The UEFA Champions League draw took place on August 29, and Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe already know their opponents for the team league phase. And the draw set up a sibling showdown, as the Spanish team will face Ethan Mbappe’s Lille.
Both brothers played together in Paris Saint Germain, after the two of them were signed by the French club in 2017. Ethan started playing for the under-12 team, before climbing his way into the senior side, making his debut in 2022.
However, same as Kylian, he left the club this summer to join Lille as a free-agent, signing his first professional contract. “At my age, staying in France was the best option to grow. I think Lille was the best project. It’s one of the best clubs in France,” he wrote after announcing the move. And, now, the brothers will face each other in the biggest European tournament.
Real Madrid’s opponents: Which other teams will they face?
Carlo Ancelotti’s side will be defending the title that they won earlier in 2024 against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. And the draw has fixed some interesting showdowns against strong rivals such as Dortmund, Liverpool and AC Milan.
At home, Madrid will face Dortmund, AC Milan, Salzburg and Stuttgart. Meanwhile, they will play as visitors against Liverpool, Atalanta, Lille and Brest. The exact dates will be announced on Saturday (August, 31).
With the new Champions League format, teams who finish in the top eight will qualify automatically for the last 16, while those who place ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout play-off for the chance to join them.
Whoever finishes 25th or lower will be eliminated and will not be entered into the Europa League. Then, the rest of the format will follow its usual format with the final taking place at a neutral venue. This year, the final will be celebrated in Munich.