Draws Almost Complete: Bayern Face Tough Matchups in the Champions League | OneFootball

It won’t be long until the UEFA Champions League draw. On Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., the matchups for the group stage will be determined in Monaco. 

Since the group stage was abolished and this league phase was introduced, each team has played eight matches in the preliminary round. Each team faces two teams from each draw pot, playing one of those teams at home and the other on the road.

This is intended, on the one hand, to provide more variety and, on the other hand, to increase equality of opportunity. Reactions have been mixed so far, but the final matchdays of the league phase have definitely always been exciting.

Of course, FC Bayern will also know on August 27 which teams they’ll face in the league phase.

Bayern Face Tough Opponents in the Champions League

It’s already certain that FC Bayern will be in the first draw pot due to its strong international performances. In any case, the composition of the pots is already relatively clear, even if we still have to wait and see which teams ultimately advance to the group stage via the qualifying rounds.

However, you can already get a pretty good idea of the draw pots. And, unsurprisingly, FC Bayern is once again facing some tough opponents.

Photo: FC Bayern

However, that doesn’t automatically mean you’ll face strong opponents from every pot. Pot one includes, alongside Bayern, Real Madrid, PSG, Liverpool, Inter, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid. You’re guaranteed to face two of these opponents.

In Pot 2, a certain disparity is already evident. Extremely high-caliber opponents like Aston Villa or Manchester United await, while at the same time, Club Brugge, Sporting Lisbon, or Real Betis are also among the possible opponents.

The final lineups in Pots 3 and 4 are still up in the air, but notable opponents could include Feyenoord, SSC Napoli, RC Lens, or Villarreal. Shakhtar, Lille, or Slavia Prague are also possibilities. Theoretically, then, FC Bayern could face Barcelona, PSG, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Feyenoord, Napoli, Lens, or Como.