Arsenal’s Champions League league-phase fixtures: Napoli opener and Real Madrid return

Arsenal will begin their 2026-27 UEFA Champions League league-phase campaign away to Napoli on 9 September, with the Premier League champions also set to face Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Real Betis in a challenging schedule.

The Gunners will play eight matches in total during the league phase, with four fixtures at home and four away. Their first game will take place at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, where they will meet Napoli at 22:00 on 9 September.

Arsenal’s home opener comes against Lille at Emirates Stadium on 13 October. They will then travel to Munich to face Bayern Munich at Allianz Arena on 21 October, before visiting Slavia Prague at Fortuna Arena on 4 November.

The second half of the fixture list includes three successive home matches in the schedule. Borussia Dortmund will visit Emirates Stadium on 24 November, followed by Real Madrid on 9 December. Arsenal will finish the campaign with two January fixtures.

Mikel Arteta’s side will travel to Seville to play Real Betis at La Cartuja on 20 January 2027, before hosting Sabah Baku at Emirates Stadium on 27 January. Both matches are listed for a 22:00 kick-off.

Arsenal’s complete league-phase schedule is:

– Napoli, Stadio Diego Armando Maradona – 9 September, 22:00 – Lille, Emirates Stadium – 13 October, 22:00 – Bayern Munich, Allianz Arena – 21 October, 22:00 – Slavia Prague, Fortuna Arena – 4 November, 22:00 – Borussia Dortmund, Emirates Stadium – 24 November, 22:00 – Real Madrid, Emirates Stadium – 9 December, 22:00 – Real Betis, La Cartuja – 20 January 2027, 22:00 – Sabah Baku, Emirates Stadium – 27 January 2027, 22:00

Under the Champions League league-phase format, each team faces two opponents from each of the four seeding pots, from Pot 1 through to Pot 4. Arsenal’s opponents therefore include teams drawn from all four available pots.

The schedule comes after Arsenal were crowned English champions and secured their place in this season’s Champions League. They will be looking to go further than last season, when they lost the title to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties.

Real Madrid will provide one of the most notable fixtures of the campaign. Arsenal have never lost to the Spanish club in Champions League history, winning three of their previous meetings and drawing the other.

The league phase is due to start on 8 September and conclude on 27 January 2027. The dates for the league-phase matches are expected to be confirmed on Saturday, 29 August.