Barcelona Awaits Champions League Fate in Monaco Draw

The eyes of the footballing world will turn to Monaco on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at 6 p.m. CET, as Barcelona discovers its path for the 2025-26 Champions League campaign. This highly anticipated draw marks the second year of the expanded tournament's revamped format, with the Catalan giants keen to improve on their semi-final exit last season and make a strong push for the final in Budapest.

The new Champions League structure features 36 teams competing in a single League Phase, replacing the traditional group stage. Each team will play a total of eight matches, facing eight different opponents – four at home and four away. This innovative approach promises a more diverse and competitive initial stage of the tournament.

Navigating the New Format: Qualification and Knockout Changes

Progression through the League Phase is clear: the top eight teams will automatically secure a coveted spot in the Round of 16. Teams finishing between 9th and 24th will enter a crucial play-off round, battling it out for the remaining spots in the Last 16. Those outside the top 24 will unfortunately be eliminated from European competition.

Significant changes have also been introduced for the knockout stages, particularly benefiting the highest-performing teams. The top two seeds emerging from the League Phase are guaranteed the advantage of playing the second leg of all their subsequent knockout ties at home. Furthermore, a key regulation ensures that these top two seeds can only potentially meet each other in the grand final, adding an extra layer of strategic importance to the League Phase standings.

Barcelona's Draw Prospects and Restrictions

Barcelona enters the draw as a Pot 1 seed, a position that should theoretically offer a more favorable set of opponents. However, they will still face challenges, drawing teams from each of the other pots. Standard competition regulations apply, meaning Barcelona will not be drawn against fellow Spanish powerhouses such as Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, or Villarreal. Additionally, to ensure a broader spread of nationalities, they are restricted from facing more than two teams from the same country.

Fans can mark their calendars for the League Phase matches, which are scheduled to unfold on the following dates:

• September 30-October 1, 2025
• November 11-12, 2025
• November 25-26, 2025
• December 9-10, 2025
• January 20/21, 2026
• January 28, 2026

As the draw approaches, anticipation builds for Barcelona to embark on their journey in this evolving Champions League landscape, with hopes set high for a memorable and successful campaign.