This season, thanks to that unforgettable night in Bilbao back in May, we shall be competing in the UEFA Champions League!
As winners of the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League, we booked our place in the League Phase of the 2025/26 Champions League and the first major date in the competition's schedule is tomorrow (Thursday 28 August) as our eight opponents for the League Phase will be revealed.
Here is all you need to know ahead of our next European adventure...
The format
Like last season's Europa League campaign, the group stage of the Champions League has become a 36-team 'mini' league.
Each club faces eight different teams once, four at home and four away. The top eight advance directly to the round of 16, while sides finishing from ninth to 24th will contest the knockout round play-offs, with the winners of all eight two-legged ties going through to the last 16.
From the last 16 onwards, the tournament then takes a straight knockout format, with two-legged ties through until a single-leg final on 30 May, 2026, at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary.
The draw for the league stage will take place tomorrow (Thursday 28 August) with match rounds pencilled in as follows...
Matchday 1: 16/18 September, 2025
Matchday 2: 30 September/1 October, 2025
Matchday 3: 21/22 October, 2025
Matchday 4: 4/5 November, 2025
Matchday 5: 25/26 November, 2025
Matchday 6: 9/10 December, 2025
Matchday 7: 20/21 January, 2026
Matchday 8: 28 January, 2026
The draw for the knockout round play-offs, for the clubs finishing ninth to 24th, will take place on 30 January, 2026, with the two legs of those ties set to be played on 17/18 and 24/25 February, 2026.
The draw for the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals will be held on 27 February, 2026, with match dates pencilled in as follows...
Round of 16: 10/11 and 17/18 March, 2026
Quarter-finals: 7/8 and 14/15 April, 2026
Semi-finals: 28/29 April and 5/6 May, 2026
Final: 30 May, 2026
Dates are subject to change.
The 2025/26 winners of the UEFA Champions League will earn a place in the 2026/27 Champions League League Phase, a place in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup as well as a place at the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup finals.