Who Came Out On Top — And Who Got Burned — In The 2026–27 Champions League Draw

All 36 clubs participating in the 2026–27 Champions League learned their league phase fixtures in Thursday's draw, and reactions were decidedly mixed.

The quest for European supremacy begins next month, with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain aiming to become only the second club in history to claim three consecutive Champions League titles. Standing in their way are last season's finalists Arsenal, along with heavyweights Bayern Munich, Barcelona and, naturally, the only side to ever achieve that feat: Real Madrid (2016–2018).

But before any of the continent's elite or their ambitious rivals can set their sights on the trophy, they must first navigate the league phase. A top-eight finish earns automatic entry to the round of 16, while teams finishing ninth through 24th must battle through the knockout phase playoffs. The remaining 12 sides are sent home.

A favorable draw significantly improves a team's prospects of reaching the knockout rounds. Some clubs landed a relatively straightforward path, while others face a brutal gauntlet ahead.

Winners

Real Madrid

Surprisingly, Real Madrid avoided both Manchester City and Liverpool in this draw. Instead, José Mourinho's side will face the reigning Premier League champions Arsenal — a team they have never defeated in the Champions League. Most recently, they suffered a humiliating exit at the hands of the Gunners in the 2024–25 quarterfinals.

Beyond that tricky trip to north London, Los Blancos were not handed any other opponents likely to trouble the likes of Kylian Mbappé and company. Inter and Roma will offer resistance, but it's difficult to picture the 15-time European champions falling to both Italian clubs in the same league phase.

RB Leipzig pose considerably less of a threat now that Yan Diomande has joined Real Madrid, while LASK, PSV, Shakhtar Donetsk and AEK Athens are unlikely to cause any real concern.

Liverpool

Andoni Iraola must have exhaled with relief following Thursday's draw. The incoming manager, who has yet to take charge of a Champions League match, steered clear of the top Pot 1 sides and instead received Atlético Madrid at home and Inter away.

Neither fixture will be straightforward, but the opposition is far more manageable than the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and PSG. What's more, Liverpool won both of those exact matchups during last season's league phase.

The Reds should also comfortably dispatch Villarreal, Lens, Club Brugge and LASK. A trip to Fenerbahçe could prove tricky simply due to the electric atmosphere in Istanbul, but overall, the path to the knockout stage looks relatively clear — particularly if the 20-time English champions manage to secure Bradley Barcola's signature.

Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich were the side every other club was desperate to avoid. Vincent Kompany's squad came within a single goal of reaching the final last season and will be hungry to go one step further.

Arsenal thrashed Bayern Munich in last season's league phase and could well repeat the feat this time around. Outside of that, the toughest test for the reigning German champions is an away trip to Atlético Madrid — a game they should still be capable of winning.

There is simply no realistic scenario in which Real Betis, Bodø/Glimt, Slavia Praha, Lille or Viking can topple Bayern Munich. Manchester United might find a way under Michael Carrick if they rediscover their best form, but it's hard to see the Red Devils' backline keeping Harry Kane quiet.

Losers

Barcelona

Barcelona are desperate for Champions League glory, but the road ahead is far from easy. The Catalans have drawn PSG for the second straight season — and this time, they must face Luis Enrique's side in Paris.

The reigning Spanish champions must also travel to Lisbon to face an underestimated Sporting CP side that finished seventh in the 2025–26 league phase. A visit to Galatasaray is arguably even more daunting, given that Liverpool, Juventus and Atlético Madrid all stumbled in Istanbul last season.

Home fixtures offer little comfort either. Barcelona must host Manchester City, who could have Enzo Fernández orchestrating their midfield by that point. They also welcome reigning Europa League champions Aston Villa, though Unai Emery lost several key players this summer. Even a clash with Como, guided by Cesc Fàbregas, carries its own complications.

Atlético Madrid

Atlético Madrid may have reached the semifinals last season, but that run owed more to fortune than genuine quality. Diego Simeone's squad looks weaker heading into this campaign, particularly if Julián Alvarez pushes through his desired transfer before the window closes.

Facing Bayern Munich is a nightmare scenario for the Spanish club, as is a visit to Anfield. Last season, Los Rojiblancos also scraped past PSV away and were beaten by Bodø/Glimt at the Metropolitano.

Atlético Madrid must also contend with Manchester United, a fixture that could swing either way depending on both sides' form at the time. Among the Pot 2 options, however, the Red Devils were certainly one opponent Simeone would have preferred to avoid.

Manchester United

Manchester United secured their Champions League return by finishing third in the Premier League last season — and their reward is a date with Bayern Munich. Even if last weekend's shock defeat to Hull City was merely a blip, they still look a level below last season's semifinalists.

Visiting Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano is never a pleasant experience, especially if Simeone deploys his notoriously defensive setup that knocked Barcelona out in the quarterfinals last season. Speaking of the quarterfinals, that is exactly where Sporting finished in the 2025–26 Champions League.

Then comes a trip to Como, which could also prove difficult given the club's impressive progress under Fàbregas. Roma and RB Leipzig are no pushovers either, even when they must travel to Old Trafford. If United's revamped midfield fails to click, they could realistically struggle against both sides.

Suddenly, there are very few fixtures in their draw from which United can confidently expect all three points — at least for now.