The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League Opening Match between Real Madrid vs Marseille will be scheduled on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 20:00 CEST at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. After winning the 14th September La Liga match over Real Sociedad by 2-1, Real Madrid will be looking for its first victory in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League.
Real Madrid welcome Marseille to Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, in their opening match of the league phase. It’s a monumental moment for Real Madrid — the 15-time European champions are launching their quest for a 16th Champions League title under new manager Xabi Alonso. Marseille, meanwhile, are returning to the Champions League for the first time since the 2022-23 season and is seeking its first-ever victory against Los Blancos.
Real Madrid have started their La Liga season with a perfect record, winning all four matches, including a recent 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad. Marseille have had a mixed start to their Ligue 1 campaign with 2 wins and 2 losses, but will travel to Spain in high spirits after cruising to a 4-0 victory over Lorient on Friday. The absence of key players like Endrick, Jude Bellingham, and Eduardo Camavinga through injury could test Real Madrid’s squad depth.[3][4]
2025 UEFA Champions League opening match: Real Madrid vs Marseille
Table of Contents
| Date | Teams | Predicted Score | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 16, 2025 20:00 CEST | Real Madrid vs Marseille | 3-1 | Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, capacity- 83,186 |
Real Madrid vs Marseille 2025-26 UEFA Champions League Starting XI
- Real Madrid Possible Starting XI Prediction (4-3-3):
- GK: Thibaut Courtois
- Defenders: Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, Antonio Rüdiger, Fran García
- Midfield: Federico Valverde, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Arda Güler
- Attackers: Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior
- Marseille Possible Starting XI Prediction (4-2-3-1):
- GK: Gerónimo Rulli
- Defenders: Michael Murillo, Leonardo Balerdi, Nayef Aguerd, Ulisses Garcia
- Midfield: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Angel Gomes
- Attacking Mid/Forwards: Mason Greenwood, Timothy Weah, Igor Paixão
- Striker: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Real Madrid vs Marseille UCL Match Information
Key Players to Watch:
- For Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe makes his Champions League debut for Los Blancos and will be the main goal threat. Vinícius Júnior brings pace and creativity from the left wing, while Federico Valverde provides energy and control in midfield.
- For Marseille, Mason Greenwood has started the season brilliantly with 2 goals and 3 assists in 4 matches. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leads the line with experience, while Pierre-Emile Højbjerg anchors the midfield with defensive stability.
Match Prediction
Real Madrid’s perfect home record on Champions League Matchday 1 and their dominant head-to-head record against Marseille makes them strong favorites. Despite missing some key players, the attacking trio of Mbappé, Vinícius, and Rodrygo should provide enough firepower. Marseille will look to exploit any early nerves, but Real Madrid’s experience and quality should shine through for a 3-1 victory at the Bernabéu.
- Match Score: Real Madrid 3–1 Marseille
Head-to-Head & Tactical Analysis
Real Madrid have a perfect record against Marseille, having won all 4 previous meetings between the clubs. These encounters took place in the Champions League group stages during 2003-04 (4-2 home, 2-1 away) and 2009-10 (3-0 home, 3-1 away) seasons. Real Madrid have scored 12 goals while conceding just 4 across these fixtures.
Historically, Real Madrid have an excellent record against French teams at home, losing only 1 of their 17 matches (W12 D4). Marseille struggle against Spanish opposition away from home, winning only 1 of their 8 away games against Spanish teams.
| Team | Matches Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Total Goals Scored | Total Goals Conceded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 |
| Marseille | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 12 |
Tactical Insights
- Real Madrid’s Matchday 1 record: Los Blancos have won 16 of their last 18 Champions League opening matches, showcasing their ability to start campaigns strongly.
- Marseille’s Matchday 1 struggles: OM have lost 6 of their last 7 Champions League opening fixtures, indicating difficulties with tournament starts.
Last 5 Match Performance
| Team | Form (Last 5 Games) | Wins | Draws | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | W-W-W-W-W | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Marseille | W-L-L-W-L | 2 | 0 | 3 |
How to watch the Real Madrid vs Marseille Champions League match, and Live Score?
The 2025-26 UEFA Champions League Real Madrid vs Marseille will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 HD, with streaming available on discovery+ and the TNT Sports app.
Fans around the world can follow the action through official broadcasters in their respective regions. You can follow the match coverage on the official site of UEFA or TNT Sports.
The kick-off is set for 16 September 2025. In the UK, it will be around 8:00 pm BST, and in Spain, about 9:00 pm CEST. For viewers in the US, this typically translates to 3:00 pm ET and 12:00 pm PT. In India, the match will kick off at 12:30 am IST on Wednesday, September 17.
| Country | TV Channel | Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| USA | CBS Sports | Paramount+, CBS Sports App |
| Canada | — | DAZN |
| UK | TNT Sports 1 | discovery+, TNT Sports App |
| Australia | — | Stan Sport |
| India | Sony TEN 2 | Sony LIV, JioTV |
