PSG could once again find themselves facing Europe’s biggest clubs very early in the competition. Just hours before the Champions League draw, a projection by Football Meets Data has imagined a particularly difficult league-phase schedule for the Parisian club.
Could PSG end up in another “group of death”? The answer will come in a few hours. Football Meets Data is pessimistic. In its simulated scenario, Paris would notably face FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, three huge fixtures that would immediately put the defending champions under serious pressure.
A Brutal Champions League Schedule for PSG
The projection does not stop there. Napoli, Aston Villa, Villarreal, Como and Stuttgart would also feature on PSG’s schedule, meaning the theoretical list of opponents would be Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Napoli, Aston Villa, Villarreal, Como and Stuttgart. On paper, there would be very little room for respite, with several European heavyweights and potentially dangerous away trips.
Under the new Champions League format, each team plays eight matches against eight different opponents. The results of the league phase determine which clubs qualify directly for the round of 16 and which must go through the knockout play-offs. This projection is obviously entirely hypothetical, and the actual draw could produce a very different schedule, but it illustrates the kind of challenge PSG may have to face.
Three months after lifting the European trophy, Paris will defend their title with a new status: the team everyone wants to beat. France will be represented at least by PSG, Lens and Lille, while Lyon can still qualify through the play-offs. The draw will take place on Thursday, August 27, 2026 from 6 p.m., with Canal+ beginning its coverage at 5:45 p.m. and the event also available through UEFA’s official platforms. For PSG, one thing already seems certain: the road to another European crown could be extremely demanding.
