Jul 9, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Real Madrid CF forward Kylian Mbappe (9) looks dejected after Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabian Ruiz (8) scores their third goal during a semifinal match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lee Smith-Reuters via Imagn Images

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Real Madrid Champions League Opponents for 2025/26: Who are they playing, Where and When?

Real Madrid’s draw for the opponents of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League league phase has been made, and Real Madrid now know the eight sides they will face on their journey in Europe’s premier club competition. Under new head coach Xabi Alonso, Los Blancos are looking to improve on last season’s campaign, which ended in disappointment against PSG, and the fixtures ahead promise both history and intrigue.

📝✨ ¡Nuestros rivales en la @LigadeCampeones 2025/26!@adidasfootball pic.twitter.com/0c39tS5TEp
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) August 28, 2025

As with the expanded league phase format, every side plays eight matches—four at home in the Santiago Bernabéu and four away. The opposition includes a mix of familiar rivals, historic clashes, and fresh encounters that will test Real Madrid’s depth and resilience as they chase a record-extending European crown.

Real Madrid Opponents

The standout fixture once again is Manchester City (Home), a tie that has become almost an annual tradition in recent years. This will be the seventh meeting between the clubs in the last decade, with last season’s clash delivering unforgettable drama and a Kylian Mbappé hat-trick at the Etihad. City’s recent struggles and Madrid’s new era under Alonso suggest the momentum may be with Los Blancos this time around.

Another highlight is Liverpool (Away), as Madrid return to Anfield in a repeat of last season’s showdown. The Reds came out on top last time, but both squads have strengthened significantly this summer, making it one of the marquee fixtures of the entire league phase.

There’s also a return of European heritage with Juventus (Home), a classic clash not seen since the 2017/18 Champions League. Add to that a rare meeting with Benfica (Away)—the first since 1965 in this competition—plus a nostalgic encounter with Marseille (Home), who have been revitalised under Roberto De Zerbi.

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The list continues with Olympiacos (Away), where the atmosphere in Greece is bound to be hostile, and Monaco (Home), a game charged with sentiment as Mbappé faces his boyhood club. Finally, the most unique fixture sees Real travel to Kazakhstan to face Kairat Almaty (Away), Champions League debutants and surprise entrants to the league phase.

Real Madrid UCL 2025/26 League Phase Fixtures

Real Madrid’s opponents are divided evenly across home comforts and tricky away trips:

Home Matches (Santiago Bernabéu):

Manchester City
Juventus
Marseille
Monaco

Away Matches:

Liverpool
Benfica
Olympiacos
Kairat Almaty

The glamour of hosting City, Juventus, and Monaco at the Bernabéu will be balanced by difficult journeys to Anfield, Lisbon, Piraeus, and Almaty. In particular, the trip to Kazakhstan will be a logistical and physical test given the long travel time, while Olympiacos and Benfica both offer atmospheres capable of unsettling visiting giants.

The order and dates of the fixtures will be confirmed by UEFA no later than August 30, with Matchday 1 set to kick off between September 16–18. With such a demanding draw, Real Madrid will need to hit the ground running if they are to finish in the top eight and secure a direct route into the Round of 16.