Real Madrid’s Champions League league-phase fixtures include Arsenal and Inter

Real Madrid will begin their bid for a first Champions League title under the competition’s new format against Inter on 8 September 2026, with a demanding league-phase schedule also featuring matches against Arsenal, Roma and RB Leipzig.

The fixtures were announced by UEFA for the league phase of the Champions League, with the historic 15-time winners opening their campaign at home to Inter at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Real Madrid’s complete schedule is:

– Real Madrid v Inter – 8 September 2026, Santiago Bernabeu – Roma v Real Madrid – 14 October 2026, Stadio Olimpico – Real Madrid v RB Leipzig – 21 October 2026, Santiago Bernabeu – AEK Athens v Real Madrid – 4 November 2026, Agia Sophia Stadium – Real Madrid v PSV Eindhoven – 24 November 2026, Santiago Bernabeu – Arsenal v Real Madrid – 9 December 2026, Emirates Stadium – Real Madrid v LASK – 19 January 2027, Santiago Bernabeu – Shakhtar Donetsk v Real Madrid – 27 January 2026, Stamford Bridge

Real Madrid are the most successful club in Champions League history, having won the competition 15 times. However, they will be seeking their first triumph under the new league-phase format.

The schedule includes a repeat meeting with Arsenal, who have proved difficult opponents for Real Madrid in previous Champions League encounters. The Spanish side have never beaten Arsenal in the competition, recording one draw and three defeats.

Their most recent meetings came in the quarter-finals of the 2024-25 Champions League. Arsenal won both legs, securing a 3-0 victory in the first match before completing a 2-1 success in the return fixture.

Real Madrid have faced Inter 19 times, with the first meeting taking place in the final of the 1964 edition. Inter won that match 3-1.

The opening-round fixture against Inter will therefore bring together two clubs with a long European history, while Real Madrid’s home matches against RB Leipzig and PSV Eindhoven will also take place at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Away from home, Carlo Ancelotti’s side are scheduled to visit Roma, AEK Athens, Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk during the league phase. The Arsenal match will be played at the Emirates Stadium, while Shakhtar’s home fixture is listed for Stamford Bridge.

The dates for the league-phase fixtures are expected to be confirmed on Saturday, 29 August. The league phase is scheduled to start on 8 September and finish on 27 January 2027.