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Champions League Group Stage Fixtures Ranked by Difficulty for All 36 Teams

The draw for the initial group phase of the Champions League has set the stage for a thrilling start to European football’s premier competition, kicking off on September 8. Paris Saint-Germain aim to secure their third consecutive title amid strong challenges from familiar powerhouses such as Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Real Madrid.

The new league-phase format in its third season gives early clues about which clubs might contend for continental success. Some teams face easier paths, while others confront tougher opponents right away.

Teams with the Easiest Group Stage Fixtures (Ranks 36-28)

  • VfB Stuttgart: Opponents’ average Elo rating of -48
  • Inter Milan: -36
  • Real Madrid: -28
  • Shakhtar Donetsk: -28
  • LASK: -21
  • Fenerbahce: -18
  • Porto: -18
  • Slovan Bratislava: -17
  • Viking: -16

VfB Stuttgart enjoy the softest schedule, boasting an average opponent strength far below most other teams, though they will still face stiff tests against clubs like Atletico Madrid and Galatasaray. Real Madrid come in third easiest, sharing the same average difficulty rating as Shakhtar Donetsk, who must play all matches away due to stadium arrangements. Newcomers like Viking hope their draw sets them up for historic success in their debut Champions League league phase.

Mid-Table Difficulty (Ranks 27-19)

  • Real Betis: -14
  • AEK Athens: -10
  • Liverpool: -9
  • Barcelona: -9
  • Roma: -8
  • PSV: -6
  • RB Leipzig: -2
  • Borussia Dortmund: -1
  • Sporting CP: 0

Liverpool have the easiest fixture list among English clubs, offering a less demanding start for new manager Andoni Iraola. Barcelona share this rating. Sporting CP sit in the middle, facing big names like both Manchester clubs and Barcelona but also less challenging sides such as RC Lens and LASK.

Moderate to Challenging Fixtures (Ranks 18-10)

  • Lille: +3
  • Napoli: +3
  • Aston Villa: +5
  • Galatasaray: +7
  • Arsenal: +7
  • Feyenoord: +11
  • Villarreal: +11
  • Bayern Munich: +11
  • Paris Saint-Germain: +12

Aston Villa face a tough campaign after a poor start and limited transfer success, while Arsenal are optimistic about their chances following recent trophy wins. Both Bayern Munich and holders PSG encounter demanding schedules, including trips to Manchester City and clashes with Spanish, Turkish, and Slovak champions.

Most Difficult Group Stage Fixtures (Ranks 9-1)

  • Slavia Prague: +12
  • Atletico Madrid: +13
  • Bodo/Glimt: +13
  • Manchester United: +16
  • Como: +25
  • Club Brugge: +26
  • RC Lens: +33
  • Manchester City: +39
  • Sabah: +42

Manchester City have the second hardest draw, needing strong performances from stars like Erling Haaland to avoid a difficult knockout path. Newly promoted debutants Sabah face the toughest fixtures, with an average opponent strength of +42, making progress a steep challenge. Manchester United and Club Brugge also have demanding schedules as they return to Europe’s elite competition.

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