UEFA Champions League

Champions League 2026/27: 36 clubs, one table and a 69-goal opening matchday

The UEFA Champions League is Europe's premier club competition. Since 2024/25 it has started with a single league phase of 36 clubs: each team plays eight matches against eight different opponents, four at home and four away. The top eight go straight into the round of 16, the clubs from 9th to 24th meet in a two-legged knockout play-off for the remaining places, and the bottom twelve are eliminated. From the round of 16 the ties are played over two legs, up to a one-off final.

Before the league phase began, 90 qualifying matches were played over three rounds and a play-off. The opening matchday then produced 69 goals in 18 games. Paris Saint-Germain beat Slovan Bratislava 6-1, Barcelona thrashed Feyenoord 5-1, Bayern Munich beat Bodø/Glimt 5-0 and Manchester United won 4-0 against Sabah. Como, in their first Champions League campaign, beat RB Leipzig 4-1.

Among the big games, Real Madrid beat Inter 2-1, Liverpool edged Atlético Madrid 2-1, Arsenal won 1-0 in Naples and Manchester City won 2-0 at Porto. The pick of matchday two is Manchester City against Paris Saint-Germain.