A new Champions League era began in earnest Thursday, as the 36 teams taking part in the revamped 2024-25 competition learned their opponents during the first-ever “league phase” draw. The clubs, which are all grouped together in one table – the so-called “Swiss model” that is replacing the old group stage – will each play eight different opponents in the opening round, matchups that were determined by a computer during a ceremony in Monaco. For more on what’s different about the Champions League this season, including scheduling and knockout-stage qualification, tap here.
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Pot 1: MADRID | MAN CITY | BAYERN | PSG | LIVERPOOL | INTER | BVB | LEIPZIG | BARCA
Pot 2: LEVERKUSEN | ATLETI | ATALANTA | JUVE | BENFICA | ARSENAL | BRUGGE | SHAKHTAR | MILAN
Pot 3: FEYENOORD | SPORTING | PSV | DINAMO | SALZBURG | LILLE | RED STAR | YOUNG BOYS | CELTIC
Pot 4: SLOVAN | MONACO | SPARTA | VILLA | BOLOGNA | GIRONA | STUTTGART | STURM GRAZ | BREST
Pot 1
The perennial contenders, including reigning champions Real Madrid, were the first to learn their paths to the knockout stage. Unlike in previous years, where the old format meant all the teams in Pot 1 avoided one another in the group stage, the new format creates more parity, with every side being drawn against two opponents from each of the four pots to create their respective eight-match schedule. As a result, teams in Pot 1 knew they would meet their fellow heavyweights off the bat. The holders, for example, face a daunting trip to Anfield to meet Liverpool, along with a clash against Borussia Dortmund in a repeat of last season’s final. Elsewhere, Manchester City take on Paris Saint-Germain, while Bayern Munich and Barcelona rekindle their rivalry.
Real Madrid 🇪🇸
Match
Date
vs. Stuttgart
Sept. 17
at Lille
Oct. 2
vs. Borussia Dortmund
Oct. 22
vs. AC Milan
Nov. 5
at Liverpool
Nov.27
at Atalanta
Dec. 10
vs. Red Bull Salzburg
Jan. 22
at Brest
Jan. 29
Manchester City 🏴
Match
Date
vs. Inter Milan
Sept. 18
at Slovan Bratislava
Oct. 1
vs. Sparta Prague
Oct. 23
at Sporting CP
Nov. 5
vs. Feyenoord
Nov. 26
at Juventus
Dec. 11
at Paris Saint-Germain
Jan. 22
vs. Club Brugge
Jan. 29
Bayern Munich 🇩🇪
Match
Date
vs. Dinamo Zagreb
Sept. 17
at Aston Villa
Oct. 2
at Barcelona
Oct. 23
vs. Benfica
Nov. 6
vs. Paris Saint-Germain
Nov. 26
at Shakhtar Donetsk
Dec. 10
at Feyenoord
Jan. 22
vs. Slovan Bratislava
Jan. 29
Paris Saint-Germain 🇫🇷
Match
Date
vs. Girona
Sept. 18
at Arsenal
Oct. 1
vs. PSV Eindhoven
Oct. 22
vs. Atletico Madrid
Nov. 6
at Bayern Munich
Nov. 26
at Red Bull Salzburg
Dec. 10
vs. Manchester City
Jan. 22
at Stuttgart
Jan. 29
Liverpool 🏴
Match
Date
at AC Milan
Sept. 17
vs. Bologna
Oct. 2
at RB Leipzig
Oct. 23
vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Nov. 5
vs. Real Madrid
Nov. 27
at Girona
Dec. 10
vs. Lille
Jan. 21
at PSV Eindhoven
Jan. 29
Inter Milan 🇮🇹
Match
Date
at Manchester City
Sept. 18
vs. Crvena Zvezda
Oct. 1
at Young Boys
Oct. 23
vs. Arsenal
Nov. 6
vs. RB Leipzig
Nov. 26
at Bayer Leverkusen
Dec. 10
at Sparta Prague
Jan. 22
vs. AS Monaco
Jan. 29
Borussia Dortmund 🇩🇪
Match
Date
at Club Brugge
Sept. 18
vs. Celtic
Oct. 1
