Photo: Squish Law / Pexels
AS Roma learns Champions League opponents for 2026/27 season
The Italian club returns to Europe's top competition after seven years away, drawing Real Madrid, PSG, and Manchester United in the league phase
AS Roma are back where they believe they belong. After a seven-year exile from the Champions League, the Giallorossi have been handed a league-phase slate that includes Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester United.
The draw, conducted in Monaco on August 27, placed Roma in pot 2 for the league phase of the 2026/27 competition.
The full fixture rundown
Roma’s home matches feature Real Madrid, Lille, Sporting CP, and Slovan Bratislava at the Stadio Olimpico.
The away schedule sends Roma to Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Fenerbahce, and AEK Athens.
Under the expanded league-phase format, all 36 teams play eight matches rather than the old group-stage six. The top eight finishers advance directly to the knockout rounds, while teams finishing ninth through 24th enter a playoff round. Finishing 25th or below means elimination with no safety net of a Europa League drop-down.
The news moving money, markets, and the world—before your day starts.
Daily. Free. Join 34,000+ readers across crypto, finance, and policy.
How Roma got here
Roma’s last appearance in the Champions League came in 2018/19. The Friedkin Group, which acquired the club and has since invested over €1 billion in its development, has directed that spending toward squad reinforcement and infrastructure improvements.
The appointment of Gian Piero Gasperini as head coach proved to be the catalyst. Gasperini guided Roma to a third-place finish in Serie A during the 2025/26 season, securing automatic qualification for the Champions League’s revamped league phase.
Under José Mourinho, the club won the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League in the 2021/22 season and reached the Europa League final the following year.
Italy’s Champions League contingent
Roma aren’t flying the Italian flag alone. Inter, Napoli, and Como also represent Serie A in this season’s Champions League, giving Italy four entrants in the competition.