Liverpool and Real Madrid to Avoid Meeting Next Season

Liverpool’s Recent Clash with Real Madrid

Liverpool triumphed over Real Madrid with a 2-0 victory at Anfield during the league stage last season, breaking an unfortunate streak of eight consecutive defeats against the Spanish side. This match continued the intense rivalry that has developed between these two teams in recent years.

UEFA Regulation Prevents Future Meetings

As anticipation builds for their upcoming match at Anfield on Tuesday evening, which will be the 13th meeting between the clubs in this competition, it has been confirmed that Liverpool and Real Madrid will not be able to face each other in the next season’s group stage.

This decision is rooted in a specific regulation set by UEFA, which stipulates that these clubs cannot meet again after they have faced each other in two consecutive seasons since the competition’s format was altered. The relevant rule states:

“In compliance with paragraph 16.03 of the UEFA Champions League regulations, an extra condition has been established by the UEFA Club Competitions Committee. This guideline applies to the draw for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League season, indicating that encounters between the same clubs cannot occur with the same home team in three consecutive seasons.”

Clarification of the Regulation

“This signifies that if two teams have already competed against each other in the league round of the UEFA Champions League during the 2024/25 season and are drawn against each other again, maintaining the same home team in the following 2025/26 season, those teams will not be matched up with the same home team once more in the 2026/27 season. However, for clarity, those teams can still play each other at the home ground of the opposing team.”

Recent Form of Both Teams

Both Liverpool and Real Madrid head into this contest on the heels of triumphs; Madrid secured a commanding 4-0 victory against Valencia on Saturday, while Liverpool achieved a 2-0 win over Aston Villa. Unless both teams end up meeting after the league phase, this clash might be their last for several years, making it an encounter to be savored.