90min

Who could Real Madrid face in the 2022/23 Champions League knockout stages?

By James Cormack

Real are defending their UCL title
Real are defending their UCL title / Anadolu Agency/GettyImages
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Real Madrid's journey to Champions League glory in 2022 was nothing short of miraculous.

Not only were the teams they beat of the highest quality, but the manner of the two-legged triumphs in each of their knockout ties were astounding - and even more impossible than the last.

First arrived Karim Benzema's 17-minute blitz of Paris Saint-Germain, then came the extra-time triumph over holders Chelsea. Carlo Ancelotti's side were dead and buried in the semi-final against Manchester City before Rodrygo's late late show facilitated an inevitable victory in the extra 30 minutes.

A forgettable final was won by the ever-maturing Vinicius Junior as Real claimed a 1-0 win over Liverpool in Paris.

The holders and 14-time winners of the Champions League are among the favourites to go all the way in 2022/23, and they've already booked their place in the round of 16 with one group stage game remaining.

Here's who they could face in the first knockout round.

Real Madrid 2022/23 Champions League so far

The holders ended up winning Group F with one game remaining to secure their place in the round of 16. However, they were pushed all the way by Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig.

Real started the defence of their crown with three wins from three. They superbly mitigated a hostile Celtic Park on Matchday 1 in a 3-0 victory before a 2-0 triumph over RB Leipzig ensued at the Bernabeu.

Shakhtar Donetsk gave them a scare on Matchday 3 in a 2-1 win before a last-gasp Antonio Rudiger header rescued a point for Ancelotti's men in the reverse fixture. Remarkably, only two players (Rodrygo and Vinicius) have scored more than one goal in the group stage thus far.

After claiming one point from their last two outings, Real finished the group stage with a thumping 5-1 victory over Celtic to top the group.

Real Madrid 2022/23 Champions League last 16 potential opponents

Real Madrid's final-day victory over Leipzig ensured they would play against a runner up in the first knockout round.

Los Blancos could take European giants like Liverpool, Inter, AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund or PSG - the last entry being the cat among the pigeons after Benfica sensationally overturned a goal-difference deficit to send PSG through in second.

Real have beaten Liverpool twice in UCL finals in recent years, while they also met Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt in the Super Cup which they won 2-0.

Carlo Ancelotti would probably take a tie with Belgian side Club Brugge, even if they defied the odds to keep five clean sheets in six games.

  • Liverpool
  • Club Brugge
  • Inter
  • Eintracht Frankfurt
  • Milan
  • Borussia Dortmund
  • Paris Saint-Germain
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