UEFA’s expansion of the Champions League has largely benefitted the biggest clubs in Europe, but we have enjoyed a few Cinderella stories over the past two years. Last season saw Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt make a huge impression in their debut in the competition, qualifying for the knockouts from the league phase before eliminating 2025 finalists Inter Milan in the play-off round. We also saw Kairat Almaty and Pafos reach the Champions League proper for the first time ever, though both sides failed to reach the next stage. This year we will see four clubs make their bow in Europe’s premier club competition and we’ve got the lowdown on each one as they prepare to take on elite opposition. The four clubs making their Champions League debut in 2026/27:Como 1907The rise of Como has really shaken up Serie A in recent years. Since being bought by an Indonesian tobacco company, the Lombardy club have climbed from Serie D all the way to the top flight, and under the guidance of manager Cesc Fabregas they have reached the Champions League. Owners Robert Budi Hartono and Michael Bambang Hartono have invested a gargantuan amount of money in the team, spending €342 million on new signings since 2024 alone, which has garnered incredible results. The threat of financial sanctions loom over the club’s head, but they aren’t too concerned. Como President Mirwan Suwarso recently declared: “If you have to fine us, fine us. It’s part of the obstacles we have to overcome. It’s a normal consequence of the work.”Read – The favourites to win the UEFA Champions League in 2026/27LASKLike Kairat the previous year, LASK completed a shock win over Scottish champions Celtic in the qualification play-offs to reach the league phase. The Austrian club first appeared in the European Cup in 1965, losing a preliminary round tie against Dinamo Zagreb after extra-time. They also came close to reaching the Champions League group stage in 2019 when they were beaten in the play-offs by Club Brugge. After winning the Austrian Bundesliga for the first time in 61 years, LASK are finally in the big time. They have been rewarded with a trip to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid and will welcome Liverpool to Linz. Read – UEFA Champions League draw and fixtures in full for 2026/27Sabah FKSabah put an end to the dominance of Qarabag in the Azerbaijan Premier League last season, winning the title for the first time in their history. They had never before reached the groups or league phase of a European competition, but somehow pulled off a remarkable comeback in the play-offs to qualify for the Champions League this year. Their manager, Valdas Dambrauskas, has an incredible backstory. A qualified engineer, he moved to England to begin his coaching career after winning the Lithuanian version of ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’ He worked several odd jobs, such as shop assistant and delivering newspapers, to fund his dream, and did some youth football coaching at Brentford, Fulham and Manchester United. This week Dambrauskas and Sabah will debut in the Champions League against United at Old Trafford. You couldn’t make that up without being accused of cliché. The Azerbaijani side have been handed a nightmare schedule that sees them face Arsenal, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli and Villarreal as well as the Red Devils. Read – Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees revealedViking StavangerThere is somewhat of an asterisk attached to this one, as Viking FK have appeared in the European Cup and Champions League on seven occasions, all of which were first round defeats. Their last game in the competition came in 1992, when they were beaten just 1-0 over two legs by reigning champions Barcelona. The Norwegian club surprisingly topped the Eliteserien ahead of Bodo/Glimt last season, ending a 24-year wait for the league title. Their 3-1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb in the first leg of the play-offs was just their second ever win in the competition, and a 2-2 draw in the return leg ensured they reached the league phase for the first time. Viking will now take on heavyweights such as Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid, as well as Aston Villa, Napoli, Stuttgart, PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord and fellow debutants Sabah. Read – The Premier League clubs with the biggest net spend in summer 2026See Also – The biggest transfer fees ever paid by Premier League clubsFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTokThe post The four clubs making their Champions League debut this season appeared first on The Football Faithful.