Exciting Matchups Unveiled as Champions League Group Stage Draws Conclude

The much-anticipated draws for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, the premier European club football competition, took place in Monaco. In a format similar to last year, the tournament will feature a single group comprising 36 teams, each set to play eight matches against different opponents—four at home and four away. Before the draws, the 36 teams were classified into four pots based on their rankings derived from their performances in European competitions over the last five years. The draws were conducted with the condition that teams from the same country cannot face each other. Among the matchups, Inter Milan has been drawn against formidable opponents including Liverpool, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, and Atletico Madrid. Meanwhile, Juventus will face the challenge of playing away games against Real Madrid and BodøGlimt in Norway, beyond the Arctic Circle. Atalanta will duel with Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, and Napoli will encounter Chelsea and Manchester City, promising thrilling contests throughout the group stage. Here’s a breakdown of the matchups for some of the key teams: **Inter Milan's Fixtures:** - Liverpool (Home) - Borussia Dortmund (Away) - Arsenal (Home) - Atletico Madrid (Away) - Slavia Prague (Home) - Ajax (Away) - Kairat (Home) - Union Saint-Gilloise (Away) **Juventus's Fixtures:** - Borussia Dortmund (Home) - Real Madrid (Away) - Benfica (Home) - Villarreal (Away) - Sporting Lisbon (Home) - BodøGlimt (Away) - Pafos (Home) - Monaco (Away) **Atalanta's Fixtures:** - Chelsea (Home) - Paris Saint-Germain (Away) - Club Brugge (Home) - Eintracht Frankfurt (Away) - Slavia Prague (Home) - Marseille (Away) - Athletic Bilbao (Home) - Union Saint-Gilloise (Away) **Napoli's Fixtures:** - Chelsea (Home) - Manchester City (Away) - Eintracht Frankfurt (Home) - Benfica (Away) - Sporting Lisbon (Home) - PSV Eindhoven (Away) - Qarabag (Home) - Copenhagen (Away) The group stage will kick off from September 16 to 18, with the final matchday slated for January 28, 2026. At the conclusion of this single group stage, the top eight teams will automatically qualify for the Round of 16. Teams ranked from ninth to 24th will enter playoffs for a chance to advance, while the bottom eight will face elimination from the competition. In total, 29 teams qualified directly for this year's group stage, along with an additional seven that secured their spots through the playoffs. For detailed matchups of all 36 teams, fans can check the UEFA website, with a complete schedule slated to be released on Saturday, August 30. This year's Champions League promises to bring games further north and east than ever before, igniting the excitement of club football across Europe. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2