The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League draw takes place this evening in Monaco, with the league phase fixtures for all 36 participating clubs to be confirmed from 5pm UK time. For English football fans, it is a landmark moment — five Premier League clubs are entering the competition, with Arsenal and Manchester City joined by Liverpool, and both Manchester United and Aston Villa making their returns to European football’s top table.

The format, now in its third season, sees each club face eight opponents across the league phase — two from each of the four seeded pots — split evenly between home and away fixtures. The draw itself is handled by a supercomputer, which generates all eight opponents with a single automated process, removing the drama of envelope draws but speeding up the ceremony considerably.

How the League Phase Draw Works

The 36 clubs are divided into four seeded pots based on UEFA’s club coefficient rankings, which reflect each team’s European results across the previous five seasons. Each club plays exactly eight matches in the league phase — two fixtures from each pot — with four at home and four away.

After the league phase concludes, the top eight sides qualify automatically for the round of 16. Teams finishing ninth to 24th enter a two-legged knockout play-off, while those finishing 25th or lower are eliminated entirely — unlike under the old format, there is no Europa League drop-down for the bottom clubs.

The Pots — Who Is Where?

English clubs are represented in both Pot 1 and Pot 2. Back-to-back champions PSG lead Pot 1 alongside three Premier League sides, while Manchester United and Aston Villa — both returning to the competition — are placed in Pot 2. English clubs shown in bold.

England’s Five in Europe

The Premier League has five representatives in this season’s Champions League — a strong showing that underlines the continued strength of the top flight. Here is where each English side sits ahead of tonight’s draw:

2026/27 Champions League Odds — bet365

With the draw yet to take place, the market already has a clear favourite. PSG, chasing a third consecutive title, head the betting at 5/1, while Real Madrid — the most backed team by bet365 customers — sit at 7/1 despite being fifth in the market. Here are the full outright markets from bet365:

Real Madrid — Best Backed for UCL Glory

Despite sitting fifth in the outright market at 7/1, Real Madrid are the most backed team among bet365 customers ahead of tonight’s draw. Los Blancos have an extraordinary European record — reaching the semi-finals in 12 of the last 16 seasons, contesting six finals, and winning every single one — and the appointment of Jose Mourinho has done little to dampen punter enthusiasm. Below are the five best-backed sides by percentage of pre-draw bets taken:

The gap between Arsenal and the rest of the English contingent is telling. Despite a summer that has seen Aston Villa lose several key players — Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, and Ollie Watkins have all departed — they retain enough quality to threaten in the group stage. Manchester United’s shock defeat to Hull City on the Premier League’s opening weekend, however, raises genuine doubts about whether they are ready to compete at the very highest level of European football.

Full 2026/27 UCL Schedule

Champions League 2026/27 — Questions & Answers

Everything you need to know about tonight’s draw, the new format, and the outright betting market.