Real Madrid will have a very tough road in the league phase of the 2025/26 edition of the UEFA Champions League. The draw held in Monaco revealed seven high-level rivals for the 'merengues', with Liverpool, Manchester City and Juventus being the toughest obstacles for Xabi Alonso's team.
For the second consecutive season, Madrid will visit Anfield, a stadium where they fell in the previous group stage (2-0). The 'reds' also clashed with the whites in the finals of 2018 (3-1) and 2022 (1-0), as well as in the round of 16 of 22/23 (6-2 on aggregate).
All these matches were resolved in favor of the Spaniards. Now, Arne Slot's team arrives as big favorites after winning the Premier League comfortably the previous year and investing almost 300 million in reinforcements in the summer market.
In the case of the 'sky blue' team, it will be the fifth consecutive season facing Pep Guardiola's team, although for the first time the match will not be part of the KO phase. The Manchester team will be visitors at the Santiago Bernabéu, where they have not managed to win since 2020. The record could not be more even: 5 wins for Madrid, 4 for City and 5 draws in 14 matches.
Juventus and Benfica also complicate Real Madrid's path to the round of 16
In addition, the draw determined that the whites must face Juventus, Olympique de Marseille and AS Monaco at home. The 'bianconeri' team also has a long history of clashes with the 'Casa Blanca', with the 2017 final (4-1) and the 2018 quarter-final tie (4-3) being the most recent matches, both favorable to Madrid.
Monaco, for its part, surprised the 'merengues' in the quarter-finals in 2004 (5-5 on aggregate, decided by the away goal rule). Those from the Principality already defeated FC Barcelona in the previous group stage (2-1) and will be a complex rival. Marseille, for its part, will visit Chamartín for the first time since 2009, with Roberto De Zerbi in his second year as coach.
Away from home, along with Liverpool, Xabi Alonso's team will face Benfica, Olympiacos and the debutant Kairat Almaty. The Kazakhs will debut in the tournament after dispatching the Scottish Celtic in the 'play-off', while the Greeks secured their qualification as champions of their league.
In the case of Benfica, the Portuguese also gave Barça a lot of 'war' in 24/25. The 'culés' struggled to win in the league phase (4-5) and round of 16 (0-1) at the Estadio Da Luz, betting on the epic (in the comeback of the league) and defensive resistance (in the round of 16) to overcome those of Bruno Lage.
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All Real Madrid's rivals in the league phase of the Champions League 25/26
At home:
- Manchester City
- Juventus FC
- Olympique de Marseille
- AS Monaco
As a visitor:
- Liverpool
- Benfica
- Olympiacos
- Kairat Almaty