Champions League 2026/27: Playoffs crucial to complete the group stage, PSG and Bayern in pole position

The 2026/27 Champions League is approaching the start of the group stage, with seven spots still to be decided in the playoffs, the final stage before the official draw. Among the contenders, Bodo Glimt stands out, coming off Inter's surprising elimination last season, and now facing NEC Nijmegen, the latter fresh from qualifying thanks to a feat against Olympiacos. Another key clash is between Fenerbahce and Lyon, with the Turkish side fielding new signing Romelu Lukaku. The winner of this match will advance directly to Pot 3 in the group stage.

The remaining five playoffs belong to the so-called Champions Path, reserved for the national champions: Celtic vs. Lask, Levski Sofia vs. AEK Athens, Dinamo Zagreb vs. Viking, Slovan Bratislava vs. Celje, and Hapoel Beer Sheva vs. Sabah Baku. The winners of these matches will advance to Pot 4.

The group stage continues with a 36-team format, now in its third season, in which each team will face eight different opponents, with home and away matches evenly distributed between them. The pots have already been determined: Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning champion and winner of the European Super Cup, are at the top of the table, followed by Bayern Munich, Barcelona, ​​and Arsenal. Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid are further back, while Liverpool, Manchester City, and Real Madrid have new coaches: Iraola, Maresca, and José Mourinho, respectively. Mourinho has returned to Madrid with the goal of bringing the Champions League back to the Spanish capital.

Among the Italian teams, Inter is the only representative in the first pot and is aiming to redeem itself after last season's disappointment. Roma and Napoli are in the second and third pots, respectively, with Roma appearing as one of the most interesting teams in the group. Como, making its first appearance, will start in the fourth pot.

Although starting positions in the groups influence the quality of the opponents, as always, the pitch will decide the outcome, keeping alive the Champions League tradition of providing surprises and twists.