2026/27 UEFA Champions League draw: Who can German teams face in the league phase?

Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and VfB Stuttgart will be representing the Bundesliga in the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League. So who can the German teams face in Thursday’s draw for the league phase?

As has been the case in the last two seasons, the Champions League now consists of 36 teams competing in a single league phase.

For the draw, which takes place from 6pm CEST on Thursday, 27 August, teams are divided into four pots of nine according to UEFA coefficient, with the holders (Paris Saint-Germain) automatically in Pot 1.

Harry Kane and Bayern Munich are looking to go beyond their semi-final finish from last season. - Alex Grimm

They are drawn against two other teams from each pot, giving them a total of eight opponents. Teams cannot be paired with a club from their own country and can face a maximum of two teams from the same association.

Bayern have the highest coefficient of any team in Europe and will be in Pot 1. Dortmund go into Pot 2, with Leipzig in Pot 3 on their European return, and Stuttgart in Pot 4 for their second Champions League campaign in three years.

Martín Demichelis will lead RB Leipzig in the Champions League on their continental return. - RONNY HARTMANN

Pot 1

Paris Saint-German, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid

Pot 2

Borussia Dortmund, Roma, Sporting Lisbon, Aston Villa, Porto, Manchester United, Club Brugge, Real Betis, PSV Eindhoven

Pot 3

Feyenoord, Lille, Bodø/Glimt, Napoli, RB Leipzig, Villarreal, Shakhtar Donetsk, Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe

Pot 4

Slavia Prague, VfB Stuttgart, LASK, Como, Lens, Sabah, AEK Athens, Viking, Slovan Bratislava

Key dates for 2026/27

• League phase draw: 27 August 2026
• Matchday 1: 8-10 September 2026
• Matchday 2: 13/14 October 2026
• Matchday 3: 20/21 October 2026
• Matchday 4: 3/4 November 2026
• Matchday 5: 24/25 November 2026
• Matchday 6: 8/9 December 2026
• Matchday 7: 19/20 January 2027
• Matchday 8: 27 January 2027
• Knockout play-offs draw: 29 January 2027
• Knockout play-offs: 16/17 and 23/24 February 2027
• Knockout rounds draw: 26 February 2027
• Round of 16: 9/10 March and 16/17 March 2027
• Quarter-finals: 6/7 and 13/14 April 2027
• Semi-finals: 27/28 April and 4/5 May 2027
• Final: 5 June 2027at Estadio Metropolitano, Madrid

About the clubs

Bayern Munich

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Borussia Dortmund

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RB Leipzig

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VfB Stuttgart

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