Real Madrid were in unfamiliar territory as Pot 2 entrants ahead of the 2023/24 Champions League group stage as they waited to discover their upcoming opponents.
Los Blancos were thrown out of the competition by eventual winners Manchester City in the semi-finals last season but a new-look side led by Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham is plotting success in Europe’s top competition this time around.
Finishing second in La Liga meant Madrid weren’t in the pot for top dogs from which Napoli were drawn. The Italians are Los Blancos’ main competitors for top spot in Group C, though Braga and Union Berlin will hope to cause upsets.
Here is Real Madrid’s head-to-head record against their upcoming Champions League group stage opponents.
|
Opponent |
Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Napoli |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
Napoli
Napoli’s first ever venture into Europe’s top tournament came in 1987/88, though the straight knockout format contributed to the Serie A side being drawn against Madrid in the very first round. Los Blancos won 3-1 on aggregate before being beaten by eventual winners PSV Eindhoven, going out on away goals.
The third and fourth games between the two stylish cities came in 2016/17 as Madrid picked up two 3-1 wins over a Napoli side that included Pepe Reina, Kalidou Koulibaly, Marek Hamsik, Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne.
Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t get on the scoresheet in either game – instead, it was Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Morata, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and Casemiro who did the damage alongside a Mertens own goal.
Braga
S.C. Braga only competed in the Champions League for the first time in 2010/11 and most recently participated in 2012/13, when they lost five of their six six games including two against Manchester United.
The Portuguese side have only ever competed against one Spanish team – Sevilla. They boast two wins in three games against the Europa League specialists, beating them twice in second round qualifying en route to the 2010/11 group stage.
Union Berlin
Union Berlin are even more sheltered when it comes to Spanish opposition. Real Madrid will be the first team from La Liga that the German team have ever faced.
The Bundesliga side have risen through the UEFA ranks quickly, competing in the Europa Conference League in 2021/22 before reaching the Europa League in 2022/23. Their finish of fourth last season helped Die Eisernen qualify for the UCL for the first time ever.
|
Opponent |
Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Porto |
12 |
9 |
1 |
2 |
|
Sporting CP |
6 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
|
Benfica |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
The Portuguese team Madrid have come up against most frequently in their history is Porto. The two sides were regular group stage foes in the late 1990s and early 2000s and also squared off in a couple of two-legged last 16 European Cup ties.
Los Blancos have faced Sporting CP more recently, two games coming in 2016/17. Madrid earned 2-1 victories in both matches against an eclectic Sporting squad that included Bryan Ruiz, Bas Dost and William Carvalho.
Madrid have also been starved of the opportunity for revenge against Benfica, who were victorious in the 1962 European Cup final. Ferenc Puskas’ hat-trick wasn’t enough as Eusebio and Jose Aguas led Os Encarnados to their second European Cup triumph on the bounce, having beaten Barcelona the year before.
|
Opponent |
Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bayern Munich |
26 |
11 |
3 |
12 |
|
Borussia Dortmund |
14 |
6 |
5 |
3 |
|
Bayer Leverkusen |
7 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
|
Schalke |
4 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
|
Borussia Monchengladbach |
6 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
|
Eintracht Frankfurt |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kaiserslautern |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Koln |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Hamburg |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
1860 Munich |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Wolfsburg |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Werder Bremen |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
RB Leipzig |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Carl Zeiss Jena |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
Bayern Munich are the standout giants from Germany, though surprisingly Madrid have never met the Bundesliga giants in a European final. They have an inferior H2H record, having won 11 games to Bayern’s 12 alongside three draws.
Madrid have a much stronger hold on matches with Borussia Dortmund, though a 4-1 defeat in the 2013 semi-final first leg did prove costly as Jurgen Klopp’s BVB marched through to the final. Robert Lewandowski scored all four of his side’s goals that night before Dortmund finished the job at the Bernabeu with a 2-0 defeat.
Bayer Leverkusen have also provided memorable entertainment for Madrid fans, in particular during the 2001 final. Zinedine Zidane scored one of the Champions League’s most iconic final goals with a searing volley after Raul and Lucio had traded goals early on in the first half.
|
Matchday |
Date |
|---|---|
|
Matchday 1 |
19/20 September |
|
Matchday 2 |
3/4 October 2023 |
|
Matchday 3 |
24/25 October 2023 |
|
Matchday 4 |
7/8 November 2023 |
|
Matchday 5 |
28/29 November 2023 |
|
Matchday 6 |
12/13 December 2023 |
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