Real Madrid now know the eight teams they will face in the league phase of the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League. The draw took place this Thursday evening in Monaco.
Paris Saint-Germain will once again defend their European crown this season after winning the last two editions of the Champions League. Real Madrid, meanwhile, will be aiming to reclaim a trophy they have not lifted since 2024.
Placed in Pot 1 for the draw, the Spanish giants knew they could be handed several difficult opponents during the league phase. And the draw has certainly produced some major fixtures, with José Mourinho’s side set to face Arsenal and Inter Milan among their eight opponents.
As in the previous season, the Champions League features 36 teams in a single league table. Each club will play eight matches against eight different opponents, facing two teams from each of the four pots. Every club will play four matches at home and four away.
Real Madrid were among the top seeds, but their Pot 1 status did not protect them from facing some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Mourinho’s men will therefore have to negotiate a demanding schedule if they want to secure a direct place in the knockout stages.
Real Madrid’s Champions League opponents
■ Inter Milan — Home
■ Arsenal — Away
■ PSV Eindhoven — Home
■ AS Roma — Away
■ RB Leipzig — Home
■ Shakhtar Donetsk — Away
■ LASK — Home
■ AEK Athens — Away
The standout fixtures are undoubtedly the meetings with Inter Milan and Arsenal. The Italian giants will travel to the Santiago Bernabéu, while Real Madrid will have to visit England to take on Arsenal in what promises to be one of the biggest matches of the league phase.
Trips to Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk and AEK Athens could also prove difficult, while PSV Eindhoven and RB Leipzig have regularly shown their ability to compete against Europe’s elite.
When will Real Madrid play their matches?
Although Real Madrid’s eight opponents are now confirmed, the exact order of the fixtures, kick-off times and full match schedule have yet to be announced.
UEFA will now prepare the complete calendar for the league phase, ensuring that Real Madrid play four matches at the Bernabéu and four away from home.
The full schedule is expected to be officially confirmed by Saturday at the latest.
The opening round of the competition will take place between September 8 and 10, 2026, while the eighth and final league-phase matchday is scheduled for January 27, 2027.
Champions League 2026-27 league-phase dates
■ Matchday 1: September 8-10, 2026
■ Matchday 2: October 13-14, 2026
■ Matchday 3: October 20-21, 2026
■ Matchday 4: November 3-4, 2026
■ Matchday 5: November 24-25, 2026
■ Matchday 6: December 8-9, 2026
■ Matchday 7: January 19-20, 2027
■ Matchday 8: January 27, 2027
Real Madrid‘s objective will be clear: finish among the top eight teams in the overall standings and secure direct qualification for the Champions League round of 16. With Arsenal, Inter, Roma and Leipzig on the schedule, Mourinho and his players already know that there will be little room for error.
🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: Real Madrid's Champions League draw! 💫 pic.twitter.com/lUXNZ2Sbtv
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) August 27, 2026
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