There’s no gentle reintroduction to Europe’s biggest stage for Olympique de Marseille. The 1992/93 winners, back in the Champions League group phase for the first time since 2022/23, begin their campaign with the toughest of assignments a trip to the Santiago Bernabéu.
Real Madrid arrive in good spirits, though not without their own scars. Reduced to ten men against Real Sociedad in La Liga at the weekend, Los Blancos still found a way to grind out a 2-1 victory. That resilience is exactly what new boss Xabi Alonso has asked from his team in his pre-match presser as he looks to extend Madrid’s record haul of 15 European Cups.
The Spaniard has hit the ground running since replacing Carlo Ancelotti, guiding his side to four straight league wins, and he has already put his stamp on the team with a more fluid midfield structure and fearless pressing, and Softfootball expects that Real Madrid will have a comfortable victory and even revealed a 3-1 victory in the game’s preview.
For Marseille, the picture is less clear. Roberto De Zerbi’s side cruised past Lorient 4-0 on Friday night, giving them an extra day’s rest, but inconsistency has plagued their early season. Twice in Ligue 1 they’ve followed away defeats with emphatic home wins, a pattern that underlines their struggles on the road. History isn’t on their side either — just one win in their last eleven away games in the Champions League proper (ten defeats) is a statistic that will worry fans making the trip to Spain.
Real Madrid posted a preparatory video ahead of the huge clash via the team’s official X account:
The head-to-head record makes grim reading for the French visitors. Madrid have won all four previous meetings, each time scoring at least twice, and they remain unbeaten at home against French opposition in European Cup/Champions League history (11 wins, 4 draws). The Bernabéu crowd tends to guarantee drama too — both teams have scored in each of Madrid’s last eleven UCL home games.
In terms of personnel, Antonio Rüdiger’s hamstring injury is a major setback for Alonso, who will rely on Nacho and Éder Militão to steady the back line. But Madrid have found new inspiration in Arda Güler, the teenage playmaker whose winner against Sociedad capped a run of three direct goal contributions in as many games. Marseille, meanwhile, may be without Amine Gouiri after a head knock against Lorient, while Angel Gomes has been lively of late but also rash — collecting two yellow cards in his last two outings.
Real Madrid’s official starting XI as revealed via the team’s official X handle:
Marseille’s official starting lineupas revealed via the team’s official X handle:
De Zerbi has yet to win a Champions League game as a manager, and few venues are more daunting for a breakthrough than the Bernabéu. Madrid, chasing their 16th crown, are overwhelming favourites, but Marseille will hope to summon the spirit of their golden era and make life uncomfortable for Alonso’s men.
