This season, Real Madrid arrives at the UEFA Champions League with a clear goal: reclaim the crown after the club’s run to the semi finals last term, where they were edged by the champions Manchester City. The squad has seen notable changes, with departures of key veterans and additions aimed at strengthening the squad for a new campaign. Benzema, Asensio, Hazard and Mariano left the club, while arrivals such as Fran García, Jude Bellingham, Brahim Diaz and Joselu have joined to bolster the squad’s balance and attacking options. The club’s preparations reflect a blend of veteran experience and youthful energy, designed to compete at the highest level across Europe. [Goal]
Guide to the 2023-2024 Champions League: when it starts, qualified teams, draws, format and calendar
Who could Real Madrid face in the opening group stage of the 2023-2024 Champions League
As Real Madrid did not secure La Liga and the Champions League title in the prior season, the team is placed outside Pot 1 in the group stage draw and finds itself in Pot 2 for the distribution of opponents. The positioning shapes the potential combinations and the early fixtures Madrid must navigate as the competition unfolds. [Goal]
Teams that Real Madrid would avoid in the group stage
- Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid, Real Sociedad and Sevilla, all from the same country, are kept separate in the group phase draw.
- Manchester United, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Porto and Arsenal are listed in a different pot, which influences the pool Madrid must consider when building their schedule and assessing travel and opponent profiles.
Real Madrid’s possible group stage opponents
- Pot 1: Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli, Benfica and Feyenoord.
- Pot 3: Shakhtar Donetsk, Red Bull Salzburg, AC Milan, Lazio, Crvena zvezda, SC Braga.
- Pot 4: RC Lens, Newcastle United, Galatasaray, Young Boys, Celtic, Union Berlin.