RB Leipzig has been drawn against eight demanding opponents in the new Champions League league phase. The draw took place on Thursday in Monaco, with legends Thierry Henry and David Villa assisting.
The Red Bulls will play their eight league matches against Manchester City (home), Real Madrid (away), PSV Eindhoven (home), Manchester United (away), Shakhtar Donetsk (home), Feyenoord (away), RC Lens (home), and Como 1907 (away). The league phase in the Swiss model starts on September 8 and runs until January 27. All final 18 matches will be played simultaneously.
Which opponents await RB Leipzig?
The draw presented RB Leipzig with a mix of European heavyweights and experienced continental clubs. Manchester City and Real Madrid are two of the current title contenders. They will host the English champions, while the trip to record-winner Real Madrid leads to Madrid. Another highlight is the away match at Manchester United.
The remaining opponents come from the Netherlands, Ukraine, France, and Italy. Matches against PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord are classic duels with Dutch teams. Shakhtar Donetsk, RC Lens, and the Italian promoted side Como 1907 complete the schedule. A computer conducted most of the draw, with clubs from the same nation unable to face each other in this phase.
How does the new Champions League format work?
Starting this season, 36 teams compete in a single league phase, replacing the previous group stage. Each club plays eight matches against eight different opponents, four at home and four away. Matches are spread from Tuesday to Thursday. UEFA intended to announce the exact match schedule and kick-off times by Saturday after the draw at the latest.
Teams finishing in positions 1 to 8 after the league phase qualify directly for the round of 16. Clubs ranked 9th to 24th must compete in play-offs from February 16 to 24, 2027, for the remaining eight round of 16 spots. The better-placed teams (9th-16th) have home advantage in the second leg. For teams from 25th place downwards, the European campaign ends; there is no longer a drop-down to the Europa League or Conference League.
What does the sporting director say about the European return?
Sporting Director Marcel Schäfer was thrilled after the draw. The 42-year-old, whose contract runs until June 2028, said: "The anticipation is enormous. That was a year of hard work. We are hugely delighted to be back on the European stage." He added: "We want to make a splash and measure ourselves against the best. I believe we have fantastic and attractive opponents."
Schäfer has been in charge of sport at RB Leipzig since August 1, 2024. The team of coach Martín Demichelis returns to European competition after a one-year absence. The squad currently comprises 32 players, with the last transfer being Christopher Nkunku. The team's total market value stands at 506.35 million euros.
What is RB Leipzig's current situation?
RB Leipzig enters the new season with a solid 20-point deficit to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. In the concluded 2025 season, the club finished fourth with 56 points from 29 games (17 wins, 5 draws, 7 losses). The goal record was 56 scored and 36 conceded, resulting in a +20 difference. The recent form shows five wins from the last five matches.
The next match for RB Leipzig is on September 5, 2026, away against 15th-placed Werder Bremen. Ahead of this match, Demichelis will still be without several injured players. Currently, Assan Ouédraogo, Christoph Baumgartner, and goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland are unavailable. The current injury status can be tracked on our injuries page.
The return to the Champions League offers the chance to compete among Europe's elite once again. The demanding opponents will provide a clear picture of the team's current level. First, the remaining Bundesliga matches must be used to optimally prepare for the European tasks. An overview of the upcoming fixtures can be found on our fixtures page.
