The Bundesliga may not have started yet, but it is already time to think about the Champions League. The last of the second legs for the last round of UCL qualification end on Wednesday, August 26, meaning that we will know all the Champions League participants by that point in time.
The draw starts the day after, at 18:00 CET on Thursday, August 27th, which will determine the fixtures of each of the 36 teams in the Champions League. Each of these teams are split into various pots based on their European
performances. For example, Aston Villa were placed in Pot 4 when they qualified for the UCL in the 2024/25 season, but following their European exploits that campaign, as well as their Europa League win in the 2025/26 season, they managed to make Pot 2 this time around.
Pot 1 is reserved for the highest ranked teams in the competition, and Pot 4 for lowest ranked teams. Not all the pot placements are fixed because not all the teams are set yet. What we do know is that each team will be drawn against 2 opponent from each of the 4 pots. Of course, as usual, no teams from the same country can be drawn to face each other in the league phase.
Bayern Munich will learn their Champions League fate on Thursday, too. They have faced elite clubs like Paris Saint-Germain (twice), Barcelona, and Arsenal in the Champions League first stage over the past two years.
To break down the upcoming draw, we are looking at the potential matchups from every angle:
- Which teams would be the most preferable to play against?
- Which would represent the biggest (or smallest) challenge?
- Which matchup would be the most narratively intriguing?
- Which could unearth an old rivalry?
- Which would get fans’ blood pumping the most?
- Who would you want Bayern to face in the Champions League?
BFW’s writers have come together to answer these questions themselves. Leave us your answers down below. To make things easier, here are the pots and the already qualified teams in them (the teams in brackets still need to play).
Pot 1: Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Paris Saint Germain, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan
Pot 2: Borussia Dortmund, AS Roma, Sporting, Porto, Club Brugge, Real Betis, PSV Eindhoven, Aston Villa, Manchester United
Pot 3: Feyenoord, Lille, Napoli, Rasenballsport Leipzig, Villarreal, Shakhtar Donetsk, Galatasaray, Bodø/Glimt, Fenerbahce
Pot 4: VfB Stuttgart, Como, Lens, AEK Athens, Slovan Bratislava, Sabah, LASK, Slavia Prague, Viking
Frank Mo
Pot 1: Manchester City, Inter Milan
Pot 2: AS Roma, Aston Villa
Pot 3: Feyenoord, Galatasaray
Pot 4: Como, Sabah
Explanation:
There is a common theme of revenge versus narrative intrigue in my picks here. The desired Pot 1 matchups come firmly from the former motivation. Manchester City’s last encounter with Bayern was in 2023 during the dark Thomas Tuchel days, so it would be fun to see a rematch. And Inter Milan were the team to first knock Vincent Kompany’s Bayern out of the UCL. Again, it would be nice to get some revenge.
There is a similar desire to right wrongs in wanting to match up against Aston Villa again. Bayern may have already played against them in preseason, but it was the first win against the Villans in 3 encounters- and it was a friendly match, which simply does not count. Finally getting a win against Aston Villa would be nice. AS Roma, meanwhile, have made some intriguing signings in the transfer market, headlined by the likes of Santiago Castro and former Borussia Dortmund player Donyell Malen. They could make for an interesting opponent.
Feyenoord also falls into the category of a revenge matchup. And Galatasaray, given they have Bayern Munich players Eyüp Aydin and Leroy Sané as well as many Turkish fans desperate to see their country overtake Germany, should make for an exciting encounter.
Sabah is an Azerbaijani football team that was created in 2017, which managed to miraculously make it through the UCL qualifying process. Given the likelihood of ever playing the team again is slim, I believe it would make for a unique encounter. Meanwhile, Como are the apple of every hipster’s eye in Italy after making big, investor backed signings and tactical innovations.
Zippy
Pot 1: Arsenal, PSG
Pot 2: Club Brugge, Sporting CP
Pot 3: Feyenoord, Bodø/Glimt
Pot 4: RC Lens, Como
Explanation:
Bayern always gets up for the group stage — sorry, league phase — and what better way to do that than to invite some top-tier competition? Paris and Arsenal are the crème de la crème right now and the best possible measuring stick. They’re also exactly the type of club Bayern can expect to face if still in the competition in April and May.
