The Champions League league phase is set, featuring 144 games from early September to late January, culminating in the final at Madrid's Estadio Metropolitano on June 5. The new format presents a unique challenge for clubs, with winners and losers emerging from the draw.

Winners: Liverpool
Liverpool has emerged favorably from the draw, facing manageable opponents. Key matchups include:

• Atletico Madrid (Pot One)
• Inter Milan (Pot One)
• Trips to a weakened Club Brugge and LASK
• Home games against Porto, Villarreal, and Lens
  With an achievable path to the top two, Liverpool looks well-positioned to manipulate the odds in their favor, especially after their previous challenges in the 2025 season against PSG.

Losers: Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid faces a daunting road ahead, with tough home games against:

• Bayern Munich
• Manchester United
• PSV Eindhoven
  Traveling to face Bodo/Glimt and Stuttgart adds to their challenges. The team risks a repeat of their 2022-23 exit, where they crashed out in the group stage.

Winners: Sabah
The Azerbaijani champions, Sabah, have a historic opportunity in their first Champions League appearance. They will face teams like:

• Barcelona
• Borussia Dortmund
• Napoli
  Despite the travel challenges, there may be opportunities for points, particularly against Slavia Prague and Viking.

Losers: Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Villarreal, Viking
These teams face arduous travel to Baku, making the journey a significant hurdle during a demanding season.

Winner: Jose Mourinho
Mourinho's narrative continues to captivate, as he welcomes back Inter Milan to the Santiago Bernabeu and returns to the Eternal City with Roma. His return to Stamford Bridge adds another layer to his storied career, ensuring that he remains in the spotlight.