Arsenal will face Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid, while Manchester City has been drawn against champions Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona in a challenging Champions League league stage draw. The draw, overseen by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry in Monaco, also set difficult paths for Liverpool, Manchester United, and Aston Villa.
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, last season's runners-up, will need to navigate a tough group that includes Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and other strong European contenders like Borussia Dortmund, Real Betis, Lille, and Napoli. Although 24 of the 36 teams will advance from the league format, Arsenal faces a demanding schedule to secure the necessary points.
Mikel Arteta's side will be keen to move past their heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the previous season's final.
Mana City, under Enzo Maresca for the first time in a decade without Pep Guardiola, will also face formidable opponents. They are set to host Paris Saint-Germain and travel to Barcelona. Their group also includes Sporting Lisbon, Porto, Napoli, and Leipzig, presenting a daunting prospect.
Manchester United returns to the competition after a two-year absence and will face Bayern Munich in a rematch of the 1999 final, along with Roma. Their schedule also includes trips to Sporting Lisbon, Atletico Madrid, and Como. Manchester United is set to become the first English team to play over 300 games in the competition.
Liverpool's draw is considered more favorable, with fixtures against Atletico Madrid, Porto, Villarreal, and Lens at home, and away games against Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce, and LASK.
Europa League champions Aston Villa will also face Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, mirroring some of City's challenges. Their opponents also include Borussia Dortmund, Fenerbahce, and Viking.
For Mason Greenwood, this draw could mark a return to English soil for the first time since January 2022. His current club, Fenerbahce, will face Manchester United and potentially Shakhtar Donetsk, who are playing their home matches at Stamford Bridge due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Following the league stage, teams ranked 25th to 36th will be eliminated. Those between ninth and 24th will compete in two-legged knockout play-offs in February, while the top eight teams will automatically advance to the Round of 16 in March.