round of 16 and quarter-finals, with the top two sides able to play all their knockout second legs at home, should they make it through to the semis.
However, the switch has caused controversy, as UEFA has decided that teams finishing lower in the league phase can snatch home advantage away from teams that finished a lot higher.
For example, teams placed 3rd and 4th would be guaranteed to play a semi-final second leg away from home, as that right would be earned by either a top-2 team or the side that sent them out of the competition.
2025/26 Champions League draw
Six English teams – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur – learned their fate when the Champions League draw was made in late August 2025.
It threw up a number of interesting narratives, from Xabi Alonso and Trent Alexander-Arnold returning to Anfield with Real Madrid, to Spurs revisiting the scenes of their run to Europa League glory.
More recent events set up a reunion between Jose Mourinho and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with Benfica giving a decent account of themselves before losing 1-0 on Matchday 2.
Matchday 5 fixtures
| Date | Fixture | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|
| 25th Nov | Ajax v Benfica | 5.45pm |
| 25th Nov | Galatasaray v Union SG | 5.45pm |
| 25th Nov | Bodo/Glimt v Juventus | 8pm |
| 25th Nov | Dortmund v Villarreal | 8pm |
| 25th Nov | Chelsea v Barcelona | 8pm |
| 25th Nov | Man City v Leverkusen | 8pm |
| 25th Nov | Marseille v Newcastle | 8pm |
| 25th Nov | Napoli v Qarabag | 8pm |
| 25th Nov | Slavia Prague v Athletic Club | 8pm |
| 26th Nov | Copenhagen v Kairat | 5.45pm |
| 26th Nov | Pafos v Monaco | 5.45pm |
| 26th Nov | Arsenal v Bayern Munich | 8pm |
| 26th Nov | Atletico Madrid v Inter | 8pm |
| 26th Nov | Frankfurt v Atalanta | 8pm |
| 26th Nov | Liverpool v PSV | 8pm |
| 26th Nov | Olympiacos v Real Madrid | 8pm |
| 26th Nov | PSG v Tottenham | 8pm |
| 26th Nov | Sporting CP v Club Brugge | 8pm |
2025/26 Champions League fixture & draw dates
There are eight matchdays across the league phase of the Champions League, with the final round of fixtures featuring all 36 clubs on 28th January 2026. The knockout play-off round takes place in mid-February.
A draw will then take place on 27th February to determine the route to this year’s final in Budapest, with the round of 16 being played in mid-March. The quarter-finals are a month later, while the semi-finals will conclude on 6th May.
The Puskas Arena will host the final on 30th May 2026.
| Round | Fixture date(s) | Draw date |
|---|---|---|
| Matchday 1 | 16-18 Sep 2025 | 28th August 2025 |
| Matchday 2 | 30 Sep-1 Oct 2025 | 28th August 2025 |
| Matchday 3 | 21-22 Oct 2025 | 28th August 2025 |
| Matchday 4 | 4-5 Nov 2025 | 28th August 2025 |
| Matchday 5 | 25-26 Nov 2025 | 28th August 2025 |
| Matchday 6 | 9-10 Dec 2025 | 28th August 2025 |
| Matchday 7 | 20-21 Jan 2026 | 28th August 2025 |
| Matchday 8 | 28 Jan 2026 | 28th August 2025 |
| Play-off round | 17-18 & 24-25 Feb 2026 | 30th January 2026 |
| Round of 16 | 10-11 & 17-18 Mar 2026 | 27th February 2026 |
| Quarter-finals | 7-8 & 14-15 Apr 2026 | 27th February 2026 |
| Semi-finals | 28-29 Apr & 5-6 May 2026 | 27th February 2026 |
| Final | 30 May 2026 | 27th February 2026 |
2025/26 Champions League results
Arsenal maintained their 100% record in the competition with a 3-0 success over Slavia Prague. Bayern Munich and Inter remain the only other sides with four wins from four, with the Bavarians surviving a Luis Diaz red card to defeat PSG 2-1, while the Nerazzurri narrowly bested Kairat at San Siro.
Liverpool got the better of Real Madrid at Anfield, prevailing 1-0 thanks to an Alexis Mac Allister winner. Manchester City, Newcastle United and Spurs all picked up victories at home as all bar one English side bagged three points on Matchday 4.
Indeed, Chelsea were held away at Qarabag, as were Barcelona at Club Brugge, with the Belgian outfit unlucky not to have beaten the five-time winners having taken the lead three times and had a late goal disallowed.
Elsewhere, Cypriot side Pafos picked up their first Champions League win, while Benfica and Ajax remain rooted to the foot of the table.
