Manchester City's opponents for the League Phase of the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League season was revealed on Thursday as the highly anticipated draw in Monaco has served up some enticing fixtures.
In what's their first European campaign of the post-Pep Guardiola era, the Sky Blues have drawn two-time defending champions PSG (H), LaLiga holders FC Barcelona (A), Napoli (H), RB Leipzig (A), Sporting CP (H), Porto (A), AEK Athens (H) and Lens (A).
Although the road to Champions League knockout stages is frought with challenges and potential banana skin, Enzo Maresca's side are widely expected to go through given their squad quality and bench strength.
Here's a ranking of their first round opponents from toughest to easiest:
1) PSG
This one's a no-brainer. PSG became just the second club to win the Champions League in back-to-back years following their historic triumph in May. In the run up to their first in 2025, they famously beat Pep Guardiola's side 4-2 in Paris, after having fallen behind by two goals early in the second half.
With a City team currently in transition after seeing many of their old guards leave and a handful of new signings settling in, all the while a new manager aims to figure out his best tactical system, it's difficult to see them beat the European champions. But since it's held at the Etihad, there's hope.
2) FC Barcelona
Manchester City's bogey team, Barcelona roughhoused them many times in the past, most famously thumping them 4-0 at Camp Nou in Pep Guardiola's first Champions League campaign with the side in 2016. But a lot has changed since then.
The Blaugrana are not the force they once were but still boast a formidable squad that recently clinched their 29th LaLiga crown. Adding spice to the contest is a reunion for former City star Rodri, who recently joined the Spanish champions in a highly publicized move following his World Cup glory with Spain.
3) Sporting CP
Against all the odds, Sporting CP finished within top eight places of last season's League Phase and marched all the way until the quarter-finals for just the second time in their Champions League history.
Some of their memorable results include a 2-1 defeat of holders PSG in the League Phase and then turning a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Bodo/Glimt by winning the return 5-0 in a comeback for the ages. City can underestimate them at their own peril.
4) Porto
Some of you would put Napoli for merely the stature of the Serie A giants, but Porto appear like a better proposition right now. The Dragons returned to the pinnacle of Portuguese top-flight last season, winning their 31st league crown following a domineering run that yielded just two defeats.
Back in the Champions League following a two-year absence, Porto will be looking to pull off some scalps and their mean defense, which has kept a clean sheet in all three of their league games of the new season thus far, holds them in good stead too.
5) Napoli
Interestingly, Manchester City began their 2025-26 Champions League campaign against Napoli at the Etihad, winning 2-0 in a game that saw legendary playmaker Kevin De Bruyne return to his old stomping ground just weeks after joining the Partenopei.
After the embarrassment of a first-round exit under Antonio Conte, the Serie A giants are hoping for a deeper run under new coach Massimiliano Allegri, who boasts a formidable European experience too. The club has also added some new personnel, turning loans of Rasmus Hojlund and Vanja Milinković-Savić into permanent transfers for a combined worth of €65 million.
6) RB Leipzig
Manchester City are quite familiar with RB Leipzig, with the teams squaring off six times during the Pep Guardiola years. The Sky Blues boast a dominant record with four wins and just one loss against the Bundesliga giants.
With Christopher Nkunku now back on loan, the Red Bulls have strengthened themselves in attack while also bringing in a new defensive anchor Maxime Esteve for €25 million from Burnley. Their squad appears more balance this season and could ruffle a few feathers.
7) Lens
Lens were a real surprise of Ligue 1 last season, finishing in second place behind PSG as the side played some captivating attacking football. It paved their way back into the Champions League after a gap of two years and face Manchester City for the first time in their history.
With some exciting new additions under their belt, the French side will be looking to make life difficult for their opponents, as Lens are set to play hosts to City. For the record, they lost only three games at home from 19 in the league last season, which should tell us what a formidable side they can be at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
8) AEK Athens
Manchester City have played only two Greek teams in Europe before, Olympiacos and Aris Thessaloniki. AEK Athens will soon be the third as the Super League Greece champions host them at the Agia Sophia Stadium this season.
Back in the Champions League for the first time since 2018-19 season, Athens have never progressed beyond the group stages of the competition in any of their previous five appearances, whilst also bowing out in the first round of 1993-94 season.
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