These are early days in the UEFA Champions League and the new format will still take time to get into full flow.
However, the results of Matchday 2 leave the table wide open, especially with favourites including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich dropping points.
While the Bavarians faced defeat to Aston Villa, Real Madrid’s shock defeat came at Stade Pierre-Mauroy against Lille after a late penalty in the first half gave the hosts enough to set themselves apart.
The result has had disastrous effects for Real Madrid from the standings point of view as the club have dropped to 17th place below the likes of Barcelona, Arsenal, Sparta Praha and AS Monaco.
It is clear that the men in white are far from their best moment but they face serious uphill challenges in the UEFA Champions League in the coming matchdays. After all, their next three opponents in the premier event are all European giants in their own right.
Madrid Universal brings you an overview of Real Madrid’s three upcoming UCL opponents and what to expect in the weeks to come.
Borussia Dortmund (Home)
Two Matchdays into the new season of the UEFA Champions League and Borussia Dortmund sit pretty on top of the league standings.
They began their campaign in Europe with a 3-0 win over Club Brugge before demolishing Celtic by a 7-1 scoreline earlier this week and are on a perfect six points after two games with a goal difference of +9.
Last year’s defeated finalists are on a good run of form domestically as well with three wins and one draw in five games and look to be in good shape ahead of a rematch of last edition’s final.
This time around, the game will be played at the Santiago Bernabeu with Real Madrid given the home advantage. Their in-form forwards Karim Adeyemi and Serhou Guirassy, however, will make it a difficult night for Real Madrid’s defence.
If the men in white are to take three vital points against the German opposition, they must up their game quickly.
AC Milan (Home)
Real Madrid’s upcoming schedule in the Champions League is ruthless, to say the least, for facing three elite oppositions once after the other is easier said than done.
They do, however, continue to have the home advantage after the clash against Borussia Dortmund as they will host AC Milan on Matchday 4 in early November.
The Rossoneri have endured a torrid run in Europe so far, losing both of their games in the competition and thus sit in 32nd place on the standings.
One must not read too deep into their results, however, for their schedule pitted them against high-quality oppositions from the get-go.
They first locked horns against Liverpool and lost 3-1 before losing on match day 2 to the reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.
Milan’s form in Serie A, meanwhile, has been better with three wins in six games and a goal difference of +7.
Pushed against the wall, they will be more motivated than ever to get a win against Real Madrid later this year especially given that they play Club Brugge on Matchday 3 in what may serve as a massive confidence booster.
Liverpool (Away)
After taking on Dortmund and AC Milan, Real Madrid must walk into Anfield to face Liverpool on Matchday 5 in what is truly a gruelling European schedule.
Working against the crowd in one of Europe’s most daunting atmospheres, Los Blancos will not have it easy against the Merseyside club especially given how they are flying on a high at the moment.
Liverpool have won both of their Champions League games so far this season, opening with a 3-1 win over AC Milan and following it up with three points against Bologna.
Facing RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen in the two upcoming Matchdays, moreover, it is not ruled out that they enter the game against Real Madrid with all the momentum on their side.
Conclusion
Early predictions for the UEFA Champions League place a point tally of 17 points to be the minimum required to finish in the top 8, as stated by experts.
Having already dropped three of a maximum possible 24, Real Madrid are only fighting for 21 points. To finish on 17, they can only afford to lose one more game over the six that are to come and will still need wins of all other games to finish in the top 8.
Even a draw at this point is not a very favourable result as they can afford just two draws to make it to 17 points.
While finishing outside the top 8 is not the end of the world, Real Madrid will hope to do so to avoid an extra round in the competition. The three upcoming games, thus, will decide a lot in terms of Real Madrid’s schedule and path ahead.