Real Madrid Faces Formidable Champions League Challenge in 2025/26 Season

The UEFA Champions League league phase draw was conducted on Thursday in Monaco, with legendary figures Zlatan Ibrahimović and Kaká orchestrating the matchups that will shape the competition’s landscape. Real Madrid, managed by Xabi Alonso following Carlo Ancelotti’s departure after last season’s quarter-final exit to Arsenal, received one of the tournament’s most demanding schedules.

A Grueling Continental Campaign Awaits

Los Blancos will navigate eight matches across prestigious European venues from September 2025 through January 2026. The draw positions the Spanish giants to face reigning English champions Liverpool at Anfield, where they suffered defeat last season with Kylian Mbappé notably missing a crucial penalty. This represents one of their most intimidating away assignments in the league phase format.

The continental roadshow will also take Real Madrid to Portugal’s Estadio da Luz to face Benfica, one of Europe’s traditional powerhouses. Perhaps most intriguingly, Madrid will visit Greece to encounter Olympiacos, managed by Jose Luis Mendilibar—the former Eibar coach now leading the Greek champions—marking their first competitive clash since a goalless stalemate in November 2007.

Star-Studded Home Fortress

At the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid will welcome an impressive parade of continental heavyweights. Manchester City arrives for what has become a familiar renewal with Pep Guardiola’s side, recalling their dramatic 2022 semi-final encounter. The Turin-based Juventus will return to Spain’s capital for the first time since their 2018 quarter-final meeting, which remains etched in memory due to Cristiano Ronaldo’s controversial 98th-minute penalty decision.

Olympique Marseille completes their home programme, a fixture carrying additional intrigue given persistent transfer speculation linking midfielder Dani Ceballos with a potential departure to France. AS Monaco, bolstered by Barcelona’s on-loan forward Ansu Fati, will also visit Madrid’s iconic stadium.

Distant Horizons and Fixture Calendar

One of the competition’s lengthier journeys awaits as Real Madrid will become acquainted with Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty in their first-ever competitive encounter. This fixture represents among the longest continental treks any club will undertake this season.

UEFA has confirmed the eight matchdays will unfold according to the following calendar:

• Matchday one: September 16–18, 2025
• Matchday two: September 30 – October 1, 2025
• Matchday three: October 21–22, 2025
• Matchday four: November 4-5, 2025
• Matchday five: November 25-26, 2025
• Matchday six: December 9-10, 2025
• Matchday seven: January 20-21, 2026
• Matchday eight: January 28, 2026

Specific kick-off times and venue confirmations will be announced following coordination between clubs, UEFA, and local authorities managing security protocols.