The UEFA Champions League is back for the 2025/26 season, promising another year of thrilling football, star-studded clashes, and unforgettable moments on Europe’s biggest stage. Paris Saint-Germain will want to defend their title as European Champions, while several of Europe’s elite will eye to snatch their crown.
The Champions League league stage
The league phase of the tournament is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, 16 September 2025. All the contenders will play eight matches each, concluding the league stage on 28 January 2026. Out of the eight fixtures for each team, four will be played at home and the remaining four away.
The top eight teams in the table progress automatically into the round of 16 in March. The other teams, placing ninth to 24th, will compete in a two-legged knockout play-off for the chance to join them.
A top-eight finish in the league is ideal as it guarantees safety as well as reduced fixtures in an already congested season. However, the key objective is advancing to the round of 16. The defending champions, PSG, finished 15th last season yet advanced through an easy tie in the play-offs against fellow French side Brest. Last season, Manchester City, Juventus and AC Milan were eliminated in the play-offs.
Must-Watch League Stage Fixtures
| Date | Fixture | Venue |
| 17/09/2025 | Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea | Allianz Arena |
| 19/09/2025 | Manchester City vs. Napoli | Etihad Stadium |
| 02/10/25 | Barcelona vs. PSG | Spotify Camp Nou |
| 05/11/25 | Liverpool vs. Real Madrid | Anfield |
| 26/11/25 | Chelsea vs. Barcelona | Stamford Bridge |
| 27/11/25 | Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich | Emirates Stadium |
| 11/12/25 | Real Madrid vs. Manchester City | Estadio Santiago Bernabeu |
The Indian timings for the following fixtures can be found Here.
The Favourites for the 2025/26 Champions League
Paris Saint-Germain
- Last Season Finish: Winners
- Manager: Luis Enrique
- Key Players: Ousmane Dembele, Vitiniha, Joao Neves, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes.
PSG are arguably the favourites for this year’s edition of the Champions League with their elite attacking power. An attacking frontline consisting of Dembele, Kvaratskhelia and youngsters Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola will test even the best defence in the world. Luis Enrique also provides plenty of experience and confidence to lead the French side to a back-to-back victory.
Real Madrid
- Last Season Finish: Quarter-finals
- Manager: Xabi Alonso
- Key Players: Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Arda Guler, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Real Madrid and the Champions League go hand in hand. The 15-time UCL winners cannot enter a Champions League campaign without being among the favourites. Xabi Alonso leads a squad brimming with quality and will feel refreshed under new management.
Liverpool
- Last Season Finish: Round of 16
- Manager: Arne Slot
- Key Players: Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson
Arne Slot’s side crashed out early in the competition last year; however, it was at the hands of the eventual winners, PSG. Liverpool has added plenty of talent to push far into the Champions League while also dominating the Premier League. They splashed £446 million this window, bringing in Isak, Ekitike, Wirtz, Frimpong and Kerkez.
Barcelona
- Last Season Finish: Semi-finals
- Manager: Hansi Flick
- Key Players: Lamine Yamal, Marcus Rashford, Raphinha, Pedri, Jules Kounde, Joan Garcia
Last season, Barcelona finished among the top four before crashing out in a thrilling 6-7 tie against Inter Milan. Hansi Flick has built a squad that regularly appears on the scoresheet and will probably be the most enjoyable side for a neutral fan to watch. In the transfer window, they have brought in Marcus Rashford, who, if rejuvenated, will cause plenty of problems for the opposition alongside Raphinha and Yamal.
Who are the Dark Horses in this season’s Champions League?
Chelsea
- Last Season Finish: N/A
- Manager: Enzo Maresca
- Key Players: Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, Estevao, Joao Pedro
Despite not featuring in last season’s edition of the competition, Chelsea could at least go into the latter stages of the competition. Last season, the Blues won the UEFA Conference League and ended the season by lifting the Club World Cup by triumphing over the Champions League winners PSG in the final.
Napoli
- Last Season Finish: N/A
- Manager: Antonio Conte
- Key Players: Scott McTominay, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Rasmus Hojlund, Zambo Anguissa
Similar to Chelsea, Napoli did not feature in last year’s edition of the competition as well. They did, however, win the Serie A ahead of the Champions League finalists, Inter Milan. Scott McTominay has turned the tide on his career, earning a Ballon d’Or nomination as well as receiving the Serie A MVP award.
The Champions League 2025/26 Schedule
- League Stage: 16 September 2025 – 28 January 2026
- Play-offs: 17 February 2026 – 25 February 2026
- Round of 16: 10 March 2026 – 18 March 2026
- Quarter-finals: 7 April – 15 April 2026
- Semi-finals: 28 April 2026 – 06 May 2026
- Finals: 30 May 2026
The final for the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League will take place at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary, on 30 May 2026.
How to watch the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League?
India
- The UEFA Champions League matches will be telecast live on the Sony Ten network.
- The UEFA Champions League matches will be live-streamed on the SonyLiv app and website.
United Kingdom
- The UEFA Champions League matches will be streamed on TNT Sports and Amazon Prime Video.
United States of America
- The UEFA Champions League matches will be streamed on Paramount+ and CBS Sports.
Conclusion
As the 2025/26 Champions League gets underway, anticipation is at its peak, with fans eager to see how Europe’s finest clubs measure up on the grand stage. The tournament promises drama and spectacle at every turn, and fans can expect fierce group-stage battles, with surprises likely from rising teams across Europe’s top leagues.
Written by: Ritvik
