The New Format Returns: 36 Teams, One Table
The 2026-27 Champions League is the second season of UEFA's expanded league phase. Thirty-six clubs, one table, eight games each - and no repeat opponents. By the time Matchday 8 closes on 27 January 2027, the top eight will have booked a direct path to the last 16, while places 9-24 fight it out in a play-off round.
Matchday 1 spreads 18 fixtures across three nights - six per day - and it already has everything: a Bernabéu opener, debutants making history, champions arriving on each other's turf, and enough heavyweight collisions to set the tone for the entire campaign.
The Six Games That Matter
Monday 8 September
Real Madrid vs Inter
The competition opens where it belongs - under the Bernabéu lights. José Mourinho's Real Madrid host the reigning Serie A champions Inter, a reunion of European royalty that sets the tone before a ball is kicked elsewhere.
Monday 8 September
Porto vs Manchester City
Erling Haaland's annual European goal hunt begins at the Estádio do Dragão. Porto are formidable at home, but City arrive with the deepest squad in the competition.
Tuesday 9 September
Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid
Andoni Iraola's first European night at Anfield is no gentle introduction. Atlético's defence-first machine visits a Liverpool side that needs a statement after a turbulent year.
Tuesday 9 September
Napoli vs Arsenal
The 2025-26 Premier League champions fly south to Naples. Arsenal's squad is built for knockouts - this is where they prove it in the group phase.
Tuesday 9 September
Barcelona vs Feyenoord
Barça start at home against a Feyenoord side that arrives through the league phase door for the first time. The Camp Nou expects goals.
Wednesday 10 September
Manchester United vs Sabah
Old Trafford closes Matchday 1 with history. Azerbaijani debutants Sabah play the first Champions League game in their history on one of the grandest stages in football.
Full Matchday 1 Schedule
| Monday 8 September | |
|---|---|
| 18:45* | AEK Athens vs LASK |
| 21:00 | Club Brugge vs Aston Villa |
| 21:00 | Dortmund vs Villarreal |
| 21:00 | Porto vs Manchester City |
| 21:00 | Lille vs Real Betis |
| 21:00 | Real Madrid vs Inter |
| Tuesday 9 September | |
|---|---|
| 18:45* | Barcelona vs Feyenoord |
| 18:45* | Stuttgart vs Viking |
| 21:00 | Liverpool vs Atlético Madrid |
| 21:00 | PSG vs Slovan Bratislava |
| 21:00 | Sporting CP vs Galatasaray |
| 21:00 | Napoli vs Arsenal |
| Wednesday 10 September | |
|---|---|
| 18:45* | Fenerbahçe vs Roma |
| 18:45* | PSV vs Shakhtar Donetsk |
| 21:00 | Como vs RB Leipzig |
| 21:00 | Bayern Munich vs Bodø/Glimt |
| 21:00 | Manchester United vs Sabah |
| 21:00 | Slavia Prague vs Lens |
* 18:45 CET kick-offs; all other fixtures start at 21:00 CET.
What to Wear on UCL Night
Three matchday moods, three kit choices - all in stock now:
Anfield under the lights - the stage where Iraola's Liverpool rewrite their European story
Matchday 1 brings 36 different fan armies together across three nights
Shop the MD1 Jerseys
Home and Champions League jerseys for the biggest clubs on Matchday 1, from around €32.80:
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Liverpool Home Jersey 2026/27 Champions League - Szoboszlai #8 | Premium Breathable Fit
€35.99
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Manchester City Home Jersey 2026/27 Champions League - Haaland #9 | Comfortable Fan Edition
€35.99
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Manchester United Home Jersey 2026/27 Champions League | Lightweight Breathable Fabric
€35.99
Shop NowYour Club, Your Night
Champions League jerseys from €32.80. Browse Real Madrid, Inter, Liverpool, Arsenal, City, Bayern, Barcelona and Manchester United in one place.
Shop All Champions League JerseysMark the Calendar
Matchday 1 is just the start. The 2026-27 Champions League calendar runs through the winter and into the spring: