UEFA don set new rule wey go prevent Liverpool from hosting Real Madrid for Champions League league phase again this season. The draw wey go decide all the matchups for 2026-27 season dey come Thursday, but one particular chance wey many people dey expect no go happen: Liverpool vs Real for Anfield.
According to paragraph 16.03 of last season Champions League regulations, any fixture between two teams wey don happen with same home team for two consecutive seasons no fit repeat with same home team for third time. Since Liverpool don host Real for Anfield for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, dem no fit face each other again with Liverpool as home team.
For those two matches, Liverpool win both. Two seasons ago, second-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo give dem 2-0 victory. Last season, Mac Allister score the only goal with header for 61st minute, after Dominik Szoboszlai deliver free-kick. So na wetin make this new rule dey bite.
The same thing dey affect Inter Milan and Arsenal. Inter don host Arsenal for league phase for the last two seasons. First season, Inter win 1-0. But last season, Arsenal return the favour with 3-1 win for San Siro, as dem dey go on to reach first Champions League final for 20 years.
But the rule no mean say Liverpool and Real no fit play at all. E only prevent the same home team for three straight years. So Real fit host Liverpool for Bernabeu, and Arsenal fit host Inter for Emirates. The draw go still fit put dem together, just with the home team reversed.
All four clubs – Liverpool, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Arsenal – dey pot one for the draw. That means dem dey among the nine best-rated clubs for this season competition. The new rule na from UEFA Club Competitions Committee, and e go apply from this season onwards.
As the draw dey approach, fans go dey wait to see which teams go meet. But one thing don clear: for league phase, Anfield no go see Real Madrid this time unless something else change. The rule dey there to make sure say we no dey see same match, same venue, over and over again.
