Football NewsBBC SportUnverified source· 26 Aug 2026
New UEFA rule blocks Liverpool vs Real Madrid at Anfield
A fresh UEFA regulation stops Liverpool from hosting Real Madrid in the Champions League league phase.
Rule
Teams can't host same opponent in league phase for third straight season
Affected
Liverpool vs Real Madrid, Inter vs Arsenal
Previous
Liverpool beat Real Madrid 2-0 and 1-0 at Anfield
Draw
Thursday's league phase draw for 2026-27
What happened. UEFA introduced a rule preventing teams from hosting a side they faced at home in the previous two league-phase seasons, impacting Liverpool and Real Madrid.
- Only two fixtures meet the criteria: Liverpool-Real Madrid and Inter-Arsenal.
- Inter hosted Arsenal twice, winning 1-0 then losing 3-1.
- All four clubs are in pot one for the draw.
The rule applies from this season, altering potential fixtures in the new league phase format.
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