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The UEFA Champions League has come up with the league stage draws, which had been prepared following the completion of the playoff round on August 27. Some changes were comprehensible while others were complicated. A few might be an enigma until the tournament reaches the knockout rounds, which will take place in February 2026. Unlike the previous season, this time teams have been put into one huge league table. As per the new format, sides will play eight matches, four as hosts while other four will be away fixtures. The bottom 12 sides with the 25th to 36th spots will be eliminated in January.
The top eight teams will directly qualify for the round of 16 while the sides ranked from the 9th to 24th will compete in the knockout phase playoffs to clash against the top eight sides. This time, Champions League titleholders, Paris Saint-Germain have earned a place in Pot 1 automatically, while all other spots are based upon the UEFA club coefficient. No club will be allowed to play another side from their own league and a club will not be allowed to play no more than two sides from one country.
Pot 1 teams in the UEFA Champions League 2025-26
Pot 1 of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 features reigning champions PSG, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, and Internazionale. Reigning champions PSG will take on giants such as Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Newcastle United in the league stage.
The league phase of the competition will now conclude in January instead of December. Six matches will be played before Christmas and the last two rounds will be held on January 20-21 and January 28.
