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Champions League: Ranking All 36 Teams by League Phase Fixture Difficulty

The initial league phase draw for the Champions League's 36 clubs has been completed, revealing the difficulty of each team's first eight fixtures. The competition kicks off on September 8, with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain aiming for a third straight title as they try to solidify their place as Europe's top team.

They will face stiff competition from last season's finalists and Premier League winners Arsenal, alongside heavyweights like Manchester City, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.

This is the third year of the new league-phase format, designed to give an early glimpse of contenders for continental glory. Some clubs have drawn easier paths, while others face tougher journeys right away.

Teams with Easiest Opponents (Ranks 36-28)

  • 36. VfB Stuttgart: Opponent's Average Elo Rating -48
  • 35. Inter Milan: -36
  • 34. Real Madrid: -28
  • 33. Shakhtar Donetsk: -28
  • 32. LASK: -21
  • 31. Fenerbahce: -18
  • 30. Porto: -18
  • 29. Slovan Bratislava: -17
  • 28. Viking: -16

VfB Stuttgart holds the easiest set of fixtures based on Elo ratings, 12 points ahead of Inter Milan. Despite this, Stuttgart must still face strong teams like Italian champions Inter, Atletico Madrid, and Galatasaray. Real Madrid, in third easiest, hope to bounce back after two trophyless seasons, matching Shakhtar Donetsk's opponent rating but with a home advantage that Shakhtar lacks due to hosting matches at Chelsea's stadium. Other clubs like LASK, Fenerbahce, and Porto also enjoy relatively gentle starts.

Mid-Tier Challenges (Ranks 27-19)

  • 27. Real Betis: -14
  • 26. AEK Athens: -10
  • 25. Liverpool: -9
  • 24. Barcelona: -9
  • 23. Roma: -8
  • 22. PSV: -6
  • 21. RB Leipzig: -2
  • 20. Borussia Dortmund: -1
  • 19. Sporting CP: 0

AEK Athens advanced easily into the league phase with a dominant playoff win. Among English teams, Liverpool has the easiest schedule, which may help new manager Andoni Iraola settle in. Barcelona shares a similar rating, while Roma and PSV face slightly tougher opponents. Borussia Dortmund hopes to build on their 2024 Wembley final appearance, seeing Arsenal and Inter as their biggest threats. Sporting CP sits at the middle, facing top teams including both Manchester clubs and Barcelona but also some less daunting opponents.

More Difficult Fixtures (Ranks 18-10)

  • 18. Lille: +3
  • 17. Napoli: +3
  • 16. Aston Villa: +5
  • 15. Galatasaray: +7
  • 14. Arsenal: +7
  • 13. Feyenoord: +11
  • 12. Villarreal: +11
  • 11. Bayern Munich: +11
  • 10. Paris Saint-Germain: +12

Aston Villa, returning to the Champions League, face tough fixtures that highlight the uphill battle after a disappointing season start and limited summer signings. Galatasaray and Arsenal share similar rankings; many expect the Gunners, now more settled, to push beyond last year's runner-up finish. Bayern Munich and holders PSG confront challenging schedules, including games against champions from Spain, Turkey, Slovakia, and trips to Manchester and to ambitious Como.

Toughest Matchups (Ranks 9-1)

  • 9. Slavia Prague: +12
  • 8. Atletico Madrid: +13
  • 7. Bodo/Glimt: +13
  • 6. Manchester United: +16
  • 5. Como: +25
  • 4. Club Brugge: +26
  • 3. RC Lens: +33
  • 2. Manchester City: +39
  • 1. Sabah: +42

Slavia Prague will lean on their passionate fans to navigate one of the hardest fixture lists, while Atletico Madrid remains dangerous under Diego Simeone, fresh from a semifinal run last season. Bodo/Glimt, the underdogs last campaign, face a much sterner test this time. Manchester United, Como, and Club Brugge may struggle given their limited recent Champions League experience.

RC Lens ranks third hardest, and Manchester City second, demanding peak performances from stars like Erling Haaland. Meanwhile, debutants Sabah from Azerbaijan face the toughest challenge of all.

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