Real Madrid and Barcelona learn fate after UEFA Champions League draw

Real Madrid were handed one of the toughest schedules. Xabi Alonso’s team will host Manchester City, Juventus, Marseille, and Monaco, while also travelling to Liverpool, Benfica, Olympiacos, and Kairat Almaty. The Liverpool clash will see new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold return to Anfield to face his former club, adding extra intrigue to an already high-profile fixture. Madrid exited last season’s competition in the quarter-finals, losing 5-1 on aggregate to Arsenal, and also fell short in domestic finals against Barcelona.

Barcelona received a more balanced draw. Hansi Flick’s side will play at home against Paris Saint-Germain, Eintracht Frankfurt, Olympiacos, and Copenhagen. Away matches will take them to Chelsea, Newcastle, Club Brugge, and Slavia Prague. Barca are coming off a treble-winning domestic season and reached the Champions League semi-finals last term.

Atletico Madrid face a demanding lineup with home fixtures against Inter Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bodo/Glimt, and Union Saint-Gilloise. Their away trips include Liverpool, Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, and Galatasaray.

Villarreal will host Manchester City, Juventus, Ajax, and Copenhagen. Their away games feature Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham Hotspur, and Cypriot side Pafos.

Athletic Club, returning to the Champions League, were drawn to play PSG, Arsenal, Sporting CP, and Qarabag at home. They will travel to Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, Slavia Prague, and Newcastle United.

The new Champions League format sees each team play eight matches in the league phase. The top eight sides progress directly to the round of 16, while those finishing 9th to 24th enter a playoff round.

READ MORE: Chelsea, Liverpool handed tricky paths in UEFA Champions League group stage