UEFA releases 2026/27 Champions League schedule for FC Porto, Sporting and Real Madrid
UEFA confirmed dates and kickoff times for the 36-team Champions League phase, setting opening matches for FC Porto and Sporting CP in September 2026.
League phase schedule confirmation
UEFA published the complete fixture schedule for the 2026/27 Champions League league phase on 29 August 2026 following the draw held on Thursday. The expanded tournament features 36 clubs competing across eight single-table matchdays from 8 September 2026 to 27 January 2027. Each team plays eight different opponents, split between four home fixtures and four away games. Prior to the release, domestic scheduling indicators in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, where both FC Porto and Sporting CP had fifth-round games set for Friday at 20:15, pointed to early European opening dates. The entire opening stage culminates on 27 January 2027, when all final matchday fixtures will be played simultaneously across Europe.
- FC Porto hosts Manchester City on the opening matchday
- Sporting CP visits Lens as second round matches begin
- FC Porto hosts PSV Eindhoven to open matchday three
- Sporting CP travels to Shakhtar Donetsk in matchday four
- FC Porto visits Feyenoord and Real Madrid hosts PSV in round five
- Sporting CP plays away at Roma in round six
- FC Porto hosts Slavia Prague and Real Madrid plays LASK in round seven
- All 36 teams conclude the league phase in simultaneous fixtures
FC Porto campaign under Francesco Farioli
Portuguese national champions FC Porto return to the Champions League following a two-year absence from the competition, led by manager Francesco Farioli. Porto opens its European campaign on 8 September 2026 at Estadio do Dragao with an 20:00 kickoff against Manchester City. The team then travels to Spain to face Real Betis on 14 October at 20:00, before hosting consecutive home matches against PSV Eindhoven on 20 October and Napoli on 4 November. The away schedule continues with visits to Feyenoord in Rotterdam on 24 November and Liverpool on 9 December, both scheduled for 20:00. Porto completes its league phase against Slavia Prague at home on 19 January 2027 and against Austrian club LASK away on 27 January.
Sporting CP schedule under Rui Borges
Sporting CP enters the 2026/27 campaign under head coach Rui Borges following a quarter-final appearance and a top-eight league phase finish in the previous season. The Lisbon club starts at Estadio Jose Alvalade on 9 September 2026 at 20:00 against Turkish champions Galatasaray, an encounter that may feature former AC Milan forward Rafael Leao. Sporting travels to Lens on 13 October for a 17:45 kickoff, hosts LASK on 21 October at 20:00, and visits Shakhtar Donetsk on 3 November at 17:45. The second half of the schedule brings Manchester United to Lisbon on 25 November at 20:00, followed by a trip to Italy to face Roma on 8 December. Sporting concludes the stage by hosting Barcelona on 20 January 2027 and travelling to face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on 27 January.
Real Madrid fixtures under Jose Mourinho
Real Madrid, coached by Jose Mourinho, begins its eight-match European run with a home fixture against Inter Milan on 9 September 2026 at 20:00. In the previous Champions League season, Mourinho coached Benfica, securing 24th place in the league phase with a goal by Anatoliy Trubin against Real Madrid before being eliminated by the Spanish club in the playoffs. Real Madrid visits Roma on 14 October at 20:00 and hosts RB Leipzig on 21 October at 20:00. The Spanish side travels to Greece to play AEK Athens on 4 November at 17:45, followed by a home game against PSV on 24 November and an away fixture against Arsenal on 9 December. Real Madrid finishes the phase with a home fixture against LASK on 19 January 2027 and an away clash against Shakhtar Donetsk on 27 January.
