'Maldini' reveals who has the tougher group in the Champions League, Madrid or Barça

All the clubs participating in the 25/26 Champions League edition already know their opponents for the league phase. The eight matches that the white team will have to play, as well as those of its competitors from our country, have produced different feelings. Especially because of the comparison in the levels of expected difficulty.

It's no coincidence that Real Madrid appears to be the most disadvantaged team by the draw for this league phase of the current edition of the top continental competition. Most sports commentators from our country agree in pointing out that Xabi Alonso's pupils face a much greater challenge than other Spanish teams.

One of the journalists who shares this opinion is Julio Maldonado. This veteran reporter, an expert in international soccer, stated on COPE that Real Madrid's path in this phase of the Champions League "seems to me the most difficult". Especially because of the matches against teams from the European soccer elite, a succession of top-level and highly demanding encounters.

"The trip to Anfield is tremendous", warns "Maldini." He also doesn't hesitate to point out that "the trip to Benfica is complicated. Madrid is superior, but it's not an easy stadium" as Barça already showed: Flick's pupils almost dropped all three points in Portugal last season.

A challenge up to the task

Aside from the individual teams, which are also a component that adds more complications to the league phase assigned to Real Madrid, Julio Maldonado's opinion is direct. "It's that they play against five former European champions" such as Manchester City, Liverpool, Benfica, Juventus of Turin, Olympique de Marseille.

Regarding this last team, "Maldini" believes that "at home it's much more manageable". The match against the French sports side, which is close to signing Dani Ceballos during the final stretch of the 2025 summer transfer window, can't be compared with Manchester City.

"Monaco, which is one of the teams that seemed you wanted to avoid from the last pot, you also have against you", comments Julio Maldonado. Real Madrid hasn't had all the luck that teams like Atlético de Madrid or Barça have shown, given the comparisons of those league phases. "Then the trip to Almaty, it's extremely far away", the journalist recalls.

It's precisely that long trip that has sparked more debates and discussions among Madridists. "It's a weak team, but it's going to be very difficult. I think Madrid has been unlucky, especially the trip to Anfield and hosting Manchester City", concludes Julio Maldonado.