Barcelona have learned their opponents for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League league phase, and the Catalan giants have been handed a blockbuster schedule featuring reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and FIFA Club World Cup holders Chelsea.
The draw, which took place in Monaco on Thursday, confirmed that Barça will face a mix of heavyweights and tricky challengers as they begin their campaign under Hansi Flick.
Barcelona’s Champions League Opponents
The Blaugrana will play eight games in the league phase — four at home in Spain and four away.
Home Matches: PSG, Eintracht Frankfurt, Olympiacos, FC Copenhagen
Away Matches: Chelsea, Club Brugge, Slavia Prague, Newcastle United
This means that Barcelona fans at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys will witness a thrilling clash against PSG, widely seen as one of Europe’s top fixtures.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi Reacts to Barcelona Clash
Speaking after the draw, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi expressed excitement at facing the Catalans:
“Barcelona vs PSG? It is a match that everyone is looking forward to. Two great clubs, we have a lot of respect for Barça. They are a great club, but so are we.”
The tie is already being billed as one of the most anticipated matches of the season, reigniting a rivalry that has delivered some of the Champions League’s most memorable nights.
Road to Budapest: The New UCL Format
This season’s competition continues with the new league phase system introduced by UEFA:
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36 teams will compete in one giant league table.
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Each team plays eight matches (four home, four away) against different opponents.
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The top 8 qualify directly for the Round of 16.
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Teams ranked 9th–24th enter a knockout playoff.
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The bottom 12 are eliminated from Europe entirely.
The campaign kicks off on September 16–18, while the final will be held on May 30, 2026, at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, with UEFA introducing a new 6:00 pm kick-off time for the showpiece.
Barcelona Out for Redemption
Last season, Barcelona came agonizingly close to the Champions League final but were eliminated by Inter Milan in a dramatic semi-final. Many fans believed a final showdown with PSG was the matchup Europe deserved.
Now, with both giants meeting in the league stage, football fans worldwide will finally get to witness Barcelona vs PSG, a clash that could shape the entire Champions League season.
