RB Leipzig has been handed a demanding set of opponents in the draw for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League. The German club returns to Europe's premier competition after a one-year absence and was placed in Pot 3 for Thursday evening's ceremony in Monaco.
The draw determined eight fixtures for the new league phase. Leipzig will travel to face Real Madrid and Manchester United, while hosting Manchester City and PSV Eindhoven at the Red Bull Arena. Additional opponents include Shakhtar Donetsk (home), Feyenoord Rotterdam (away), RC Lens (home), and Italian newcomers Como (away). The specific pairings were confirmed following the draw. The club finished the previous Bundesliga season in third place with 65 points from 20 wins, five draws, and nine defeats.
Which opponents will RB Leipzig face?
The draw presented RB Leipzig with a mix of European heavyweights and seasoned competitors. Facing Real Madrid and Manchester City means matches against two of the tournament favorites. The away trip to Madrid and the home game against City will be particular highlights of the season.
Manchester United, PSV Eindhoven, and Shakhtar Donetsk are also regular participants in European competitions. Feyenoord Rotterdam, RC Lens, and Como complete the schedule. The exact order of the matches will be announced by UEFA at a later date. The drawn lots do not indicate the fixture sequence.
When will the Champions League matches take place?
The first matchday of the league phase is scheduled for September 8-10, 2026. There are eight matchdays in total, spread across several months. The second round is set for October 13/14, with the third following on October 20/21.
Further matchdays are on November 3/4, November 24/25, and December 8/9. The final two rounds in January 2027 are slated for January 19/20 and January 27. On the final matchday, all 18 games will be played in parallel with an XXL conference broadcast. The final will be held in Madrid on June 5, 2027.
How is Leipzig preparing for the season?
Returning to the Champions League is a key objective for the club. The return of experienced attacker Christopher Nkunku bolsters the offensive options. The team scored 66 goals and conceded 47 in the concluded Bundesliga campaign.
Before the European fixtures begin, RB Leipzig first faces a Bundesliga home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach. This match on August 29 is listed in our fixtures calendar. Gladbach currently sits in twelfth place in the table. The full squad statistics from last season are available on our stats page.
The draw highlights the sporting challenge of the coming months. Preparation for the strong opponents starts now. The current Bundesliga table situation can be followed on the standings page at any time.