Matchday 1 results
| Athletic Club | 0-2 | Arsenal |
| PSV | 1-3 | Union SG |
| Benfica | 2-3 | Qarabag |
| Juventus | 4-4 | Dortmund |
| Real Madrid | 2-1 | Marseille |
| Tottenham | 1-0 | Villarreal |
| Olympiacos | 0-0 | Pafos |
| Slavia Prague | 2-2 | Bodo/Glimt |
| Ajax | 0-2 | Inter |
| Bayern Munich | 3-1 | Chelsea |
| Liverpool | 3-2 | Atletico Madrid |
| PSG | 4-0 | Atalanta |
| Club Brugge | 4-1 | Monaco |
| Copenhagen | 2-2 | Leverkusen |
| Frankfurt | 5-1 | Galatasaray |
| Man City | 2-0 | Napoli |
| Newcastle | 1-2 | Barcelona |
| Sporting CP | 4-1 | Kairat |
Matchday 2 results
| Atalanta | 2-1 | Club Brugge |
| Kairat | 0-5 | Real Madrid |
| Atletico Madrid | 5-1 | Frankfurt |
| Bodo/Glimt | 2-2 | Tottenham |
| Chelsea | 1-0 | Benfica |
| Galatasaray | 1-0 | Liverpool |
| Inter | 3-0 | Slavia Prague |
| Marseille | 4-0 | Ajax |
| Pafos | 1-5 | Bayern Munich |
| Qarabag | 2-0 | Copenhagen |
| Union SG | 0-4 | Newcastle |
| Arsenal | 2-0 | Olympiacos |
| Barcelona | 1-2 | PSG |
| Dortmund | 4-1 | Athletic Club |
| Leverkusen | 1-1 | PSV |
| Monaco | 2-2 | Man City |
| Napoli | 2-1 | Sporting CP |
| Villarreal | 2-2 | Juventus |
Matchday 3 results
| Barcelona | 6-1 | Olympiacos |
| Kairat | 0-0 | Pafos |
| Arsenal | 4-0 | Atletico Madrid |
| Copenhagen | 2-4 | Dortmund |
| Leverkusen | 2-7 | PSG |
| Newcastle | 3-0 | Benfica |
| PSV | 6-2 | Napoli |
| Union SG | 0-4 | Inter |
| Villarreal | 0-2 | Man City |
| Athletic Club | 3-1 | Qarabag |
| Galatasaray | 3-1 | Bodo/Glimt |
| Atalanta | 0-0 | Slavia Prague |
| Bayern Munich | 4-0 | Club Brugge |
| Chelsea | 5-1 | Ajax |
| Frankfurt | 1-5 | Liverpool |
| Monaco | 0-0 | Tottenham |
| Real Madrid | 1-0 | Juventus |
| Sporting CP | 2-1 | Marseille |
Matchday 4 results
| Napoli | 0-0 | Frankfurt |
| Slavia Prague | 0-3 | Arsenal |
| Atletico Madrid | 3-1 | Union SG |
| Bodo/Glimt | 0-1 | Monaco |
| Juventus | 1-1 | Sporting |
| Liverpool | 1-0 | Real Madrid |
| Olympiacos | 1-1 | PSV |
| PSG | 1-2 | Bayern Munich |
| Tottenham | 4-0 | Copenhagen |
| Pafos | 1-0 | Villarreal |
| Qarabag | 2-2 | Chelsea |
| Ajax | 0-3 | Galatasaray |
| Benfica | 0-1 | Leverkusen |
| Club Brugge | 3-3 | Barcelona |
| Inter | 2-1 | Kairat |
| Man City | 4-1 | Dortmund |
| Marseille | 0-1 | Atalanta |
| Newcastle | 2-0 | Athletic Club |
Champions League standings
Bayern Munich and Arsenal will put their 100% records on the line on Matchday 5, with only goals scored separating the sides ahead of their clash at the Emirates after the November international break.
Man City, Newcastle and Liverpool all squeeze into the top 8 at the halfway stage, with Spurs and Chelsea among those just behind, while Barcelona also form part of the chasing pack.
Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Napoli are some of the giants struggling in mid-table, though there is still plenty of time to turn things around with four matchdays remaining.
| Rank | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayern Munich | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 11 | 12 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 12 |
| 3 | Inter | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 12 |
| 4 | Man City | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| 5 | PSG | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 9 |
| 6 | Newcastle | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 9 |
| 7 | Real Madrid | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 9 |
| 8 | Liverpool | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| 9 | Galatasaray | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9 |
| 10 | Tottenham | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| 11 | Barcelona | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 7 |
| 12 | Chelsea | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 7 |
| 13 | Sporting CP | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
| 14 | Dortmund | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 7 |
| 15 | Qarabag | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 7 |
| 16 | Atalanta | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 7 |
| 17 | Atletico Madrid | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 6 |
| 18 | PSV | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 5 |
| 19 | Monaco | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 5 |
| 20 | Pafos | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 5 |
| 21 | Leverkusen | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 10 | -4 | 5 |
| 22 | Club Brugge | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 10 | -2 | 4 |
| 23 | Frankfurt | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 4 |
| 24 | Napoli | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 4 |
| 25 | Marseille | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| 26 | Juventus | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 3 |
| 27 | Athletic Club | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 3 |
| 28 | Union SG | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 12 | -8 | 3 |
| 29 | Bodo/Glimt | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | -3 | 2 |
| 30 | Slavia Prague | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 2 |
| 31 | Olympiacos | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | -7 | 2 |
| 32 | Villarreal | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 1 |
| 33 | Copenhagen | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 12 | -8 | 1 |
| 34 | Kairat | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 11 | -9 | 1 |
| 35 | Benfica | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 0 |
| 36 | Ajax | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 14 | -13 | 0 |
How to watch the Champions League on UK TV
This year’s Champions League will be broadcast on TNT Sports, Prime Video and BBC Sport.
As was the case last year, TNT Sports and Prime Video will share live TV rights, with TNT securing the bulk of live coverage. Prime Video selects one match from every Tuesday night, with TNT showing all other matches. BBC One broadcasts the highlights every week on free-to-air TV.
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