Chelsea return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time since the 2022/23 season, carrying a point to prove.
Under new head coach Enzo Maresca, the Blues enter Europe’s premier competition as Club World Cup champions and fresh off a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Their emphatic 3-0 victory over PSG in the Club World Cup final has reignited belief that this squad can once again challenge Europe’s elite.
This season will also see Chelsea experience the competition’s revamped format for the first time since its introduction last year.
The expanded 36-team league phase ensures that every match will be a test, with each draw potentially throwing up heavyweight clashes.
For a club with a rich European history, this campaign marks a new chapter, one that could feature renewed rivalries with PSG in the group stage or high-profile encounters with the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
Here, we take a closer look at Chelsea’s likely opponents for the 2025/26 Champions League.
Chelsea 2025/26 Champions League: Confirmed Teams
Here are the confirmed teams for the 2025/25 Champions League season with others yet to be confirmed.
England: Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle
Spain: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid, Athletic Club, Villarreal
Italy: Napoli, Inter, Atalanta, Juventus
Germany: Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt
France: Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Monaco
Netherlands: PSV Eindhoven, Ajax
Portugal: Sporting CP
Belgium: Union Saint-Gilloise
Türkiye: Galatasaray
Czechia: Slavia Prague
Greece: Olympiacos
How the Champions League League Phase Draw Works
The draw for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League league phase takes place on Thursday, 28 August 2025 in Monaco at 17:00 BST.
It follows UEFA’s Swiss-style format introduced last season, which guarantees more high-profile fixtures for each participant.
Key details:
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36 teams qualify for the league phase.
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27 gain entry via domestic leagues, joined by Champions League holders PSG, Europa League winners Tottenham, and seven play-off winners.
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Teams are seeded into four pots based on UEFA’s club coefficient rankings, a five-year measure of European performances.
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Each club is drawn to face eight opponents: two from each pot, one home and one away.
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Clubs cannot face sides from their own country or more than two from any single nation.
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UEFA will release the full fixture schedule, including dates and kick-off times, by 30 August 2025.
2025/26 Champions League League Phase Pots
The group stage pots are determined by UEFA’s club coefficient rankings, which assess each team’s performance in European competitions over the past five seasons.
Clubs with consistent success are placed in Pot 1, while lower-ranked sides occupy Pots 2, 3, and 4.
Teams in the same pot can be drawn against each other, with the exception that clubs from the same domestic association cannot face one another. For example, English teams cannot meet in the group stage, ruling out matchups with Manchester City, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Arsenal.
With a coefficient of 109.000, Chelsea are positioned in Pot 1 alongside other top seeds such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain.
Here is the full breakdown of the group stage pots for the 2025/26 Champions League.
Pot 1
Real Madrid (Spain) – 143.500
Manchester City (England) – 137.750
Bayern Munich (Germany) – 135.250
Liverpool (England) – 125.500
Paris Saint-Germain (France) – 116.500
Inter (Italy) – 116.250
Chelsea (England) – 109.000
Borussia Dortmund (Germany) – 106.750
Barcelona (Spain) – 103.250
Pot 2
Arsenal (England) – 98.000
Bayer Leverkusen (Germany) – 95.250
Atlético Madrid (Spain) – 93.500
Atalanta (Italy) – 82.000
Villarreal (Spain) – 82.000
Juventus (Italy) – 74.250
Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany) – 74.000
Pot 2/3
Tottenham Hotspur (England) – 70.250
Pot 3
PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) – 69.250
Ajax (Netherlands) – 67.250
Napoli (Italy) – 61.000
Sporting CP (Portugal) – 59.000
Olympiacos (Greece) – 56.500
Slavia Prague (Czechia) – 51.000
Marseille (France) – 48.000
Pot 3/4
Monaco (France) – 41.000
Pot 4
Galatasaray (Türkiye) – 38.250
Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium) – 36.000
Athletic Club (Spain) – 26.750
Newcastle United (England) – 23.039
Likely Opponents for Chelsea
Despite being in Pot 1, Chelsea could still face some heavyweight giants during the league phase, including fellow top seeds from other countries, while English teams like Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Newcastle are excluded.
The Blues’ group stage could feature highly competitive fixtures, with Pot 2 opponents such as Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, Bayer Leverkusen, or Juventus posing serious challenges.
Pot 3 offers potential tests from teams like Napoli, PSV Eindhoven, Ajax, or Sporting CP, requiring Maresca to balance tactics carefully.
Potential Draw Composition:
From Pot 1: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, Dortmund
From Pot 2: Bayer Leverkusen, Atlético Madrid, Juventus, Atalanta, Villarreal, Eintracht Frankfurt
From Pot 3: PSV Eindhoven, Ajax, Napoli, Sporting CP, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, Marseille
From Pot 4: Galatasaray, Union Saint-Gilloise, Athletic Club
FAQs: Chelsea 2025/26 Champions League
How are the Champions League pots decided?
They are based on UEFA’s club coefficient rankings, calculated from results in European competitions over the last five seasons. Stronger teams are placed in higher pots.
Can Chelsea face other English clubs in the league phase?
No. Teams from the same country are kept apart in this stage. Chelsea can only meet English sides in the knockout rounds.
How many matches will Chelsea play in the league phase?
Eight — two each from Pots 2, 3, and 4, plus one home and one away fixture per opponent.
Which big teams could Chelsea face?
Atlético Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus, Napoli, and PSV Eindhoven are among the standout potential opponents.
When will Chelsea’s full fixture list be released?
By 30 August 2025, following the official draw two days earlier.
