--- title: "New Season What Can We Expect? UCL 2026/27 Guide" description: "For the new season what can we expect in the Champions League? Debutants Como and Viking FK bring chaos to the 36-team single table." canonical: https://www.pickplay.bet/news/new-season-what-can-we-expect-champions-league html: https://www.pickplay.bet/news/new-season-what-can-we-expect-champions-league publisher: "pickplay.bet" author: "Alex G pickplay.bet " published: 2026-09-06T08:46:23.927+00:00 modified: 2026-09-06T19:41:07.158515+00:00 category: "News" sport: soccer tags: ["soccer", "champions league", "uefa", "como 1907", "bet with friends", "bet against friends", "private prediction league"] keyword: "new season what can we expect" reading_time_minutes: 3 word_count: 576 license: "© 2026 pickplay.bet. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # New Season What Can We Expect? UCL 2026/27 Guide *Four debutant clubs and a ruthless 36-team single table bring fresh underdog chaos to Europe.* By Alex G pickplay.bet · pickplay.bet · 2026-09-06 ![Empty European football stadium pitch under floodlights with amber gold lighting ahead of the new season.](https://uyiwgqpjjmnzwsehyqed.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/news/heroes/new-season-what-can-we-expect-champions-league-1788723624048-0rh3u.jpg) ## Quick answer For the new season what can we expect is a chaotic 36-team Champions League table featuring debutants Como 1907, Viking FK, Sabah FC, and LASK alongside Paris Saint-Germain. Beginning on 8 September 2026, the league phase gives each club eight matches with zero Europa League drop-downs, creating brutal knockout races and huge odds swings. ## Key takeaways - The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase kicks off on 8 September 2026 with 36 clubs. - Italy's Como 1907 and Norway's Viking FK headline four clubs making their tournament debuts. - Paris Saint-Germain pursue a modern three-peat under Luis Enrique after beating Arsenal on penalties. - Clubs finishing 25th to 36th face instant European elimination with no Europa League parachute. - Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano hosts the Champions League final on 5 June 2027. ![UEFA season 26 teams](https://uyiwgqpjjmnzwsehyqed.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/news/images/new-season-what-can-we-expect-champions-league-1788685728539-ri5f5.webp) Stop backing the usual royalty blindly. For this new season what can we expect across European football? Absolute carnage. The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League kicks off on 8 September 2026, and the old group-stage safety blanket is gone. A single 36-team league table replaces it, handing every club eight separate clashes. If you want to bet against friends with confidence, forget the historical badges. We love a European debutant with swagger. You should too. ## What happened: four outsiders storm the big stage Four genuine underdogs booked their tickets to the 36-team league phase for the first time. Italian outfit Como 1907 clinched their spot on the final day of Serie A by beating Cremonese 4-1. They arrive unranked in UEFA coefficient according to [official UEFA league phase profiles](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/02a8-2171a88881a0-c70193b972c6-1000--meet-the-2026-27-champions-league-league-phase-teams/). For this Como 1907 Champions League debut, one player channelled Rafael Nadal: "What made him strong was his mentality and his head. I would like to learn those things." They're not alone in Pot 4. Azerbaijan's Sabah FC, Austria's LASK, and Norway's Viking FK all grabbed seats at the table. Alongside Bodø/Glimt, Viking's arrival means Norway has two tournament clubs for the first time since 1999/2000. It's a massive shift in Scandinavian football. ## Why it matters: the Swiss table offers no parachute The 36-team Champions League league phase punishes complacency because the bottom twelve clubs go straight home. There's no parachute. Unlike previous decades, you don't drop down to salvage pride in the Europa League. Goal difference across all 36 clubs decides ties, as confirmed by the [Sky Sports schedule report](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11945/13144577/champions-league-2026-27-fixtures-dates-schedule-format-and-who-has-qualified). Every strike counts. | Table Finish | Destination | Projected Points Needed | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Top 8 (1st–8th)** | Direct Round of 16 bye | 15–16 points | | **Play-offs (9th–24th)** | Two-legged knockout play-off | 9–10 points | | **Elimination (25th–36th)** | Complete European exit | Under 9 points | Arsenal ran the table last season with eight wins from eight. But Paris Saint-Germain took the actual trophy after edging them on penalties. PSG now chase a historic three-peat under Luis Enrique. Meanwhile, Aston Villa are back after Unai Emery bagged his fifth Europa League crown. Villa captain John McGinn singled out Boubacar Kamara as "one of the best midfielders in Europe", and he's not wrong. Just look at our [new season leagues update](/news/new-season-new-leagues-new-games-launch) to see how deep this tournament looks. ## How it affects your picks: attack the margins Volatile debutants and harsh stakes mean early matchdays are built for hunting underdog points. Jumping into a [soccer prediction pool](/bet-with-friends/soccer) on pickplay.bet brings **odds-weighted scoring** into play. You pick home wins, draws, or away wins, earning virtual points multiplied by the outcome odds. Setting up a private prediction league lets you punish mates who simply back the giants every week. * **Fade away sides up north:** Trips to artificial pitches in Norway to face Viking FK or Bodø/Glimt in freezing weather are nasty traps. * **Protect your Banker pick:** Your Banker pick doubles your score if you're right, but gives you zero if you miss. Don't waste it on a hostile away fixture. * **Watch the Matchday 8 scramble:** On 27 January 2027, bubble sides around 24th place must win. Expect wild, open games. ## Bottom line: the road to Madrid ![Athletico Madrid stadium (final)](https://uyiwgqpjjmnzwsehyqed.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/news/images/new-season-what-can-we-expect-champions-league-1788686092643-wfdym.webp) Expect non-stop drama all the way to the Champions League final 2027 at Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano on 5 June 2027. We don't expect the giants to cruise through unscathed. Set up a circle on pickplay.bet, [bet with friends](/) with virtual points, and take home the bragging rights without putting a penny on the line. ## FAQ ### When does the 2026/27 Champions League league phase start? The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase begins on Tuesday, 8 September 2026. The 36 clubs play eight matchdays through autumn and winter, wrapping up on 27 January 2027. ### Which teams are making their Champions League debuts in 2026/27? Four clubs make their tournament debuts in the 2026/27 league phase: Italy's Como 1907, Norway's Viking FK, Azerbaijan's Sabah FC, and Austria's LASK. ### Do eliminated Champions League teams drop into the Europa League? No, eliminated teams do not drop into the Europa League. Clubs finishing 25th through 36th in the league phase are completely eliminated from European competition. ### Can I bet against friends without real money on the Champions League? Yes, you can bet against friends without real money on pickplay.bet. Groups make 1X2 picks on European matches to earn virtual points and compete on a private leaderboard. ## Sources 1. [Meet the 2026/27 Champions League league phase teams](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/02a8-2171a88881a0-c70193b972c6-1000--meet-the-2026-27-champions-league-league-phase-teams/) — UEFA.com. Profiles debutant clubs including Como 1907, Viking FK, Sabah FC, and LASK. 2. [Champions League 2026/27 fixtures, dates, schedule, format and who has qualified](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11945/13144577/champions-league-2026-27-fixtures-dates-schedule-format-and-who-has-qualified) — Sky Sports. Confirms fixture schedule dates, Swiss format rules, and the Wanda Metropolitano final. --- Canonical: https://www.pickplay.bet/news/new-season-what-can-we-expect-champions-league Newsroom: https://www.pickplay.bet/news · Feed: https://www.pickplay.bet/news/feed.xml · About the product: https://www.pickplay.bet/llms.txt