Real Madrid News
Real Madrid’s six possible Pot 1 opponents in 2026/27 UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League league-phase draw day is here, and there is palpable excitement to learn who Real Madrid will face.
For all of Madrid’s reinforcements and the expectations placed on them to displace Barcelona domestically, Los Blancos are always judged by what they do in the Champions League.
The 15-time champions are, hands down, the most fearsome team to face in the tournament and have a track record of pulling off miracles to win it.
Even before the draw takes place, Madrid already know that their route through the league phase will include at least two heavyweight opponents.
Los Blancos are guaranteed to face two teams from a group containing PSG, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Manchester City and Arsenal.
Pot 1 offers no protection
Under the Champions League league-phase format, being among the highest-ranked clubs does not prevent Real Madrid from facing other Pot 1 teams.
Los Blancos, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are all in the top pot but cannot be paired against one another because clubs from the same domestic association cannot meet at this stage.
That leaves the above-mentioned six possible Pot 1 opponents for Jose Mourinho’s side. Madrid will be drawn against two of them.
There are intriguing storylines whichever way the draw falls. A meeting with PSG would pit Kylian Mbappe against his former club.
A meeting with Bayern promises one of the Champions League’s greatest traditional match-ups, with a lot of history.
Yet another meeting with Manchester City would see the annual event continue, while Arsenal would be a fascinating test for Mourinho.
Liverpool reunion remains possible
Liverpool are another potential opponent, although there is an important restriction surrounding that particular fixture.
The English club have hosted Real Madrid at Anfield during each of the previous two Champions League league phases.
Under a UEFA rule designed to prevent the same fixture being played with the same home team in three consecutive league phases, Liverpool cannot host Madrid again this season.
That does not prevent the clubs from meeting altogether. Should Liverpool be drawn against Mourinho’s men, the match would instead have to take place at the Santiago Bernabeu.
For Madrid, the message heading into the draw is simple: two of Europe’s biggest clubs are coming, no matter what. The draw will merely determine which ones Mourinho’s side will have to face.
In what will come as a pleasing development for fans, Fabrizio Romano reports that Real Madrid forward Rodrygo could make a comeback from his injury earlier than expected.
The 25-year-old Brazilian international has been out of action since March after suffering an ACL injury during a La Liga game against Getafe.
Due to the complete rupture of the ACL, coupled with associated meniscus damage, it was suggested that the attacker was staring at a lengthy time out on the sidelines and might not return until 2027.
In fact, the forward’s father, Eric Goes, recently stated in an interview that the Real Madrid ace could be back in February next year, just before the business end of the campaign.
Rodrygo could be back in December
However, as per the update from Romano, Rodrygo’s comeback could happen well before that expected date.
Indeed, if things continue to progress at the current rate, the 25-year-old attacker might return to action in December or by January 2027 at the latest.
This will come as a welcome boost for Jose Mourinho & co., considering that Rodrygo is a valuable player for the team.
Even though he had endured a tough spell prior to his form, the Brazilian’s versatility, work rate off the ball, and eye for a goal make him an asset.
Rodrygo eager to be back at his best
The update from Romano further states that Rodrygo feels very grateful to Real Madrid for all the help and support they have given him during this difficult phase of his career.
As such, the Brazilian international has made it a mission to return to action in the best shape possible and make an impact from the get-go.
The attacker has only recently begun working on the pitch with the ball indicating the significant progress he has made on the road to recovery.
And, if there are no setbacks, Real Madrid could recover one of their ace attackers before the end of the current year.
So far in his career, Rodrygo has made 297 appearances for Real Madrid, scoring 71 goals. He has a contract with the club until 2028.
