Real Madrid Discovers Their Champions League Fate: Who Could Stand in Their Way This Season?

Real Madrid couldn't successfully defend their Champions League title last season and will be eager to reclaim their position at the top of European football.

Few romantic tales in football match the deep connection between Real Madrid and the Champions League. Los Blancos stand as the unquestioned monarchs of Europe's elite club tournament and hold the record as the most triumphant team in its history, claiming victory 15 times.

However, during the 2024–25 campaign, Real Madrid fell short of their elevated expectations. Kylian Mbappé eventually completed his long-awaited transfer to the Santiago Bernabéu with hopes of securing a 16th Champions League title. Yet, in the quarterfinals, Declan Rice and Arsenal surprisingly toppled the tournament's legendary giant.

Enter Xabi Alonso for his inaugural season leading Los Blancos from the sideline. While Alonso faces the challenge of overthrowing Barcelona across all major domestic tournaments, much of his first campaign's evaluation will depend on the team's European showing.

Here's an examination of Real Madrid's possible adversaries in the Champions League league phase, where they aim to reignite what Florentino Pérez called a celebrated romance.

Which 2025–26 Champions League Pot Contains Real Madrid?

Predictably, Real Madrid occupy Champions League Pot 1, alongside arch-nemesis Barcelona. Nevertheless, regulations prevent teams from identical nations meeting in the initial European competition round, eliminating any chance of a league phase El Clásico.

Real Madrid's eight league phase encounters will pit them against two clubs from each pot, with four matches away and four at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Alonso's squad will also sidestep fellow La Liga participants Villarreal, Athletic Club and cross-town competitors Atlético Madrid. Nevertheless, all six Premier League clubs remain available opponents for Los Blancos. Their fate will be determined during Thursday's Champions League league phase draw.

Real Madrid's 2025–26 Possible Champions League League Phase Adversaries

*Ferencváros (pot 4) vs. Qarabağ (pot 4), Basel (pot 4) vs. Copenhagen (pot 4), Fenerbahçe (pot 3) vs. Benfica (pot 2) and Rangers (pot 3) vs. Club Brugge (pot 2) will complete their playoff ties on Wednesday, Aug 27.

Real Madrid will fancy their prospects against any of their 31 possible rivals.

Within Pot 1, despite being unable to meet Barcelona, numerous thrilling potential encounters exist. Real Madrid might confront Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund. Los Blancos have battled six of these seven clubs during their path to their two latest European victories.

With two La Liga sides in Pot 2, Real Madrid have only five confirmed potential adversaries from this group, though another will be included by Thursday's draw and a possible opponent could be Europa League champions Tottenham Hotspur. A potential meeting with Arsenal is appealing, as well as Alonso confronting his previous club Bayer Leverkusen. Additional potential choices include Atalanta, Juventus and Eintracht Frankfurt.

In Pot 3, Serie A titleholders Napoli are prominent. They're accompanied by PSV Eindhoven, Ajax, Sporting CP, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, Marseille and Bodø/Glimt.

Several teams still fighting to secure their league phase position will enter Pot 4. Currently, Monaco, Galatasaray, Union Saint-Gilloise, Newcastle United, Pafos and Kairat are Los Blancos's potential opponents.

Real Madrid's Most Challenging Potential 2025–26 Champions League League Phase Rivals

Real Madrid understand that becoming Europe's finest requires defeating Europe's elite. However, dodging a confrontation with titleholders PSG—who outplayed Los Blancos in the 2025 Club World Cup—would be desirable.

The talent-laden roster of Premier League powerhouse Liverpool, who also overcame Los Blancos last season, could present a formidable challenge.

Declan Rice's two spectacular free-kicks in the quarterfinals led Arsenal's comprehensive two-leg victory over Real Madrid. The scars from that loss remain fresh in Spain's capital, so Alonso's team might benefit from avoiding the Gunners during the league phase as a Pot 2 matchup.

Circumstances become somewhat easier afterward, though drawing Serie A winners Napoli as a Pot 3 opponent would seem particularly unfortunate given the other more manageable alternatives.

Los Blancos would back themselves against any Pot 4 team, but Newcastle away, beneath the lights of an electric and intimidating St James' Park, might be a journey worth dodging. Simply ask Mbappé about his experience when he visited the Magpies with PSG two seasons prior.