The Champions League is back this week, and the 2026/27 edition arrives with five English clubs, a Tuesday-to-Thursday opening spread and an outright market with genuine depth to it. Here is the whole competition in one sitting - the format, the dates, the favourites and the sides worth keeping an eye on at big prices.
Thirty-six clubs go into one league table. Each side plays eight different opponents - four at home, four away - and nobody plays anybody twice. After eight matchdays the table does the sorting: the top eight go straight to the last 16, ninth to 24th drop into a two-legged knockout play-off in February for the remaining eight places, and the bottom twelve are out of Europe altogether - there is no safety net into the Europa League.
The practical consequence: every point matters twice. Finishing eighth rather than ninth is worth a bye through a play-off round, and the single-table format means a heavy win against one of the smaller sides in January can swing a seeding battle between two giants who never meet.
The knockout play-offs follow in February, then the last 16 in March, with the final at the end of the season. Kick-offs through the league phase are the familiar pair: 5.45pm and 8pm UK.
The outright market, at the time of writing: PSG lead at 6.00, with Arsenal and Barcelona at 7.00, Bayern Munich at 7.00 and Real Madrid at 7.50 pressed right up behind them. Manchester City at 10.00 and Liverpool at 13.00 complete the front rank, with Manchester United the outsider of the English contingent at 21.00.
A market this flat at the top is unusual - five clubs inside 7.50 - and it reflects a draw that gives almost every contender at least two heavyweight away days. Nobody gets to sleepwalk through this league phase.
Five Premier League sides are in: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United.
Circle these now:
Beyond the front rank, the board offers some genuine cases. Napoli at 41.00 get their biggest rival of the opening weeks at home, and the Statz model makes Wednesday's meeting with Arsenal closer than the market does. Roma at 41.00 arrive on five straight wins in all competitions, and our model already backs them to win their opener in Istanbul against Fenerbahce. Como at 81.00 are the quiet story of the draw: unbeaten in their last five domestically, and the model makes them favourites at home to RB Leipzig this Thursday. And Sporting at 101.00 are four wins and a draw from their last five with a winnable opening run.
None of these is a title tip - the tiered staking on our columns exists for a reason - but at those prices the each-way and quarter-final markets are where the value conversation starts.
Through every matchday we will run match previews for the biggest games, our Daily Acca and Bet Builder Tips will carry Champions League selections, and the Matchday 1 betting preview is live now with the model's board for all three nights.
Champions League tickets up for grabs: bet365 - a Statz partner - has launched its Big Ticket Giveaway ballot for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League, with matchday tickets to be won. Enter the ballot here. 18+. New and eligible customers; registration required; entry details and full terms on the ballot page. T&Cs apply | begambleaware.org
18+. Please gamble responsibly - begambleaware.org. Odds correct at the time of writing.