Real Madrid will begin the 2026/27 Champions League season with the same ambition that has defined the club for decades: another European crown. Standing in the way of a 16th title is a recent record of near misses that has left the Spanish giants targeting a return to the summit of the competition they have dominated more than any other.
Madrid have fallen at the quarterfinal stage in each of the past two campaigns, with Arsenal and Bayern Munich the sides responsible for sending them out. Those disappointments followed a spell of success in which the club were crowned champions in two of the three seasons before that run.
No team can match Madrid’s record in the competition, and a 16th triumph is the goal for a side now under the guidance of Jose Mourinho, who is in his second spell in charge. Mourinho has lifted the trophy twice in his career, first as Porto boss in 2004 and later as manager of Inter in 2010.
The knockout stage in 2026/27 opens with the playoffs to reach the round of 16 in February, before the competition moves towards its closing rounds later in the season.
Madrid’s squad for the league phase has been lodged, and clubs are able to add List B players as well. That group covers footballers born after January 1, 2005 who have been eligible to play for the club for an uninterrupted period of two years since their 15th birthday. Such additions can be made until midnight before each match. UEFA also publishes updated List A squads.
Where and when the final takes place
The final is scheduled for June 5, 2027 at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, the stadium that has served as Atletico Madrid’s home since 2017.
How to watch in the UK
TNT Sports and Amazon Prime Video hold the live broadcast rights to the Champions League in the UK. Amazon have the first pick of the Tuesday fixtures, while every other match is shown on TNT Sports. BBC Sport also holds highlights rights.
Supporters can live stream games through TNT’s HBO Max, the Prime Video app and BBC iPlayer. Those services are available on a wide range of devices, including smart televisions and gaming consoles.
For Madrid, the target is familiar and the margin for error small. Mourinho, a two time winner of the competition, returns to the dugout as the club look to turn consecutive quarterfinal exits into a push for a 16th title, with the final set for June 5, 2027 in Madrid.