at Real Madrid
Oct. 22
vs. Sturm Graz
Nov. 5
at Dinamo Zagreb
Nov. 27
vs. Barcelona
Dec. 11
at Bologna
Jan. 21
vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
Jan. 29
RB Leipzig 🇩🇪
Match
Date
at Atletico Madrid
Sept. 19
vs. Juventus
Oct. 2
vs. Liverpool
Oct. 23
at Celtic
Nov. 5
at Inter Milan
Nov. 26
vs. Aston Villa
Dec. 10
vs. Sporting CP
Jan. 22
at Sturm Graz
Jan. 29
Barcelona 🇪🇸
Match
Date
at AS Monaco
Sept. 19
vs. Young Boys
Oct. 1
vs. Bayern Munich
Oct. 23
at Crvena Zvezda
Nov. 6
vs. Brest
Nov. 26
at Borussia Dortmund
Dec. 11
at Benfica
Jan. 21
vs. Atalanta
Jan. 29
Pot 2
Bayer Leverkusen, on the back of their record-breaking, nearly flawless 2023-24 campaign, were handed a tough task with their eight matchups. Reigning Europa League holders Atalanta are also slated for some heavyweight tilts, including games against both Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Bayer Leverkusen 🇩🇪
Match
Date
at Feyenoord
Sept. 19
vs. AC Milan
Oct. 1
at Brest
Oct. 23
at Liverpool
Nov. 5
vs. Red Bull Salzburg
Nov. 26
vs. Inter Milan
Dec. 10
at Atletico Madrid
Jan. 21
vs. Sparta Prague
Jan. 29
Atletico Madrid 🇪🇸
Match
Date
vs. RB Leipzig
Sept. 19
at Benfica
Oct. 2
vs. Lille
Oct. 23
at Paris Saint-Germain
Nov. 6
at Sparta Prague
Nov. 26
vs. Slovan Bratislava
Dec. 11
vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Jan. 21
at Red Bull Salzburg
Jan. 29
Atalanta 🇮🇹
Match
Date
vs. Arsenal
Sept. 19
at Shakhtar Donetsk
Oct. 2
vs. Celtic
Oct. 23
at Stuttgart
Nov. 6
at Young Boys
Nov. 26
vs. Real Madrid
Dec. 10
vs. Sturm Graz
Jan. 21
at Barcelona
Jan. 29
Juventus 🇮🇹
Match
Date
vs. PSV Eindhoven
Sept. 17
at RB Leipzig
Oct. 2
vs. Stuttgart
Oct. 22
at Lille
Nov. 5
at Aston Villa
Nov. 27
vs. Manchester City
Dec. 11
at Club Brugge
Jan. 21
vs. Benfica
Jan. 29
Benfica 🇵🇹
Match
Date
at Crvena Zvezda
Sept. 19
vs. Atletico Madrid
Oct. 2
vs. Feyenoord
Oct. 23
at Bayern Munich
Nov. 6
at AS Monaco
Nov. 27
vs. Bologna
Dec. 11
vs. Barcelona
Jan. 21
at Juventus
Jan. 29
Arsenal 🏴
Match
Date
at Atalanta
Sept. 19
vs. Paris Saint-Germain
Oct. 1
vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
Oct. 22
at Inter Milan
Nov. 6
at Sporting CP
Nov. 26
vs. Monaco
Dec. 11
vs. Dinamo Zagreb
Jan. 22
at Girona
Jan. 29
Club Brugge 🇧🇪
Match
Date
vs. Borussia Dortmund
Sept. 18
at Sturm Graz
Oct. 2
at AC Milan
Oct. 22
vs. Aston Villa
Nov. 6
at Celtic
Nov. 27
vs. Sporting CP
Dec. 10
vs. Juventus
Jan. 21
at Manchester City
Jan. 29
Shakhtar Donetsk 🇺🇦
Match
Date
at Bologna
Sept. 18
vs. Atalanta
Oct. 2
at Arsenal
Oct. 22
vs. Young Boys
Nov. 6
at PSV Eindhoven
Nov. 27
vs. Bayern Munich
Dec. 10
vs. Brest
Jan. 22
at Borussia Dortmund
Jan. 29
AC Milan 🇮🇹
Match
Date
vs. Liverpool
Sept. 17
at Bayer Leverkusen
Oct. 1
vs. Club Brugge
Oct. 22
at Real Madrid
Nov. 5
at Slovan Bratislava
Nov. 26
vs. Crvena Zvezda
Dec. 11
vs. Girona
Jan. 22
at Dinamo Zagreb
Jan. 29
Pot 3
Of all the sides who found themselves in Pot 3, Celtic may feel the best about their fixture list right now. Brendan Rodgers’ men got paired with arguably the most forgiving possible opponents from Pot 1, and, partly due to the new format, could have a legitimate shot at making the knockout round.
