10 matches you need to watch in the Champions League 2025/26 league phase

The Champions League 2025/26 league phase draw is complete, and Ladbrokes has picked out ten must-watch games to look forward to.

Looking at the latest Champions League betting odds, reigning champions PSG are the current favourites, ahead of Barcelona and Liverpool.

The full draw for some of the leading contenders can be found here, and be sure to check out Ladbrokes' full explainer of the Champions League draw and the format for the league phase, which is now in its second season.

Let's dive in to some of the matches you need to watch in the league phase of the Champions League 2025/26.

Two giants of European football meet in arguably the standout clash of the league phase, as Premier League winners Liverpool welcome 15-time European champions Real Madrid to Anfield.

They met in the final in 2018 and 2022, with Real winning on both occasions, but the 6-time champions got the better of them last season, winning 2-0 at Anfield.

The storyline that will dominate the build-up is the immediate return of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Merseyside, just months after departing the Reds on a free transfer for Madrid.

Result: Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid

Real Madrid and Manchester City have provided some thrilling matches in recent years in the Champions League, often in the latter stages, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see these two heavyweights contend again.

This is the fifth year in a row they'll play each other, with Real knocking City out in the last two seasons. With no love lost between Pep Guardiola and the Madridistas, their growing rivalry has become one of the defining storylines of modern Champions League football.

Ballon d'Or winner Rodri could be back to full fitness by then, and he'll be out to show the Madrid squad - who boycotted that ceremony in protest - just why he fully deserved that award.

The atmosphere at St. James' Park promises to be absolutely electric as Eddie Howe's side go toe-to-toe with European royalty. The two clubs have a shared history with Sir Bobby Robson, which will only add to the emotion around the occasion.

Barcelona will be among the leading contenders to win the competition, but the intensity of this match will represent a different challenge. Lamine Yamal up against Dan Burn, the midfield battle and the pressing will be box-office. PSG were overwhelmed 4-1 by a sea of black and white fury back in 2023.

For Newcastle fans, this fixture throws up memories of Tino Asprilla, who scored a sensational hat-trick as the Magpies beat Barca 3-2 at St. James' Park in 1997.

Result: Newcastle 1-2 Barcelona

Chelsea return to the scene of the most famous night in their history, when they stunned Bayern in their own backyard to lift the Champions League for the first time in 2012. The only time they've met since was in 2019/20, when Bayern won 4-0 on aggregate on their way to lifting the trophy.

The Club World Cup winners will have plenty of confidence after seeing off Europe's best to win that, and it'll be the first time Cole Palmer plays in UCL nights at Stamford Bridge.

Now into his second season in charge, Vincent Kompany has had time to shape Bayern in his image, and the German champions will be determined to show they are serious contenders under his stewardship.

Result: Bayern 3-1 Chelsea

Two of the most exciting teams in Europe go head-to-head, as Luis Enrique takes Champions League holders PSG to his former side Barcelona, who reached the semi-finals last year.

This fixture will indelibly be associated with the 'Remontada' of 2017, when Barcelona remarkably won the second leg 6-1 to overturn a 4-0 deficit. That was the nadir of PSG's European heartbreaks, but that story has completely changed now.

With it now being a decade since Barca won the Champions League, the Blaugrana will be desperate to be back at Europe's top table, and a win against the reigning champions would be a good start.

Result: Barcelona 1-2 PSG

Arsenal are trying to take the next leap and win silverware under Mikel Arteta, and a win over Bayern would represent a huge step forward psychologically. The Gunners have a terrible record against the Germans historically, famously losing 10-2 on aggregate back in 2017.

Most recently, Bayern knocked Arsenal out in the quarter-finals in 2023/24, with Harry Kane scoring at the Emirates once again. Arsenal are battle-hardened now though, and will fancy themselves at home.

There's a new energy in North London after the signings of Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze, and we'll see if their business makes the difference come the end of the season.

Chelsea renew their old rivalry with Barcelona at Stamford Bridge, which has produced some classic Champions League moments over the years.

Ronaldinho's toe poke, Didier Drogba's "it's a disgrace", Fernando Torres and Gary Neville. What have they got in store for us this time around? The Catalans arrive as La Liga holders and with a renewed swagger under Hansi Flick.

They last met in 2018, with Messi inspiring Barca to a 4-1 aggregate win, but much has changed since. Enzo Maresca will hope to hear the famous Stamford Bridge rattle after a goal.

A rematch of the European Super Cup, which saw Spurs nearly shock us all before throwing away a late 2-0 lead and losing on penalties to the Parisians.

The early signs under Thomas Frank are good, with Luis Enrique admitting Spurs deserved to win that match, but PSG will surely not underestimate them again.

Dembele, Doue, Kvaratskhelia and co would dazzle any backline, but if Tottenham keep them quiet again, we might have to start taking Spurs very seriously.

Last year's runners up Inter host Liverpool in what will be a stern test for Arne Slot's men. After that humbling 5-0 defeat in the final, the Italians lost manager Simone Inzaghi to Al-Hilal, replacing him with Cristian Chivu.

The Reds have a great record against Serie A teams in recent years, but a trip to the San Siro is never easy. Lautaro Martinez and Martin Thuram are an excellent old-fashioned strike partnership, and Liverpool's defence is in a period of transition.

The defending champions host the Bundesliga champions in a repeat of the 2020 final, which was played behind closed doors and saw Bayern win 1-0.

PSG have broken their duck since then, but actually lost to Bayern (again 1-0) in the league phase last season. The Ligue 1 champions struggled early on last year, before blossoming in the knockout rounds and playing some gorgeous football on the way to glory.

It's likely to be an open and entertaining game with both sides and managers throwing caution to the wind. Definitely one for neutrals to tune into.

Result: PSG 1-2 Bayern

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.