Liverpool-Real at Anfield barred in 2026/27 as UEFA moves to prevent triple repeat league phase fixtures | OneFootball

UEFA have introduced a rule that will prevent repeat fixtures in the Champions League's league phase.

The rule change will be introduced for the 2026/27 season, ahead of Thursday's draw. The draw for the competition's league phase takes place at 5pm BST tomorrow.

Under the new rules, the same fixture can not be repeated in three consecutive league phase campaigns. Europe's governing body have released a statement to explain the change.

"The UEFA Club Competitions Committee has determined an additional condition that may be applicable to the UEFA Champions League draw for the 2026/27 season, deciding that any individual fixture between the same two teams may not be repeated in the same competition with the same home team for three consecutive seasons," thestatement said.

"This means that if any teams that already played against each other in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League in the 2024/25 season are again drawn against each other, with the same home team, in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League in this 2025/26 season, those teams will not be able to be drawn against each other with the same home team in the 2026/27 season."

For example, the change meansLiverpool can not face Real Madrid at Anfield in the 2026/27 league phase.

The Reds have hosted the Spanish side in 2024/25 and 2025/26 in theChampions League league phase, securing wins in both fixtures. Liverpool could still face Real Madrid in this season's league phase, though only at the Bernabeu. the rule does not apply to knockout round games.

When is the Champions League league phase draw?

The 2026/27 Champions League league phase draw will be held from 5pm BST on Thursday 27 August. The Europa League and Conference League league phase draws take place from 12pm BST on Friday 28 August.