Beyond that…last year, Bayern played PSV Eindhoven and got a good look at Ismael Saibari before signing the talented Moroccan forward. Previously, Bayern played Galatasaray before nabbing Sacha Boey, which admittedly did not work out so well. Still, it is a nice chance to get an up close scouting glimpse at talent factories around Europe. Bodø’s thrilling run last year makes that a fun prospect, while RC Lens has caught the eye more than once with the players it is churning out from Ligue 1. I’ll take Frank’s word on Como and cribbing that choice from him for Pot 4.
Chuck
Pot 1: Atlético Madrid, Inter Milan
Pot 2: Manchester United, Club Brugge
Pot 3: Galatasaray, Feyenoord
Pot 4: RC Lens, Como
Explanation:
I am in a weird position — I want Bayern Munich to be tested, but I also do not want them to have repeat opponents down the line. I am firmly in the camp of the Bavarians being a prime contender for the UCL crown, so there is no fear of any squad. It will take talent, depth, good health, and some luck, but I think the diverse squads here will give Bayern Munich some different looks and allow Vincent Kompany to get creative with his lineups. If Bayern Munich isn’t overloaded with power clubs in the league phase, I’m predicting Kompany will rotate more. For me, that is vital to the squad’s ability to be healthy and fresh in the spring when these games really matter.
Michael Scott
Pot 1: Liverpool, Manchester City
Pot 2: Club Brugge, Real Betis
Pot 3: Lille, Galatasaray
Pot 4: LASK Linz, Lens
Explanation:
The UCL league phase is more about survival rather than outright domination. Most of my choices are based on teams that prefer finesse to physicality, play an overall slower tempo, or have a huge talent discrepancy beneath Bayern.
Liverpool and Manchester City are both breaking in new managers and pose little to no threat to Bayern. Neither will be flying high until the knockout rounds and that might be an optimistic viewpoint. The Spanish clubs all play a style that will stress Bayern in a win, loss, or draw. If playing PSG in the league phase meant that Bayern would avoid them in the knockout rounds, then sign me up. Otherwise, stay clear of the champs for now. Inter Milan and Arsenal are just boring to watch.
Pot 2 is by far the most interesting. Aston Villa is terrible but will foul the living daylights out of a dominant team like Bayern. Manchester United and PSV Eindhoven would be fun to beat but I’d prefer to avoid them in case we catch them on a good day. Club Brugge and Real Betis should be cakewalk wins.
The only concerning team in the bottom two pots is Feyenoord. The French teams should roll over but the Italian teams would be frustrating and celebrate a draw. Teams that run through the preseason playoff can sometimes be on a hot streak while a team like Bayern is rolling into the early chapters of the season.
Alco1
Pot 1: Manchester City, Liverpool
Pot 2: Club Brugge, Real Betis
Pot 3: Bodø/Glimt, Feyenoord
Pot 4: Como, Sabah
Explanation:
I took the “easy” way here. Manchester City is in a state of transition; after Pep Guardiola left the team as manager after 10 years, the Mancunian squad might have problems to settle into the philosophy of newly appointed Enzo Maresca. On a similar note, Liverpool FC has not been the ever-pressing, overwhelming side since Jürgen Klopp’s departure. Paired with a bit of turmoil in the squad managing due to Andoni Iraola taking charge recently, the Scousers could have trouble getting into rhythm. As for the sides on the remaining pots, there is no team that, on paper, could be a real threat to Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich’s side. Real Betis will feature in the UCL only for the second time. Como, Bodo, Brugge and Feyenoord are, realistically, 3 or 4 steps below the usual giants like Bayern, City, or Liverpool (even considering their current state).
Overall, the league phase seems to be exceptionally favorable for Bayern Munich. However; UCL always tends to gives us some surprises, so Bayern fans will surely stay tuned! (BATE Borisov 2012)
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