Feyenoord 🇳🇱
Match
Date
vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Sept. 19
at Girona
Oct. 2
at Benfica
Oct. 23
vs. Red Bull Salzburg
Nov. 6
at Manchester City
Nov. 26
vs. Sparta Prague
Dec. 11
vs. Bayern Munich
Jan. 22
at Lille
Jan. 29
Sporting CP 🇵🇹
Match
Date
vs. Lille
Sept. 17
at PSV Eindhoven
Oct. 1
at Sturm Graz
Oct. 22
vs. Manchester City
Nov. 5
vs. Arsenal
Nov. 26
at Club Brugge
Dec. 10
at RB Leipzig
Jan. 22
vs. Bologna
Jan. 29
PSV Eindhoven 🇳🇱
Match
Date
at Juventus
Sept. 17
vs. Sporting CP
Oct. 1
at Paris Saint-Germain
Oct. 22
vs. Girona
Nov. 5
vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
Nov. 27
at Brest
Dec. 10
at Crvena Zvezda
Jan. 21
vs. Liverpool
Jan. 29
Dinamo Zagreb 🇭🇷
Match
Date
at Bayern Munich
Sept. 19
vs. AS Monaco
Oct. 2
at Red Bull Salzburg
Oct. 23
at Slovan Bratislava
Nov. 5
vs. Borussia Dortmund
Nov. 27
vs. Celtic
Dec. 10
at Arsenal
Jan. 22
vs. AC Milan
Jan. 29
Red Bull Salzburg 🇦🇹
Match
Date
at Sparta Prague
Sept. 18
vs. Brest
Oct. 1
vs. Dinamo Zagreb
Oct. 23
at Feyenoord
Nov. 6
at Bayer Leverkusen
Nov. 26
vs. Paris Saint-Germain
Dec. 10
at Real Madrid
Jan. 22
vs. Atletico Madrid
Jan. 29
Lille 🇫🇷
Match
Date
at Sporting CP
Sept. 17
vs. Real Madrid
Oct. 2
at Atletico Madrid
Oct. 23
vs. Juventus
Nov. 5
at Bologna
Nov. 27
vs. Sturm Graz
Dec. 11
at Liverpool
Jan. 21
vs. Feyenoord
Jan. 29
Crvena Zvezda 🇷🇸
Match
Date
vs. Benfica
Sept. 19
at Inter Milan
Oct. 1
at AS Monaco
Oct. 22
vs. Barcelona
Nov. 6
vs. Stuttgart
Nov. 27
at AC Milan
Dec. 11
vs. PSV Eindhoven
Jan. 21
at Young Boys
Jan. 29
Young Boys 🇨🇭
Match
Date
vs. Aston Villa
Sept. 17
at Barcelona
Oct. 1
vs. Inter Milan
Oct. 23
at Shakhtar Donetsk
Nov. 6
vs. Atalanta
Nov. 26
at Stuttgart
Dec. 11
at Celtic
Jan. 22
vs. Crvena Zvezda
Jan. 29
Celtic 🏴
Match
Date
vs. Slovan Bratislava
Sept. 18
at Borussia Dortmund
Oct. 1
at Atalanta
Oct. 23
vs. RB Leipzig
Nov. 5
vs. Club Brugge
Nov. 27
at Dinamo Zagreb
Dec. 10
vs. Young Boys
Jan. 22
at Aston Villa
Jan. 29
Pot 4
Several of Europe’s fairy-tale teams from last season found themselves in Pot 4 on Thursday, with Girona, Bologna, Brest, and Aston Villa all making either long-awaited returns to the competition or their full debuts. Can any of them rediscover the magic that helped get them here?
