Borussia Dortmund have learnt their Champions League opponents for the 2026-27 season. With the highly anticipated draw for the League Phase of the competitions taking place in Monaco tonight, the BVB are drawn against eight teams with whom they'll compete for a place in the knockout stages.
Serie A champions Inter Milan are set for a reunion with their Bundesliga counterparts, as the side are drawn against each other for the second year running. In the 2025-26 season, the sides clashed on the final day of the league round, with the Nerazzurri prevailing 2-0 at Signal Iduna Park, where they will meet again this term.
Die Borussen also face Premier League winners Arsenal, whom they beat 3-2 in a preseason fixture earlier this month at the Emirates, a place they will be returning to soon. The Champions League is a whole different ball-game though, and the sides face-off in the competition for the first time since 2014.
Last year, Dortmund faced two Spanish teams in the first round, of which one was Villarreal. The Yellow Subamarines were crushed 4-0 in Dortmund and now, just a year later, would be dreading a return as the BVB will be hosting them once more this season.
Real Betis are scheduled for a visit to Westfalonstadion too as they face Dortmund for the first time in history. Another interesting fixture is that against Unai Emery's Aston Villa, the reigning Europa League champions as they play hosts to Niko Kovac's team this season. Dortmund and Villa too, have never clashed in the Champions League before.
Super League Greece champions AEK Athens will come to town too in a match that pits them against two Greek players, Konstantinos Karetsas and Giannis Konstantelias, both of whom were signed this summer, while Dortmund will also be facing Norway's Bodo/Glimt and Azeri side Sabah on the road.
Last season, Dortmund hosted Bodo/Glimt for matchday six of last season's Champions League campaign which ended 2-2. Julian Brandt was at the double for the BVB, but Bodo/Glimt managed to cancel out each of his goals to earn an unlikely point from the clash.
Tournament debutants Sabah will be hosting the BVB in Absheron, Azerbaijan in what seems like a lopsided affair.
On paper, the draw has been kind to Dortmund. Barring the Inter and Arsenal games, every other fixure looks winnable. Anything less than three points would be a disappointment. And unlike last year, where they went into the knockout playoffs, Kovac's side should easily secure a direct qualification to the Round of 16.
Here are Borussia Dortmund's eight opponents of the League Phase of Champions League, at a glance:
Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|
Inter Milan | Signal Iduna Park |
Arsenal | Emirates Stadium |
Villarreal | Signal Iduna Park |
Real Betis | Signal Iduna Park |
Aston Villa | Villa Park |
Bodo/Glimt | Aspmyra Stadion |
AEK Athens | Signal Iduna Park |
Sabah | Bank Respublika Arena |
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