Following the UEFA Champions League group stage draw held in Monaco on Thursday, August 27, French clubs learned their paths for the expanded 36-team European competition, with Paris Saint-Germain and LOSC Lille facing daunting schedules while RC Lens secured a more favorable slate.
Paris Saint-Germain Draws Barcelona, Manchester City, and Roma
Paris Saint-Germain faces a formidable league phase schedule that includes heavyweight clashes against some of Europe’s top clubs. The Parisian club’s remaining fixtures feature home matches against Galatasaray and Slovan Bratislava, alongside away fixtures at Villarreal and Como. Every club in the new 36-team league phase format will play eight matches against eight different opponents, battling for direct qualification to the round of 16 or a spot in the knockout phase playoffs.
LOSC Lille Confronts Bayern Munich and Arsenal
LOSC Lille inherited a similarly demanding European calendar after the draw managed by David Villa and Thierry Henry in Monaco. On the road, Les Dogues face a challenging travel schedule with away matches against last season’s finalists Arsenal, Roma, Bodø/Glimt, and Stuttgart. These fixtures test the depth of the northern French squad as they navigate a demanding autumn across domestic and European competitions.
RC Lens Receives More Manageable Opponents
By contrast, RC Lens avoided the heavyweights that fell to their domestic rivals, securing a comparatively balanced path through the league phase. Away from home, Lens travels to face Liverpool, Club Brugge, RB Leipzig, and Czech side Slavia Prague. The fixtures provide a rigorous test for Lens supporters and players alike, offering high-profile European nights in Artois without the relentless gauntlet of top-tier favorites encountered by PSG and Lille.
Understanding the Expanded Champions League Format
A total of 36 clubs compete in a unified table, with each team playing eight distinct opponents—four at home and four away. The top-performing clubs at the conclusion of the league phase secure automatic advancement to the round of 16, while clubs finishing immediately below enter a two-legged knockout playoff round to determine the remaining contenders for the spring fixtures. Clubs will monitor the official UEFA calendar for exact matchday scheduling and kickoff times, which dictate team travel and preparation windows.
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