Real Madrid will kick-start their 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign with a home game against Marseille on Tuesday.

Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid will begin their quest for a 16th UEFA Champions League title against French giants Marseille at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night. While the home side will aim to build on their impressive start to the season, the visitors will be hoping to cause an upset.

Los Blancos could only make it to the quarter-finals last season, as they were knocked out by Arsenal, and will certainly be aiming for a much deeper run this time around after revamping their squad and appointing Xabi Alonso as their new manager.

They have had an impressive start to the league campaign, winning all four of their games so far. The team in white will be looking to make it five wins in a row when they host Marseille.

Meanwhile, the visitors are back playing UCL football for the first time since 2022-23. They secured a second-place finish in the league last time out to secure a spot in the league phase of the competition. While they will be glad to be back in the mix, the French club will certainly be eyeing a spot in the knockouts.

Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille were quite impressive last season. However, they have had a mixed start to the new season, having won two and lost two of their first four outings. But they are heading into this fixture on the back of a 4-0 win over FC Lorient and will certainly be confident about their chances. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.

Team News & Tactics

Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso has greeted a positive update as Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga are back and included in the matchday squad. However, Los Blancos remain without the services of Ferland Mendy and Endrick. Antonio Rudiger has joined them on the sidelines because of a muscle injury.

Xabi Alonso has been constantly chopping and changing things up, which is expected to be the case in this fixture as well. Federico Valverde, Franco Mastantuono, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who did not start their last outing, should all be back in the XI.

Against Marseille, Real Madrid will line up in the 4-3-3 formation, where Thibaut Courtois will be in goal. Alexander-Arnold will replace Dani Carvajal at right back, while Alvaro Carreras should continue on the left. Dean Huijsen, who was sent off in their last outing, will pair up with Eder Militao at the heart of the defence.

In the centre of the park, Aurelien Tchouameni will feature as the holding midfielder, while Valverde and Arda Guler will be in his support. The trio will look to control the tempo and ensure they dominate the proceedings. Finally, Mastantuono should feature on the right, while Vinicius will take charge on the left and star striker Kylian Mbappe will lead the line for Real Madrid against Marseille.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouameni, Guler; Mastantuono, Mbappe, Vinicius

Marseille

Ruben Blanco and Pol Lirola were both left out of Roberto De Zerbi’s Champions League squad. Meanwhile, Amine Gouiri is a major doubt after a head injury last time out.

CJ Egan-Riley is back available after serving a suspension, but he might not start here. Meanwhile, Geronimo Rulli and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should both be back in the starting XI for this fixture.

The visitors will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Rulli will be in goal. Michael Amir Murillo and Facundo Medina will be the full-backs, while Benjamin Pavard will start alongside Nayef Aguerd in the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, Angel Gomes and Geoffrey Kondogbia will form the double pivot in the middle of the park. The duo will look to shield the backline and ensure Madrid midfielders do not dominate the proceedings.

Mason Greenwood and Timothy Weah will provide width to their attacks, while Bilal Nadir will take up the number ten role. Former Arsenal skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should be the one leading the line.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Rulli; Murillo, Pavard, Aguerd, Medina; Gomes, Kondogbia; Greenwood, Nadir, Weah; Aubameyang

Key Stats

• The two teams have faced each other four times in the UEFA Champions League, and Real Madrid have come out on top every time.
• The last time Marseille visited the Bernabeu, they lost 3-0 back in the 2009/10 season.
• Los Blancos are heading into this fixture on the back of four straight wins in La Liga.
• The team in white could only manage an 11th-place finish in the Champions League league phase last time out, and they will certainly be eager to do better.
• Meanwhile, Marseille are back playing Champions League football for the first time since 2022/23.

Player to Watch

Arda Guler

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While all the limelight has been on Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, Arda Guler has been quietly going about his business. He featured as a midfielder on occasion for Carlo Ancelotti last season; however, the Turk has become a regular in the centre of the park this season, and he has done wonders for Xabi Alonso’s team.

The 20-year-old Turkish international has not only helped Real Madrid control the game from midfield but has also contributed in the final third, registering two goals and an assist in four league outings. Guler will certainly play a key role in the game against Marseille, and he could well be the difference between the two teams.

Prediction

Real Madrid 3-1 Olympique Marseille

Los Blancos will be aiming to make a strong statement in their 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign when they welcome Marseille to the Santiago Bernabeu. Xabi Alonso’s charges have been in excellent form domestically, racking up four consecutive wins; they will look to carry that momentum into Europe.

Marseille, despite coming off a strong 4-0 win over Lorient, will struggle to handle the firepower and tactical discipline of Real Madrid. Roberto De Zerbi’s side will look to stay compact and hit on the counter, leaning on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s experience and the pace of Mason Greenwood and Timothy Weah.

However, the lack of cohesion in the away side’s defence and midfield could leave them exposed to Real Madrid’s quick passing and intense pressing. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Xabi Alonso and his charges.