How can Real Madrid reach the Champions League final? Route to Wembley examined
Record European champions Real Madrid are aiming to clinch title number 15 in this season's UEFA Champions League.
However, with current holders Manchester City in dazzling form and the likes of Arsenal and Inter sniffing around, reclaiming their crown will be far from straightforward.
Real Madrid have often done it the hard way in the Champions League - most notably beating Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool en route to the trophy in 2021/22 - but they will be hopeful of a less challenging passage to the final this season.
Here is how Real Madrid can book their ticket at Wembley come the end of the campaign.
Real Madrid's 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage performance
Only two teams won all six of their group stage matches: Man City and Real Madrid.
Carlo Ancelotti's men eased into the knockout phase of the competition, breezing through a group that contained Serie A champions Napoli, Portuguese outfit Braga and Champions League debutants Union Berlin.
It wasn't always as simple as it seemed - Jude Bellingham's 94th-minute winner gifted Real three points in their opener with Union Berlin and the Englishman shone again in a 3-2 thriller with Napoli on matchday two. But the European giants quickly found their feet, completing a routine double over Braga to secure qualification.
Real finished the group stage off with late victories over Napoli and Union Berlin to claim maximum points.
Real Madrid's group stage results
Date & kick-off time (GMT) | Fixture |
|---|---|
20/09/2023 - 17:45 | Real Madrid 1-0 Union Berlin |
03/10/2023 - 20:00 | Napoli 2-3 Real Madrid |
24/10/2023 - 20:00 | Braga 1-2 Real Madrid |
08/11/2023 - 20:00 | Real Madrid 3-0 Braga |
29/11/2023 - 20:00 | Real Madrid 4-2 Napoli |
12/12/2023 - 20:00 | Union Berlin 2-3 Real Madrid |
Real Madrid group stage standings
Pos. | Team | Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Real Madrid | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | +9 | 18 |
2. | Napoli | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | +1 | 10 |
3. | Braga | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -6 | 4 |
4. | Union Berlin | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | -4 | 2 |
Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League scorers
Player | Goals |
|---|---|
Jude Bellingham | 4 |
Joselu | 3 |
Rodrygo | 3 |
Brahim Diaz | 2 |
Vinicius Junior | 2 |
Dani Ceballos | 1 |
Nico Paz | 1 |
2023/24 UEFA Champions League last 16
Real Madrid have already played their first Game of the Champions League knockout phase, beating RB Leipzig 1-0 on the road in their last 16 first leg. A Brahim Diaz strike proved enough for an important away victory, with the German side unlikely to be relishing a trip to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real have lost to Leipzig before - a 3-2 defeat at the Red Bull Arena in 2022 - but their superior quality and knockout experience should see them through to the quarter-final.
Last 16
Date / kick-off time (GMT) | Fixture |
|---|---|
13/02/2024 - 20:00 | RB Leipzig 0-1 Real Madrid |
06/03/2024 - 20:00 | Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig |
2023/24 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals
With one foot already in the quarter-final, Real Madrid will be expecting to book their place in the final eight. If they do so, they will be at the mercy of the draw, with the quarter-final first leg played on 6/7 April and the second leg on 16/17 April.
Real Madrid have only failed to reach the last eight on two occasions in the past decade, beaten by Ajax and Man City in the last 16 in 2018/19 and 2019/20 respectively.
2023/24 UEFA Champions League semi-finals
When Real make it to the quarter-final of the Champions League, they usually progress to the semis. In fact, not since the 2003/04 season have they been knocked out in the last eight.
However, Real have lost two of their last three semi-finals, including against eventual champions Man City last term. That tie involved a humiliating 4-0 defeat at the Etihad and the Spanish giants will want to avoid Pep Guardiola's side if possible.
This year, the semi-final first leg will commence on 30 April/1 May, while the second legs will take place on 7/8 May.
2023/24 UEFA Champions League final
This season's Champions League final will be hosted by Wembley on 1 June, with the venue last staging the showpiece event during the 2012/13 campaign.
Wembley has been the setting for seven previous continental showpieces but Real Madrid have never played a Champions League or European Cup final at the London arena before.
The La Liga side have plenty of history in Champions League finals, of course, most recently winning the competition against Liverpool during the 2021/22 season.
2023/24 UEFA Champions League round dates
Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
Group stage | 19 September - 13 December 2023 |
Last 16 | 13 February - 13 March 2024 |
Quarter-finals | 9-17 April 2024 |
Semi-finals | 30 April - 8 May 2024 |
Final | 1 June 2024 |
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