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SportsUEFA releases 2026-27 Champions League schedule: Bayern start vs Bodo/Glimt, Dortmund away to Villarreal
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UEFA has published the preliminary round schedule for the 2026-27 Champions League. FC Bayern Munich begins their league phase with a home match against Norwegian side FK Bodø/Glimt on September 10, followed by a visit to another Norwegian club, Viking Stavanger, on October 13. Bayern's top matches include home games against Arsenal (October 21) and away to Atlético Madrid (November 3), the latter at the Estadio Metropolitano, site of the 2027 final. The German champions also face OSC Lille, Slavia Prague, Manchester United, and Betis Sevilla. Borussia Dortmund starts at home against Spanish club Villarreal on September 8. Dortmund faces extensive travel, including away matches in Norway against Bodø/Glimt and in Azerbaijan against Sabah FK within a week in October. BVB also plays Betis Sevilla, Arsenal, Inter Milan, and other opponents. Both teams aim for a top-eight finish to avoid playoff rounds.
Source report
FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund now know their paths through the Champions League preliminary round, following UEFA's schedule release on Saturday afternoon.
FC Bayern Munich: Tough Tests and Top Matches Ahead
The German champions begin their league phase with a home fixture against Norwegian side FK Bodø/Glimt on Thursday, September 10 (9:00 PM, WELT sports ticker) at the Munich Arena. The opening matchday of Europe's premier competition will exceptionally run from Tuesday to Thursday.
Bayern's second opponent is also from Norway. On October 13, coach Vincent Kompany's team will visit Champions League debutants Viking Stavanger.
Marquee Clashes
Two blockbuster matches follow:
- October 21: English champions FC Arsenal visit Munich. Last season, Bayern lost the London duel 1–3 against the Gunners and Germany international Kai Havertz.
- November 3: The record champions travel to Atlético Madrid at the Estadio Metropolitano — the same venue that will host the 2027 Champions League final on June 5.
"That's the goal, where you want to go, to the final. That's naturally the place of the dream where we want to go." — Max Eberl, FCB Sports Director, after the draw in Monaco
Remaining Fixtures
| Date | Opponent | Venue | |------|----------|-------| | November 25 | OSC Lille | Away (France) | | December 8 | Slavia Prague | Home | | January 20 | Manchester United | Away | | January 27 | Betis Sevilla | Home |
Top-Eight Ambition
Bayern, eliminated in the semi-finals last season by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain, aim to finish in the top eight to secure direct round-of-16 qualification.
"We naturally want to try to finish in the top eight, that's clear. The playoffs are already nerve-wracking and pressure." — Max Eberl
Teams placed 9th to 24th must play two additional knockout matches.
Borussia Dortmund: Extensive Travel and Familiar Foes
Opening Match
The German runners-up begin their campaign at home against Spanish club FC Villarreal on September 8 (9:00 PM / DAZN) at Signal Iduna Park.
October Double Away Trip
Dortmund face two away matches within a short span:
- October 14 (9:00 PM): At FK Bodø/Glimt (Norway)
- October 20 (6:45 PM): At Champions League debutants Sabah FK (Azerbaijan) — approximately 4,000 km from the Ruhr region
Key Home and Away Fixtures
| Date | Opponent | Venue | |------|----------|-------| | November 4 (9:00 PM) | Betis Sevilla | Home | | November 24 (9:00 PM) | FC Arsenal | Away (England) | | December 9 (9:00 PM) | Inter Milan | Home | | January 19 (9:00 PM) | TBD | TBD |
Familiar Opponents
Inter Milan, Bodø/Glimt, and Villarreal were all preliminary round opponents of Dortmund last season.
Note: The Revierderby at FC Schalke 04 is scheduled just days before Dortmund's home match against Inter Milan on December 9.
Source
Nachrichten - WELTWestern
Part of this Story
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