Football news: Why Liverpool cannot host Real Madrid at Anfield in the Champions League this season

Liverpool will be unable to host Real Madrid at Anfield during the 2026-27 Champions League league phase.

The restriction comes from a UEFA rule designed to prevent the same fixture from taking place at the same stadium for three consecutive seasons.

Here, Sport Just Sport discusses what this means for both clubs.

A familiar Champions League fixture

Liverpool have hosted Real Madrid at Anfield during the league phase in each of the past two Champions League campaigns.

The two games have produced a positive result for the Reds on both occasions.

In the 2024-25 campaign, Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory after second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo.

Mac Allister was again on the scoresheet nearly a year later, heading home from a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick in another Liverpool victory.

However, supporters will not see another Liverpool-Real Madrid league-phase meeting at Anfield this season.

Why has UEFA introduced the rule?

UEFA’s regulations include an additional condition for the 2026-27 Champions League draw.

The rule states that an individual fixture between the same two teams cannot be repeated in the same competition with the same home team for three consecutive seasons.

This means Liverpool cannot be drawn at home against Real Madrid for a third consecutive league-phase campaign.

The regulation is intended to help avoid the same fixture repeatedly appearing at the same venue.

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Madrid away remains possible

Although Liverpool cannot host Real Madrid, the two clubs could still meet during the league phase.

Iraola’s side could be drawn to travel to the Bernabéu to face the Spanish giants.

The fixture would continue a long-standing Champions League rivalry between the two clubs.

Liverpool and Real Madrid first met in the 1981 European Cup final, with the Reds winning 1-0 in Paris.

Since then, the sides have produced several memorable European encounters, including Liverpool’s 4-0 victory at Anfield in 2009 and Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory in the 2018 Champions League final.

More recently, Liverpool defeated Real 2-0 at Anfield in November 2024, extending their strong home record against the Spanish side in recent meetings.

A trip to Madrid would therefore offer a very different challenge.

It would give Liverpool the opportunity to face Real Madrid for a third consecutive season, but with the venue reversed.

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What does this mean for Liverpool?

The restriction will be an important factor when Liverpool’s Champions League opponents are determined.

Instead of potentially welcoming Real Madrid back to Anfield, Liverpool supporters could be preparing for a trip to the Bernabéu.

Liverpool’s previous two victories will provide plenty of encouragement, but an away meeting would present a very different challenge.

For now, though, one thing is certain.

Real Madrid will not be returning to Anfield for the Champions League league phase in 2026-27.

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