Slovan Bratislava 🇸🇰
Match
Date
at Celtic
Sept. 18
vs. Manchester City
Oct. 1
at Girona
Oct. 22
vs. Dinamo Zagreb
Nov. 5
vs. AC Milan
Nov. 26
at Atletico Madrid
Dec. 11
vs. Stuttgart
Jan. 21
at Bayern Munich
Jan. 29
AS Monaco 🇫🇷
Match
Date
vs. Barcelona
Sept. 19
at Dinamo Zagreb
Oct. 2
vs. Crvena Zvezda
Oct. 22
at Bologna
Nov. 5
vs. Benfica
Nov. 27
at Arsenal
Dec. 11
vs. Aston Villa
Jan. 21
at Inter Milan
Jan 29
Sparta Prague 🇨🇿
Match
Date
vs. Red Bull Salzburg
Sept. 18
at Stuttgart
Oct. 10
at Manchester City
Oct. 23
vs. Brest
Nov. 6
vs. Atletico Madrid
Nov. 26
at Feyenoord
Dec. 11
vs. Inter Milan
Jan. 22
at Bayer Leverkusen
Jan. 29
Aston Villa 🏴
Match
Date
at Young Boys
Sept. 17
vs. Bayern Munich
Oct. 2
vs. Bologna
Oct. 22
at Club Brugge
Nov. 6
vs. Juventus
Nov. 27
at RB Leipzig
Dec. 10
at AS Monaco
Jan. 21
vs. Celtic
Jan. 29
Bologna 🇮🇹
Match
Date
vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
Sept. 18
at Liverpool
Oct. 2
at Aston Villa
Oct. 22
vs. AS Monaco
Nov. 5
vs. Lille
Nov. 27
at Benfica
Dec. 11
vs. Borussia Dortmund
Jan. 21
at Sporting CP
Jan. 29
Girona 🇪🇸
Match
Date
at Paris Saint-Germain
Sept. 18
vs. Feyenoord
Oct. 2
vs. Slovan Bratislava
Oct. 22
at PSV Eindhoven
Nov. 5
at Sturm Graz
Nov. 27
vs. Liverpool
Dec. 10
at AC Milan
Jan. 22
vs. Arsenal
Jan. 29
VfB Stuttgart 🇩🇪
Match
Date
at Real Madrid
Sept. 17
vs. Sparta Prague
Oct. 1
at Juventus
Oct. 22
vs. Atalanta
Nov. 6
at Crvena Zvezda
Nov. 27
vs. Young Boys
Dec. 11
at Slovan Bratislava
Jan. 21
vs. Paris Saint-Germain
Jan. 29
Sturm Graz 🇦🇹
Match
Date
at Brest
Sept. 19
vs. Club Brugge
Oct. 2
vs. Sporting CP
Oct. 22
at Borussia Dortmund
Nov. 5
vs. Girona
Nov. 27
at Lille
Dec. 11
at Atalanta
Jan. 21
vs. RB Leipzig
Jan. 29
Brest 🇫🇷
Match
Date
vs. Sturm Graz
Sept. 19
at Red Bull Salzburg
Oct. 1
vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Oct. 23
at Sparta Prague
Nov. 6
at Barcelona
Nov. 26
vs. PSV Eindhoven
Dec. 10
at Shakhtar Donetsk
Jan. 22
vs. Real Madrid
Jan. 29
This season’s Champions League, the 70th edition of Europe’s elite club competition, begins with Matchday 1 on Sept. 17.
The tournament culminates with the final May 31 at the Allianz Arena, home of German giants Bayern Munich.