The league phase features 36 teams. Each club plays eight matches against eight different opponents, four at home and four away. The competition gets underway on 16/17 September, with the eighth and final matchday scheduled for 28 January 2027. The final will be played in Frankfurt on 26 May.
Milan v Benfica: two European finals in their shared history
AC Milan and Benfica are among the biggest names in this season’s competition, and the two clubs will now meet at San Siro. It is a fixture with remarkable European history: they first faced each other in the 1963 European Cup final. Benfica took the lead through the legendary Eusébio, but Milan turned the match around thanks to a José Altafini brace and won 2-1.
Their second final is even more interesting from an Austrian perspective. Milan and Benfica met again in 1990 at Vienna’s Praterstadion. Frank Rijkaard scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory that saw the Rossoneri successfully defend their European crown. More than three and a half decades later, the two clubs are set to meet again on the continental stage.
Milan return to the scene of a painful Europa League night
Milan’s away match at Olympiacos also comes with a notable backstory. In the 2018/19 Europa League group stage, Milan won the first meeting at home 3-1. On the final matchday, however, the Greek side responded with the same scoreline and advanced to the knockout stage at the Italians’ expense. Milan’s European campaign was over before Christmas.
The Rossoneri will also face two English clubs. Sunderland travel to Milan as they return to European football after more than five decades, while Bournemouth will host Milan during the first continental campaign in their club’s history.
Celta v Juventus: memories of a 4-0 shock
Juventus also have unfinished business in Spain. The Turin giants travel to Celta Vigo, who inflicted one of the Bianconeri’s heaviest European defeats in the 1999/2000 UEFA Cup. Juventus won the first leg 1-0, but were thrashed 4-0 in Vigo in the return match and eliminated from the competition. It remains Juventus’ heaviest away defeat in the UEFA Cup or Europa League.
Another attractive Juventus fixture sees Real Sociedad visit Turin. The two clubs previously met in the 2003/04 Champions League group stage. Juventus won 4-2 at home, while the return match in San Sebastián ended goalless.
Benfica and Celtic share a remarkable European story
Benfica will also host Celtic, another former European champion. Their 1969 European Cup tie produced a story that would be almost unimaginable in modern football. Celtic won the first leg 3-0, before Benfica took the return match by the same scoreline. With penalty shoot-outs not yet in use, qualification was decided by the toss of a coin — and Celtic went through.
Real Sociedad against Olympique Lyon is another rematch of a previous Champions League tie. The clubs met in the round of 16 in 2003/04, with Lyon winning both legs 1-0 to progress 2-0 on aggregate.
The standout fixtures for Sturm and Salzburg
For SK Sturm Graz, the home match against Olympique Marseille is the biggest international draw. The 1993 Champions League winners bring one of France’s most storied clubs to Graz. A trip to Premier League side Bournemouth also stands out from a sporting perspective, but the most emotionally charged fixture will be away to Hoffenheim. TSG coach Christian Ilzer led Sturm to the Austrian double in 2024 and will now face his former club in European competition.
Salzburg, meanwhile, can look forward to hosting AC Milan in Austria. Reigning Conference League winners Crystal Palace will also travel to Salzburg. The toughest away assignment is likely to be Bayer Leverkusen, while the trip to RSC Anderlecht should also provide a particularly intense European night.
Attractive challenges for Leverkusen and Hoffenheim
Bayer Leverkusen will host Olympique Marseille and FC Red Bull Salzburg, among others, while travelling to Olympique Lyon and Dinamo Zagreb. The 1988 UEFA Cup winners and 2024 Europa League finalists therefore face several clubs with considerable European pedigree.
Hoffenheim, meanwhile, will host Olympique Lyon and Beşiktaş in addition to the reunion between Ilzer and Sturm. Away from home, TSG face Olympiacos, Crystal Palace and Anderlecht. For the Austrian and German representatives in particular, the league phase therefore offers several fixtures carrying storylines that go well beyond the purely sporting context.
