Star-Studded Real Madrid Set For Tricky French Test as Marseille Target Major Scalp

European giants Real Madrid are set to welcome French side Marseille to the iconic Estadio Santiago Bernabeu for their Champions League opener on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

The Spanish heavyweights enter into the match in perfect form with five straight wins, while Marseille have been inconsistent with three wins and two losses recently. History favours Madrid, who won both previous meetings in 2009.

This group stage encounter will be officiated by Bosnian referee Irfan Peljto as both teams begin their quest for continental glory. The match represents the first step in what promises to be a challenging Champions League campaign for both clubs, with Real Madrid looking to add to their record haul of European titles.

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The outcome of this opening match will be crucial for both sides to establish momentum in the competition, with three points potentially propelling either team towards the top half of the group standings. A strong start is particularly important in the Champions League format, where every point can prove decisive for qualification to the knockout rounds.

Real Madrid enter this Champions League fixture in exceptional form, having won all five of their recent matches. Los Blancos secured an impressive away victory against Real Sociedad (1:2 on 13.09.2025), following home wins against Mallorca (2:1 on 30.08.2025) and Osasuna (1:0 on 19.08.2025), plus an emphatic away triumph over Real Oviedo (0:3 on 24.08.2025).

They also demolished WSG Swarovski Tirol (0:4 on 12.08.2025) in a friendly. Marseille, meanwhile, have been inconsistent with three wins and two losses in their last five outings. The French side thrashed Lorient (4:0 on 12.09.2025) and Paris FC (5:2 on 23.08.2025), but suffered away defeats to Lyon (1:0 on 31.08.2025) and Rennes (1:0 on 15.08.2025), while also claiming a friendly victory over Aston Villa (3:1 on 09.08.2025).

Real Madrid and Marseille have faced each other twice previously in the Champions League, with both encounters dating back to the 2009/2010 season. The Spanish giants dominated both fixtures, winning 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu in their first meeting on September 30, 2009, during the second round of the group stage.

The return fixture at the Stade Orange Velodrome on December 8, 2009, also ended in Real Madrid's favor with a 3-1 victory in the sixth round. This perfect record against Marseille will give Real Madrid confidence heading into this new encounter, while the French side will be eager to secure their first-ever positive result against the Spanish powerhouse.