Bayern handed Thursday night opener, Dortmund draw familiar foes, Leipzig and Stuttgart meet debutants | OneFootball

UEFA confirmed the full 2025/26 Champions League league phase schedule on Saturday. Six-time winners Bayern open at home to Bodø/Glimt on Thursday 10 October, the club’s first ever Champions League game on a Thursday night. Bayern, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Stuttgart are Germany’s entrants this season.

Bayern then welcome Arsenal, seeking to avenge last season’s 3-1 league phase loss. Trips to Atlético de Madrid and Manchester United are set for matchdays four and seven, respectively.

The 1997 winners Dortmund begin at home to Villarreal. They beat the LaLiga side 4-0 at a similar stage last season. Niko Kovac’s side meet the last two beaten finalists, Arsenal on matchday five and Inter on matchday six, before another journey to England to face Europa League winners Aston Villa.

RB Leipzig mark their return to Europe against Como. The Serie A club are coached by Cesc Fabregas, who was among those linked with the Leipzig job last summer. Martin Demichelis’s first Champions League campaign as a coach includes trips to Real Madrid on matchday three and Manchester United on matchday six, and a home date with Manchester City in the first midweek of November.

Stuttgart also open against Champions League debutants, hosting Norwegian side Viking FK on matchday one. Sebastian Hoeneß’s side have a relatively easier draw on paper, with Inter on matchday five their only away fixture against a club from a top-five league.

Source: BuLi News

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