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Why Real Madrid will not be playing at Anfield in Champions League group phase
Liverpool could face Real Madrid for a third successive season in the Champions League, but UEFA has placed a restriction on where the match can be played.
The two European giants are among the 36 clubs entering Thursday’s 2026-27 Champions League league phase draw in Monaco.
Both have been placed in Pot 1 alongside some of Europe’s biggest clubs, meaning a repeat meeting between them remains possible.
However, UEFA’s new draw condition means Liverpool would not be permitted to host Real Madrid at Anfield if the clubs are paired together again.
The restriction also applies to another potential repeat fixture involving Arsenal and Inter Milan.
The rule was introduced after the league-phase format was brought in for the 2024-25 campaign. Under the system, each club plays eight matches against eight different opponents, facing two teams from each of the four pots.
Four of those matches are played at home and the other four away.
Liverpool have already welcomed Real Madrid to Anfield in each of the last two editions of the competition. They won the first encounter 2-0 before recording a 1-0 victory in the following season.
Inter and Arsenal have also met twice in the league phase with Inter as the home side. The Italian club won the first encounter 1-0, while Arsenal won the return fixture 3-1 last season.
UEFA has now moved to prevent a club from repeatedly hosting the same opponent across three consecutive seasons.
Its regulations state: “The UEFA Club Competitions Committee has determined an additional condition that may be applicable to the UEFA Champions League draw for the 2026/27 season, deciding that any individual fixture between the same two teams may not be repeated in the same competition with the same home team for three consecutive seasons.”
In practical terms, Liverpool and Real Madrid can still be drawn together, but Real Madrid would have to host the fixture.
Likewise, Inter Milan and Arsenal can meet again, but Inter cannot be the home team for a third consecutive season.
The rule therefore does not prevent repeat opponents. Instead, it changes the possible home-and-away arrangement when the same two teams have met with the same home side in the previous two campaigns.
Thursday’s draw will determine whether either of the two fixtures is repeated and, if so, which club gets home advantage.
The Champions League league phase will feature 36 teams, with the top eight qualifying directly for the round of 16. Teams finishing ninth to 24th will go into the knockout play-offs, while clubs ending the league phase in 25th place or lower will be eliminated.
The post Why Real Madrid will not be playing at Anfield in Champions League group phase appeared first on Vanguard News.
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