The 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League group stage promises to deliver added drama for Real Madrid, with six use of their current players preparing to face clubs where they once plied their trade.
Following Thursday’s draw, Los Blancos were placed in a challenging group that features Manchester City, Liverpool, Juventus, Benfica, Marseille, Olympiacos, Monaco, and Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty. These fixtures will not only test the 14-time European champions’ credentials but also set the stage for emotional reunions.
Among those returning to familiar territory is Brahim Díaz, who will come up against his old side Manchester City. England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold will face Liverpool in what is expected to be one of the standout clashes of the group. Spanish youngster Álvaro Carreras will line up against Benfica, while promising defender Dean Huijsen has been drawn to face Juventus.
Meanwhile, two French internationals—Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni—are both set for encounters with Monaco, the club where they each began their professional journeys.
The upcoming fixtures ensure that Real Madrid’s group stage campaign will not only be about competition but also about history, nostalgia, and personal battles that could shape the tournament’s narrative.
