Real Madrid News
Real Madrid executive reacts to Champions League draw: ‘Objective is to finish among the top eight’
Former Real Madrid player Emilio Butragueno, now the club’s Director of Institutional Relations, discussed the team’s mood on Movistar following the 2026/27 Champions League league-phase draw.
The draw has handed Jose Mourinho’s side several difficult fixtures, including a trip to Arsenal in London and a meeting with Inter Milan at the Bernabeu.
Apart from that, Los Blancos will also face PSV Eindhove, AS Roma, RB Leipzig, Shakhtar Donetsk, LASK, and AEK Athens in the league phase of Europe’s premier club competition.
Butragueno reacts
Butragueno, who was present at the draw in Monaco, representing Real Madrid, discussed the club’s opponents for the first phase of the Champions League.
“This competition is always very demanding. Every match is difficult and closely contested. You have to have the right mentality and you have to play,” Butragueno said.
“We’re experiencing this competition with tremendous excitement and, as always, we’ll do everything possible to qualify,” he added.
"Vivimos esta #UCL con muchísima ilusión y queremos estar en ese Top8".
— Movistar Plus Deportes (@MPlusDeportes) August 27, 2026
Emilio Butragueño, tras el sorteo de @ChampionsLeague. #UCL #LaCasaDelFútbol pic.twitter.com/eUy1KkrIGR
Butragueno also confirmed that, after finishing outside the top eight in each of the last two editions, Real Madrid’s objective this season is to reach the knockout stage directly.
“The objective is to finish among the top eight to avoid the first knockout round and go directly through to the round of 16. With all the excitement, as always,” he concluded.
Real Madrid aim to reclaim Champions League crown
Real Madrid face a major challenge in this year’s competition after two consecutive seasons in which they were eliminated at the quarter-final stages by Arsenal and Bayern Munich.
With Mourinho returning and several new signings arriving, Real Madrid hope to overcome the setbacks of recent European campaigns and make a serious run at the title.
The club’s pursuit of a 16th Champions League trophy is now underway. The competition’s new format means the Merengues must maintain consistency from the opening match.
There is no traditional group stage in which teams can afford to ease into the campaign: every result contributes to a single league table, with the top eight advancing directly to the round of 16.
For Real Madrid, finishing in those eight places is therefore the first major European objective, as it would also spare the squad the additional physical burden of playing two playoff matches.
The trip to Arsenal will be one of the biggest tests of the opening phase, while the clash with Inter at the Santiago Bernabeu will provide another measure of Real Madrid’s ability to compete against a top-level European contender.
In the other matches, Real Madrid will generally start as favourites, but they cannot afford unnecessary slip-ups that could damage their position in the table.
Real Madrid prospect Alexis Ciria will have to wait for his Champions League opportunity despite making a strong impression on Jose Mourinho during pre-season.
The Castilla winger has been left out of Real Madrid’s European squad, but the decision is the consequence of UEFA registration rules rather than a sporting judgment.
According to journalist Arancha Rodriguez (h/t Defensa Central), Ciria was not eligible for Madrid’s List B because he has not been with the club long enough to satisfy UEFA’s requirements.
Registering him would therefore have required Mourinho to include him on the more restrictive List A.
UEFA rules work against Ciria
List B provides clubs with additional flexibility to register young academy players, but being young enough is not sufficient on its own.
Players must also meet requirements concerning how long they have been eligible to represent the club.
Ciria does not meet those conditions because of his limited time at Valdebebas. Real Madrid would therefore have needed to sacrifice a List A position to register him.
With those places required for members of Mourinho’s senior squad, Ciria was ultimately left out.
Real Madrid’s List B instead includes youngsters such as Joan Martinez, Mario Rivas, Thiago Pitarch, Jorge Cestero and Daniel Yanez.
Many of these youngsters made a name for themselves under Mourinho during pre-season and could be used to make up the numbers in the Champions League squad.
They could also get some minutes off the bench, especially against relatively easier opposition, as Jose Mourinho looks to manage first-team minutes.
Mourinho still plans first-team opportunity
Importantly for Ciria, missing the Champions League squad does not appear to reflect a change in Mourinho’s opinion of him.
The youngster impressed during pre-season and is expected to continue spending time around the senior team.
Mourinho intends to give Ciria his official first-team debut during the season. That opportunity will now have to arrive in La Liga or the Copa del Rey.
The Portuguese tactician placed a lot of emphasis on trusting Castilla players during pre-season in the absence of first-team stars.
Ciria was one of the many names who made a name for themselves at Real Madrid during pre-season. He deserves a chance in the first team, and it remains to be seen how Jose plans his development.
