Having failed to reach the semi-finals for the first time in five seasons last time out, Real Madrid are hoping to add to their record 15 titles in 2025/26.
Madrid finished second in LaLiga during a season of struggle by their stratospheric standards and were given a date with the team they beat 1-0 in the 2021/22 final, Liverpool, in the league phase this time in Europe, as well as a meeting with Manchester City, who they ousted 6-3 on aggregate in the knockout phase play-offs in 2024/25.
Following the sacking of manager Xabi Alonso, Madrid finished a point shy of the top eight positions ensuring automatic progress to the last 16.
Check out Real Madrid’s fixtures, results and squad for the 2025/26 Champions League, as well as a look at the schedule.
Real Madrid Champions League fixtures, results 2025/26
Madrid will face the team who beat them in their final game of the league phase, Benfica, in the knockout phase play-offs.
A 98th-minute goal by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin gave Benfica a 4-2 home win over Madrid and booked their place in the play-offs on goal difference.
Both matches start at 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT. The winners will meet Sporting or Manchester City next.
- February 17: Benfica vs Real Madrid
- February 25: Real Madrid vs Benfica
Madrid’s opponents in the league phase included reigning Kazakh champions Kairat Almaty, 2024/25 Premier League winners Liverpool and Greek title holders Olympiacos.
They faced the teams who finished second and third in France in Marseille and Monaco and the runners-up in Portugal, Benfica.
Two-time European champions Juventus reached the knockout phase play-offs last season and finished fourth in Serie A.
Tuesday, September 16: Madrid 2-1 Marseille
Tuesday, September 30: Kairat 0-5 Madrid
Wednesday, October 22: Madrid 1-0 Juventus
Tuesday, November 4: Liverpool 1-0 Madrid
Wednesday, November 26: Olympiacos 3-4 Madrid
Wednesday, December 10: Madrid 1-2 Man City
Tuesday, January 20: Madrid 6-1 Monaco
Wednesday January 28: Benfica 4-2 Madrid
When is the Champions League knockout phase?
- Knockout phase play-offs: February 17/18 & 24/25 2026
- Round of 16: March 10/11 & 17/18 2026
- Quarter-finals: April 7/8 & 14/15 2026
- Semi-finals: April 28/29 and May 5/6 2026
- Final: May 30 2026 (Budapest)
When are the Champions League draws?
- Knockout phase play-offs: January 30 2026
- Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final: February 27 2026
Real Madrid Champions League squad 2025/26
Madrid’s List A Champions League squad has been registered until the round of 16 in February 2026, when clubs can register a maximum of three new players within the existing limit of 25.
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin
Defenders: Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raul Asencio, Alvaro Carreras, Fran Garcia, Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy, Dean Huijsen
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Arda Guler, Dani Ceballos
Forwards: Vinicius Junior, Endrick, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Gonzalo, Brahim Diaz, Franco Mastantuono
List B submissions, comprised of players born after January 1, 2004 who have been eligible to play for the club for an uninterrupted period of two years since their 15th birthday, can also be made until midnight before each match.
Goalkeepers Fran Gonzalez and Javier Navarro, defenders Victor Valdepenas, Diego Aguado, Jesus Fortea, David Jimanez and Joan Martinez, midfielders Jorge Cestero, Pol Fortuny, Manuel Angel, Cesar Palacios, Cristian Perea, Hugo De Llanos and Thiago Pitarch and forward Daniel Yanez are initially on List B.
When is the Champions League final?
The final will take place on May 30 2026 at the The Puskas Arena in Budapest, which opened in 2019 and is home to Hungary’s national team.
The arena hosted a dramatic 2022/23 Europa League final, when Sevilla beat Roma on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
How to watch Real Madrid in the Champions League: TV channel
TNT Sports and Amazon Prime Video have the live broadcast rights to the Champions League in the UK.
Amazon have first pick of the Tuesday games, with all the other matches shown on TNT Sports. BBC Sport also has highlights rights.
TNT Sports costs £29.99 a month through discovery+, which includes Eurosport and entertainment and is available on a vast range of devices including smart TVs and gaming consoles.
A Prime Video membership is £8.99 per month or £95 per year paid annually, with a half-price offer for fans aged between 18 and 22.
Membership includes unlimited delivery on a huge selection of Amazon items and a range of other perks such as movies, series, documentaries and photo storage.
How to live stream Real Madrid Champions League games online
The broadcasters have dedicated apps allowing fans to live-stream the games: TNT’s discovery+, the Prime Video app and BBC iPlayer.
The apps are available on a vast range of devices including smart TVs and gaming consoles.