European CLUB COMPETITION Draw: Must-Watch Fixtures for English Sides
The highly anticipated European Club Competition Draw has taken place and generated some tough head-to-heads across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League competitions.
Discover the competition formats for the 2025/26 season, hear about must-see fixtures featuring English teams, and learn how to register your interest for these thrilling upcoming matches.
Champions League: League phase draw
The league phase draw of the 2025/26 Champions League took place on Thursday 28th August 2025.
The new format of the Champions League draw meant that 36 clubs were divided into four pots of nine clubs.
The pots were determined based on the club coefficient rankings set at the start of the season, with the UEFA Champions League titleholder automatically placed as the top seed in Pot 1.
Must-watch fixtures for English sides
Manchester City
Manchester City’s fixtures promise excitement: hosting Borussia Dortmund, Napoli, Leverkusen and Galatasaray A.Ş. at the Etihad stadium. City will travel to face Real Madrid, Bodø/Glimt, Villarreal and Monaco.
A standout fixture sees City face Champions League legends Madrid away at the infamous Bernabéu stadium in a clash of European heavyweights.
Arsenal
Arsenal take on Bayern München, Atleti, Olympiacos and Kairat Almaty at the Emirates stadium and will travel away to face teams including Inter, Club Brugge, Slavia Praha and Athletic Club.
The eagerly awaited clash is a standout fixture, sure to generate excitement among both the Bavarian and Gooners.
Chelsea
Chelsea take on Barcelona, Ajax, Benfica and Pafos for action packed matches at home in Stamford Bridge stadium. Away matches are planned against Bayern München, Atalanta, Qarabağ, Napoli.
The biggest standout match in this draw is the away fixture against Bayern München. Matches between Chelsea and Bayern have a rich history, including the dramatic 2012 final. Playing at the Allianz Arena, with its electric atmosphere and world-class opposition, makes this encounter the most anticipated and high-profile fixture in Chelsea’s group.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur face Borussia Dortmund, Slavia Praha, Villarreal and Copenhagen at home and will travel to play against Paris Saint-Germain, Frankfurt, Bodø/Glimt and Monaco.
Spurs face two sides that they previously defeated last year in the Europa League; Frankfurt and Bodø/Glimt. The Norwegian side are renowned for being a tough component for all due to their artificial pitch and being inside the arctic circle.
Liverpool
Liverpool will host Real Madrid, PSV, Atleti and Qarabağ at Anfield and will travel to face Inter, Frankfurt, Marseille and Galatasaray away in their host cities.
The standout match for Liverpool is their home game against Real Madrid at Anfield, a fixture fuelled by recent high-stakes encounters such as Liverpool’s defeat to Madrid in the 2022 Champions League final and their heavy loss at Anfield in the 2022/23 knockout stage. This fixture promises world-class football, intense rivalry, and is sure to capture the attention of fans around the globe.
Newcastle
Newcastle have been drawn to play PSV, Barcelona, Benfica and Athletic Club at home and will face tough competition against Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Leverkusen and Union SG away.
Facing PSG in Paris is a marquee European encounter, pitting Newcastle against one of the continent’s elite clubs packed with world-class talent. The atmosphere at the Parc des Princes, combined with the challenge of taking on a team with Champions League pedigree, makes this the most high-profile and eagerly anticipated fixture in Newcastle’s group.
Europa League: League phase draw
The league phase draw for the 2025/26 Europa League took place on Friday 29th August 2025.
This competition follows a league format, with each club facing eight different opponents in single-leg fixtures, four at home and four away.
The 36 clubs were split into four pots, each containing nine teams, based on the club coefficient rankings determined at the start of the season.
Must-watch fixtures for English sides
Nottingham Forest
A historic moment for Nottingham Forest as they return to the European stage for the first time in 30 years, making the 2026 Europa League a very special event for The Reds.
Nottingham Forest take on Porto, Midtjylland, Ferencváros and Malmö home at the City Ground and will travel to face Real Betis, Braga, Sturm Graz and Utrecht away.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa will host Salzburg, Young Boys, M. Tel Aviv and Bologna at Villa Park and travel away to play against Feyenoord, Basel, Fenerbahçe and Go Ahead Eagles.
Playing Fenerbahçe in Istanbul offers a unique European challenge, as Villa will face a club with a passionate fanbase and a formidable home atmosphere at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. The intensity and energy of Turkish crowds, combined with Fenerbahçe’s strong European pedigree, make this the most compelling and high-stakes fixture in Villa’s group.
Conference League: League phase draw
The league phase draw of the 2025/26 Conference League took place on Friday 29th August 2025.
During the league phase, each club competes against six different opponents in single-leg matches, with an even split of three games at home and three away.
The 36 clubs were grouped into six pots of six teams each, with placement determined by the club coefficient rankings set at the start of the season.
Must-watch fixtures for English sides
Crystal Palace
Palace face AZ Alkmaar, KuPS Kuopio and AEK Larnaca at home whilst matches against Shelbourne, Dynamo Kyiv and Strasbourg are away.
Facing Dynamo Kyiv in Lublin, Poland, at the Arena Lublin stadium stands out as the most intriguing fixture. The atmosphere and the quality of the opposition promise a memorable European night.
Register Your Interest for European Football Fixtures
Eager to see your favourite team compete in the Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League? Click the button below to register your interest, and a member of the Sportsworld team will be in touch to assist you with your enquiry.