The draw for the league phase of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League is over, and now fans and pundits alike can start analysing the results.
While no Champions League match is easy, there are certainly tougher roads to success for some of the contestants.
With each of the 36 teams now savvy to their eight opponents in the league phase, we've identified the five sides who had the misfortune of drawing the strongest opposition.
There are no easy outs, but based on the current UEFA club coefficients these are the teams who drew the strongest set of opponents in the upcoming league phase:
1. PSV Eindhoven
Getty Images
Opponents: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli, Olympiacos, Union Saint-Gilloise, Newcastle United
Average coefficient: 78.3
Talk about running the gauntlet. PSV drew the reigning champions of Germany, England, Italy, Belgium and Greece. Add in perennially tough Atletico and Premier League side Newcastle United, and you've got the most unenviable fixture list of them all.
2. Galatasaray
Getty Images
Opponents: Liverpool, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bodø/Glimt, Ajax, Union Saint-Gilloise, Monaco
Average coefficient: 78.0
Coming in at just a fraction lower than PSV, Galatasaray share three of the same opponents but also count frequent Premier League champions (and 2022-23 Champions League winners) Manchester City among their opposition.
3. Bayer Leverkusen
@kofane_chris_35
Opponents: Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Villarreal, Benfica, PSV, Olympiacos, Newcastle United, Copenhagen
Average coefficient: 77.5
Imagine having three past Champions League winners in your fixture list. Bayer Leverkusen don't have to imagine as they count current title holders PSG among their opponents, along with past UCL winners Man City and Benfica.
4. Manchester City
@ManCity
Opponents: Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Villarreal, Napoli, Bodø/Glimt, Galatasaray, Monaco
Average coefficient: 77.1
One of two former UCL champions on this list, Man City will surely point to 15-time winners Real Madrid as their toughest match of the league phase.
5. Liverpool
Getty Images
Opponents: Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Eintracht Frankfurt, PSV, Marseille, Qarabağ, Galatasaray
Average coefficient: 76.8
The Reds breezed through the league phase last season, topping the standings with seven wins and a loss. If they want to do so again, they'll need to be at the best against a group of opponents headlined by Real Madrid (15-time champions) and Inter Milan (three-time champions).
Soccer fans in Canada and New Zealand can watch every Champions League match during the 2025-26 season on DAZN.
For pricing information and to sign up to watch, click here.