The UEFA Champions League returns on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, with the second matchday of the league phase getting underway following a month-long break since the opening round of fixtures.
There are some huge European nights to look forward to, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United all back in action as the battle for a place in the knockout stages continues.
When Does the Champions League Return?
The 2026/27 Champions League resumes on Tuesday, October 13, with the second round of league-phase matches taking place across Tuesday, October 13 and Wednesday, October 14.
The competition began on September 8 and 9, with the opening matchday also featuring fixtures on September 10. The league phase will continue through the autumn and winter before concluding in January 2027.
Champions League Fixtures: October 13-14, 2026
Tuesday, October 13
- Lens vs Sporting CP — 17:45
- Sabah vs Slavia Prague — 17:45
- Arsenal vs Lille — 20:00
- Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United — 20:00
- Inter Milan vs Club Brugge — 20:00
- Galatasaray vs Barcelona — 20:00
- RB Leipzig vs PSV Eindhoven — 20:00
- Viking vs Bayern Munich — 20:00
- Villarreal vs Napoli — 20:00
Wednesday, October 14
- Feyenoord vs Como — 17:45
- LASK vs Liverpool — 17:45
- Roma vs Real Madrid — 20:00
- Aston Villa vs Fenerbahce — 20:00
- Shakhtar Donetsk vs AEK Athens — 20:00
- Bodo/Glimt vs Borussia Dortmund — 20:00
- Manchester City vs Paris Saint-Germain — 20:00
- Real Betis vs Porto — 20:00
- Slovan Bratislava vs Stuttgart — 20:00
The Biggest Champions League Matches to Watch
There is no shortage of heavyweight clashes when European football returns, with several Premier League clubs facing challenging tests.
Arsenal host Lille on Tuesday night, while Manchester United travel to Atletico Madrid in a difficult away fixture.
Wednesday brings another packed schedule, with Liverpool travelling to face LASK before Manchester City host Paris Saint-Germain in one of the standout fixtures of the matchday.
Real Madrid also face a tricky trip to Roma, while Aston Villa welcome Fenerbahce as they continue their European campaign.
When Is the Next Champions League Matchday?
The third matchday of the 2026/27 Champions League league phase takes place on Tuesday, October 20 and Wednesday, October 21.
Liverpool host Villarreal, Manchester City welcome AEK Athens, and Arsenal travel to Bayern Munich in another major European test.
The league phase concludes on Wednesday, January 27, 2027, when all 36 teams play their final matches simultaneously.
Champions League 2026/27 Schedule
The remaining league-phase matchdays are scheduled for the following dates:
- Matchday 2: October 13-14, 2026
- Matchday 3: October 20-21, 2026
- Matchday 4: November 3-4, 2026
- Matchday 5: November 24-25, 2026
- Matchday 6: December 8-9, 2026
- Matchday 7: January 19-20, 2027
- Matchday 8: January 27, 2027
Champions League 2026/27 Knockout-Stage Dates
The Champions League knockout stages begin in February 2027, with 24 teams competing in the knockout phase play-offs for a place in the last 16.
The top eight teams from the league phase qualify automatically for the round of 16, while the sides finishing between ninth and 24th must navigate the two-legged play-offs.
Here are all the key dates for the 2026/27 Champions League knockout stages.
| Round | First leg | Second leg |
|---|---|---|
| Knockout phase play-offs | 16–17 February 2027 | 23–24 February 2027 |
| Round of 16 | 9–10 March 2027 | 16–17 March 2027 |
| Quarter-finals | 6–7 April 2027 | 13–14 April 2027 |
| Semi-finals | 27–28 April 2027 | 4–5 May 2027 |
| Final | — | Saturday, 5 June 2027 |
When Is the Champions League Final 2027?
The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League final will take place on Saturday, 5 June 2027.
The showpiece event will bring the European club season to a close, with two teams battling it out for the most prestigious trophy in European club football.
The final follows the conclusion of the semi-finals in early May, giving the finalists several weeks to prepare for the biggest match of their respective seasons.
Where Is the Champions League Final 2027?
The 2027 Champions League final will be held at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain, the home of Atlético Madrid.
The stadium previously hosted the Champions League final in 2019, when Liverpool defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 to lift the trophy.
How Does the Champions League Knockout Stage Work?
Under the current Champions League format, the league phase features 36 clubs, with each team playing eight matches.
The top eight teams qualify directly for the round of 16. Teams finishing from ninth to 24th enter the knockout phase play-offs, with the winners advancing to the last 16.
From that point onwards, the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals are played over two legs, with aggregate scores determining which teams progress. If the aggregate score is level after the second leg, extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out will decide the tie.
The final is a single match. If the teams are level after 90 minutes, extra time and penalties will be used if required to determine the Champions League winners.
Who is the favourite to win the Champions League?
Having made an electric start to the season, Barcelona are favourites to win the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League.
UCL Outright odds: Barcelona 15/4, Barcelona 11/2, Arsenal 11/2, Bayern Munich 11/2, Real Madrid 7/1, Man City 9/1, Liverpool 16/1, Manchester United 25/1. Full prices here.
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