Real Madrid’s possible opponents in the 2025/26 Champions League | OneFootball

Real Madrid will find out their UEFA Champions League 2025/26 group stage opponents today.

The new format, which started last season, brings more unpredictability than ever before, meaning that they can face almost any combination of rivals.

One thing is certain that in this opening phase, Madrid will avoid the other Spanish sides – Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Villarreal and Athletic Club.

Beyond that, the possibilities are wide open, with 31 potential opponents waiting to be drawn.

Strong rivals await in every pot

Being top seeds no longer guarantees safety for Los Blancos. Despite their Pot 1 status, Real Madrid will still face two giants from this group.

The options include Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund. Any combination would make for blockbuster clashes in the first stage.

Pot 2 also looks tough. Madrid cannot be drawn against Atletico Madrid or Villarreal, but they can still meet Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Benfica, Atalanta, Juventus, Eintracht Frankfurt and Club Brugge.

Two teams will be paired with them here, one home fixture and one away.

Real Madrid will know their UCL opponents today. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Pot 3 offers further challenges, with names like Tottenham, PSV Eindhoven, Ajax, Napoli, Sporting CP, Olympiakos, Slavia Prague, Bodø/Glimt and Marseille.

Madrid will play two of these sides as well.

Finally, Pot 4 is packed with tricky opponents such as Copenhagen, Monaco, Galatasaray, Union Saint-Gilloise, Qarabag, Newcastle, Paphos and Kairat Almaty.

Athletic Club are also in this group, but as a fellow Spanish side, they cannot face Los Blancos at this stage.

The draw will shape Real Madrid’s path in this year’s competition. With Alonso eager to prove himself in Europe’s top tournament, the group stage will be a true test of depth and consistency.

Fans at the Santiago Bernabeu will soon know which European giants and underdogs await, as the quest for another Champions League title begins in September.