Bayern Munich are about to learn the first contours of their Champions League journey. Thursday’s league‑phase draw in Monaco (6 p.m. CEST) will slot the Bundesliga champions into an eight‑game slate against opponents drawn from four seeded pots, two per pot, with no same‑nation clashes and a cap of two opponents from any single association.
Seeded by UEFA club coefficient, Bayern sit in Pot 1 behind only Real Madrid and Manchester City, which means heavyweight matchups are still in play even at the top tier. The draw mechanics promise variety over repetition, emphasizing breadth of opposition rather than home-and-home grinds.
Under UEFA’s expanded 36-team “league phase,” every club plays four at home and four away, all counting toward a single standings table. The top eight advance straight to the round of 16; places 9–24 head to two-legged play-offs to join them.
It’s a format built for big nights and tight margins, with the bracket path from the last 16 onward also sketched out after the draw. Mark the calendar: league-phase dates run from mid-September through late January, with knockout rounds from February to May and the final set for May 30, 2026, in Budapest.
Here’s where you’ll find Bayern Munich’s opponents:
| Teams | Home / Away | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | Home | 16-18 September 2025 |
| PSG | Away | 30 September-1 October 2025 |
| Club Brugge | Home | 21/22 October 2025 |
| Arsenal FC | Away | 4/5 November 2025 |
| Sporting CP | Home | 25/26 November 2025 |
| PSV | Away | 9/10 December 2025 |
| Union SG | Home | 20/21 January 2026 |
| Pafos | Away | 28 January 2026 |
League phase
Knockout phase
Draws
Contenido GEC