UEFA has already ruled out one possible Champions League league-phase pairing before Thursday’s draw in Nyon, Switzerland. Liverpool cannot host Real Madrid at Anfield again because UEFA has added a condition that stops the same home fixture from being repeated for three consecutive seasons. Paragraph 16.03 of last season's Champions League regulations contains the rule being applied.
The Anfield restriction
UEFA Club Competitions Committee said: "The UEFA Club Competitions Committee has determined an additional condition that may be applicable to the UEFA Champions League draw for the 2026–27 season, deciding that any individual fixture between the same two teams may not be repeated in the same competition with the same home team for three consecutive seasons." The committee also explained that if teams met in the 2024/25 league phase and were then drawn again with the same home team in 2025/26, they cannot be drawn with the same home team in 2026/27.
That shuts down the idea of a third straight Anfield night between Liverpool and Real Madrid in the league phase. The two clubs have already played at Anfield in both seasons since the format overhaul, and Liverpool won those meetings 2-0 and 1-0.
The other fixture affected
BBC said only two potential fixtures meet the three-season home-repeat criteria ahead of Thursday's draw, and the only other cited one is Inter vs Arsenal. UEFA administration may also adjust draw conditions to avoid deadlock situations and take into account relevant constraints.
The important part is narrow, but it is clear enough: Liverpool can still be drawn away to Real Madrid in Madrid, and the clubs could also meet later in the knockout rounds. What UEFA will not allow on Thursday is another league-phase draw that sends Madrid to Anfield for a third straight season.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
