Man City opens UCL league phase at Porto

Manchester City begins its 2026-27 UEFA Champions League league phase campaign on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, with an away fixture against FC Porto at the Estádio do Dragão. The match, scheduled for a 3 p.m. ET kickoff, marks the first of eight league phase games for the English club. While the outcome of this single match will not determine Manchester City's immediate qualification for the Round of 16 or their elimination from the competition, it carries significant weight for their final standing. The UEFA Champions League has adopted a new league phase format featuring 36 teams competing in a single table. Each team will play eight matches against different opponents. Points are awarded with three for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss. Following the completion of all eight matches, the top eight teams will directly qualify for the Round of 16. Teams finishing between ninth and 24th place will advance to the knockout phase playoffs, while those from 25th to 36th will be eliminated. Manchester City faces several scenarios based on today's result.