Champions League: Full Group Stage Match Schedule

World champions Chelsea are set to kick off their Champions League journey with a high-profile encounter against Bayern Munich, slated as the standout fixture of the opening league phase week. This same week will also see Kevin De Bruyne make his return to the Etihad Stadium to face his former club, Manchester City. Meanwhile, the reigning titleholders, Paris Saint-Germain, will commence their defense against Atalanta, a repeat of their 2020 Champions League quarter-final clash. Liverpool, widely regarded as one of the tournament favorites, will play their first of eight group stage matches at home against Atlético Madrid.

PSG`s challenging league phase could culminate in a dramatic showdown at the Parc des Princes, where the Qatari-backed club will go head-to-head with Newcastle United, a team financially supported by Saudi Arabia`s sovereign wealth fund. The final round of fixtures will feature all 36 teams playing simultaneously, with key qualification battles expected in matches like Borussia Dortmund vs. Inter, Napoli vs. Chelsea, and Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Tottenham.

Prior to those January 28 matches, numerous other significant games and anticipated reunions are scheduled. Trent Alexander-Arnold`s return to Anfield as a Real Madrid player is set for November 4. Xabi Alonso’s squad is also slated to travel to Kazakhstan to face Kairat Almaty on September 30, just two days after their away fixture against Atlético Madrid. This particular match might undergo rescheduling. Arguably the most anticipated clash of the league phase, PSG’s visit to Barcelona, will occur on October 1. This marks part of what could be a demanding start to the league phase for Hansi Flick`s team, who also have away games against Newcastle United and Chelsea within their initial five fixtures.

The top 24 teams advancing from the 36-strong league phase will proceed to the knockout stages of the competition. Teams finishing within the top eight will secure a direct berth in the Champions League round of 16, while the remaining qualifying teams will compete in a playoff for the remaining spots.

Champions League Match Schedule (Group Stage)

Matchday One — Tuesday, September 16

Wednesday, September 17

Thursday, September 18

Matchday Two — Tuesday, September 30

Wednesday, October 1

Matchday Three — Tuesday, October 21

Wednesday, October 22

Matchday Four — Tuesday, November 4

Wednesday, November 5

Matchday Five — Tuesday, November, 25

Wednesday, November 26

Matchday Six — Tuesday, December 9

Wednesday, December 10

Matchday Seven — Tuesday, January 20

Wednesday, January 21

Matchday Eight — Tuesday, January 28