When could Real Madrid and Barça meet in the Champions League 2025/26? Has there ever been a UCL Clásico?

Real Madrid and Barcelona are both still alive in the Champions League as the tournament moves into its most decisive stages. After the first leg of the round of 16, Álvaro Arbeloa’s side must protect a three-goal cushion in their trip to the Etihad. Barcelona, meanwhile, drew 1-1 in the first leg and will have to win at Camp Nou if it wants to reach the quarterfinals. However, under the current Champions League format, there cannot be a Clásico before a hypothetical final.

The Clásico path to the final

There will be no more draws for the rest of the season. In 2024, UEFA revamped its three European club competitions in response to the growing noise around a Super League. In addition to expanding the field from 32 teams to 36 and replacing the group stage with a league phase, it also changed the draw system. Under the old format, a new draw was held before every round leading up to the final. Now, the round of 16 draw is the last one of the year, and it determines each team’s side of the bracket as well as its possible opponents all the way to the final.

On opposite sides of the bracket

In the draw held on February 27, Barcelona and Real Madrid landed on opposite sides of the bracket, meaning they cannot meet in the upcoming rounds. Hansi Flick’s team was placed on the blue side, alongside Newcastle, Atlético Madrid, Tottenham, Bodø/Glimt, Sporting CP, Bayer Leverkusen and Arsenal.

Madrid, for its part, was drawn into the silver side. That means its possible opponents on the road to the final in Budapest, in addition to Manchester City, are Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Galatasaray, Liverpool, Atalanta and Bayern Munich.

Fifteen years since the last Clásico in Europe

The last time the two giants of Spanish soccer faced each other in Europe’s top club competition was in the 2010-11 season. On that occasion, Barcelona, coached by Pep Guardiola, beat Madrid in the semifinals. In the first leg, Barcelona won 2-0 at the Bernabéu thanks to a Lionel Messi brace, an advantage it held onto in the return leg, which ended 1-1. Barcelona then advanced to the final, where it went on to beat Manchester United at Wembley.

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