ŠK Slovan Bratislava will face a demanding group-stage return to the UEFA Champions League, highlighted by a season-opening fixture against titleholders Paris Saint-Germain and a home finale against Italian champions Inter Milan, according to verified tournament schedules and reports.
The Road to Europe’s Elite
The Slovak champions secured their place in the league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League following a hard-fought playoff victory over Slovenian side NK Celje, as detailed by 7sport.sk. After a 1–1 draw at Tehelné pole, Slovan claimed a 2–1 win in extra time away in Slovenia to advance 3–2 on aggregate. The campaign through the qualifying rounds saw the club navigate past FC Iberia 1999 Tbilisi and Swedish side Mjällby AIF without suffering a single defeat.
Tough Tests at Home and Abroad
The league phase draw mapped out eight distinct opponents under the expanded 36-team format. Slovan will host Inter Milan, Real Betis, Shakhtar Donetsk, and VfB Stuttgart at Tehelné pole in Bratislava. Meanwhile, away fixtures will take the squad to face Paris Saint-Germain, AS Rím, Lille, and LASK Linz. For fans tracking the competition from Slovakia, broadcast rights are held by Nova Sport, with streaming available via Voyo and supplementary coverage provided through platforms like Tipsport, according to 7sport.sk.
Leadership and Roster Adjustments
Entering this European campaign, Slovan has undergone notable changes on the touchline and within the squad. Vladimír Weiss senior departed the club after five seasons to take charge of the Slovakia national team. Former Barcelona and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Touré was appointed as his successor on a three-year deal, supported by assistants Darren O’Dea and Serge Costa. Summer reinforcements include Montenegrin goalkeeper Aleksandar Popovič, returning left-back Samuel Kozlovský, Cristian Martínez, Suleiman Camara, and club product Roman Čerepkai.
Schedule and Competition Format
The league phase runs from September 8, 2026, through January 27, 2027. Each participating club plays eight matches against eight different opponents, splitting fixtures evenly between home and home venues. The top eight finishers in the unified table advance directly to the round of 16, while teams finishing from 9th to 24th enter a two-legged knockout playoff round.
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