UEFA is preparing to conduct the draw for the 2026/2027 UEFA Champions League season tomorrow, Thursday, which will feature a special rule concerning Liverpool and Real Madrid.
The teams participating in the UEFA Champions League will learn their path to the next round through league phase matches, comprising four home games and four away games.
According to the Spanish newspaper "Sport," Real Madrid and Liverpool are already ruled out from meeting in the group stage.
"Sport" indicates that the reason lies in a new rule introduced by UEFA for the group stage, aimed at preventing the same fixture from being repeated three consecutive times.
This applies to Real Madrid and Liverpool, as the two teams faced each other in the last two editions, with the Spanish club visiting their English counterparts at Anfield Stadium.
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"Sport" further noted that this rule may allow an exception; if the draw results in a matchup between the two teams, the Liverpool vs. Real Madrid match would not be held at Anfield but could instead take place at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
The newspaper explained in its report that UEFA does not wish to repeat the same match at the same venue. Since the previous two encounters were held at Anfield, it is possible they could meet this time at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
Furthermore, this rule applies only to the group stage. For instance, Real Madrid and Manchester City have met in nearly all of the last eight UEFA Champions League editions across various rounds, including knockout stages; thus, they could face each other again in this edition, repeating the fixture.