The Champions League league phase draw took place on Thursday, Aug. 28, as 36 teams from across Europe learned the eight opponents they will face between September and January.
If you missed last year’s competition and are wondering where the traditional group stage went, UEFA did away with groups of four in 2024–25 promising a more exciting format with big names facing off more frequently throughout the tournament. Teams play eight games while competing in a table. Points are awarded the same, three for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss, and the top 24 teams in the table advance to the next round. The top eight of those 24 get a bye directly to the round of 16 while the 16 other sides compete in a playoff round to advance.
Fans anxiously watched on as Zlatan Ibrahimović and Kaká drew team names from four pots to determine who would play who. And, of course, after the results, they eagerly celebrated—or complained—about how difficult their draws seemed on paper.
Statistical gurus Opta have crunched the numbers, deciphering which teams have received the easiest and hardest draws per their power rankings, and point out that Paris Saint-Germain were deemed to have the most difficult set of games in 2024–25—they went on to silence their doubters and claim a first-ever European crown.
Here’s how the 2025-26 schedule stacks up.
Easiest 2025–26 Champions League Draws
The first numbered column indicates their average opponent rating including a drawn matchup against Kazakhstan Premier League side FC Kairat. Of course, teams can’t help who they’re drawn against, but Opta excluded Kairat from a separate analysis. As such, if a team is facing Kairat, they also have a separate rating next to them indicating how much the side affects the overall number.
As such four of the six Premier League sides—Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Chelsea—find themselves with favourable draws. Also included from Europe’s top five leagues are Villarreal, Inter Milan, Juventus, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli and Monaco.
Hardest 2025–26 Champions League Draws
Bayern Munich have the honour of having the highest average opponent rating as they will face Chelsea, champions Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal from Pots 1 and 2 respectively. Though, on paper, it seems PSG might have the more difficult road based on names alone.
The title-holders face Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Tottenham, Bayer Leverkusen, Newcastle, Sporting CP and Athletic Club. A gauntlet run, but again they had a difficult run last time and walked away comfortably with the trophy against Inter Milan in the final.
Newcastle United also face a tough road traveling to face PSG, Leverkusen and Marseille while hosting Barcelona and Benfica among others.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as 2025–26 Champions League Draw: Ranking Every Club’s Schedule From Easiest to Hardest.
