Actual Madrid welcome Marseille to the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, for his or her Champions League opener. It’s an enormous evening for the French facet; Softfootball understands that they are going to be returning to Europe’s high competitors after lacking final season, whereas Madrid kick off life underneath new boss Xabi Alonso with ambitions of lifting a report sixteenth European Cup.
Historical past leans closely in the direction of Los Blancos. The 2 golf equipment have met 4 occasions within the Champions League, all group-stage video games, with Madrid profitable every one. Their final assembly got here again within the 2009/10 season, when Madrid ran out 3-1 winners and in his press convention, supervisor Xabi Alonso emphasised the necessity for his staff to keep up the momentum in opposition to their French counterparts. Marseille, in the meantime, stay happy with their 1992/93 triumph as the primary French staff to win the event earlier than PSG’s current treble-winning marketing campaign.
Actual Madrid posted a video on their official X account forward of the conflict, celebrating the truth that the UCL is lastly again on the Bernabeu and likewise snippets from Xabi Alonso’s interview and the staff’s preparations.
Watch the video beneath:
Madrid are unbeaten in La Liga thus far with 4 wins, helped by Kylian Mbappé’s quick begin — 4 targets already. They edged Actual Sociedad 2-1 on the weekend regardless of taking place to 10 males early. That type of grit may show helpful in Europe. Marseille’s kind is shakier. Roberto De Zerbi’s facet crushed Lorient 4-0 on Friday however have already suffered defeats to Rennes and Lyon in Ligue 1.
Group Information
Madrid faces some large absences: Antonio Rüdiger (hamstring) is out long-term, whereas Ferland Mendy and Endrick are additionally doubts. Regardless of being included within the Squad listing, Xabi Alonso can even watch out with Jude Bellingham’s minutes, as he has simply returned to 100 per cent. Arda Güler, nonetheless, appears to be like vigorous, with two targets and an help in his final three video games. Marseille are sweating on Amine Gouiri after he went off injured in opposition to Lorient.
Actual Madrid’s squad listing as posted by the staff official X account:
Attainable Line-ups
Actual Madrid (4-3-3): Courtois; Carvajal, Huijsen, Militao, Carreras; Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Valverde; Güler, Vinícius Jr, Mbappé.
Marseille (4-2-3-1): Rulli; Murillo, Pavard, Balerdi, Medina; Hojbjerg, Gomes; Greenwood, Nadir, Weah; Aubameyang.
Madrid’s firepower must be an excessive amount of, even with out Rüdiger on the again. Marseille’s away report in Europe is poor, and Bernabéu nights not often finish kindly for guests. Anticipate targets on each ends however Madrid to edge it.
Prediction: Actual Madrid 3-1 Marseille
