By Francis Onyach - Reporter
France, 27 August 2026 - The wait is almost over. Europe's biggest clubs are preparing to discover their opponents for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase, with the draw set to take place today and 36 teams dreaming of reaching the final in Madrid next June.
The league phase begins on September 8, with the final scheduled for June 5, 2027, at the Metropolitano Stadium.
This year's competition promises a fascinating mixture of established giants, returning powers and ambitious newcomers.
At the top of the list are Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Inter Milan, all placed in Pot 1 alongside Atlético Madrid. PSG enter the competition as defending champions after another extraordinary European campaign, while the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern and Barcelona will be determined to reclaim the trophy.
Manchester United return to Europe's elite
One of the biggest storylines will undoubtedly be Manchester United's return.
The 20-time English champions are back in the Champions League after missing out in recent seasons and will enter the draw from Pot 2. United finished third in the Premier League last season, securing their place in Europe's elite competition.
For United supporters, the draw represents the beginning of a new European chapter. The club will face two opponents from each pot, meaning clashes against some of Europe's biggest sides are possible.
With United still rebuilding, the draw could provide either an opportunity to make a statement or an extremely difficult early test.
Yaya Touré makes history with Slovan Bratislava
Another fascinating storyline is Slovan Bratislava, who qualified for the league phase under former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder Yaya Touré.
Touré is taking charge of his first senior head-coaching role and has already made history by guiding Slovan through qualifying. UEFA confirms that this is only their second appearance in the Champions League league phase.
For Touré, the competition represents a remarkable return to the stage where he enjoyed so much success as a player.
Slovan are in Pot 4, meaning they could be handed some of Europe's most intimidating opponents. Yet their players will relish the opportunity to welcome Champions League giants to Bratislava.
The competition also welcomes several clubs carrying enormous excitement.
Como, backed by their remarkable rise under Cesc Fàbregas, are entering the Champions League league phase for the first time. Azerbaijan's Sabah, Norway's Viking and several other clubs have also emerged from qualifying to reach Europe's premier competition.
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Meanwhile, Fenerbahçe return after 18 years, while LASK are back after a 61-year absence.
These clubs represent the romantic side of the Champions League: teams with something to prove against opponents possessing vastly greater European experience.
For the traditional contenders, however, there is only one objective.
PSG want to defend their crown. Real Madrid want another European title. Barcelona, Bayern, Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal all believe they have the quality to go all the way.
The new league-phase format makes the journey even more unpredictable. Every team will play eight different opponents, four at home and four away, with two opponents drawn from each pot. The top eight qualify directly for the round of 16, while teams finishing ninth to 24th enter the knockout play-offs.
That means there is no traditional group-stage safety net.
Every match matters.
And when the draw is completed, clubs will immediately begin calculating the difficulty of their schedules, supporters will debate the biggest potential fixtures and managers will start planning for months of European battles.
From Manchester United's long-awaited return to Slovan Bratislava's historic journey under Yaya Touré, Como's debut and the ambitions of PSG, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Bayern, Barcelona and Manchester City, this Champions League promises to be one of the most intriguing editions yet.
The balls are ready.
Europe's giants are waiting to discover who stands between them and Madrid.