Sport · India Bureau
Real Madrid drawn against Arsenal in Champions League league phase
The UEFA Champions League draw has set up a compelling clash between Real Madrid and Arsenal, while Barcelona will face Paris Saint-Germain in the revamped league phase format. The new structure sees teams play eight matches each instead of the traditional group stage.
LSN India ·
Real Madrid's meeting with Arsenal highlights an intriguing European matchup, as the Spanish champions prepare for their campaign in the restructured Champions League. The draw, which determines the league phase fixtures, has created several standout encounters across Europe's elite clubs.
Barcelona will lock horns with Paris Saint-Germain during the league phase, setting up a direct contest between two of Europe's traditional powerhouses. The French champions, who have won the competition twice in recent seasons, will also face Manchester City and Aston Villa among their eight fixtures.
Under the new format adopted by UEFA, the traditional group stage has been replaced with a single league phase where each team plays eight matches against different opponents. This change aims to increase competitive balance and ensure every team faces a varied set of opponents throughout the competition.
The league phase matches will be played over several matchdays, with teams accumulating points to determine their progression to the knockout rounds. The top finishers will advance directly, while others will compete in playoff stages before the Round of 16.