This team from the Champions League group will trouble Real Madrid the most

Real Madrid is wasting no time celebrating a 14th Champions League triumph. As the draw for the season’s competition was going on in Istanbul, the players were back at the Ciudad de Real Madrid preparing for the group stages.

The title-holders will face RB Leipzig of Germany, Ukrainian powerhouse FC Shakhtar Donetsk, for the third year in a row, and the 1966/1967 European Cup winners, Celtic FC of Scotland. A group that many believe is one of the easiest in recent years.

Real Madrid received a pretty favorable draw

Real Madrid lucked out by avoiding Liverpool and Chelsea. Considering how the tie went with Chelsea in the semifinal and how close the final with Liverpool was, these were by far the two best teams in the pot.

With Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, and FC Barcelona all unable to draw with their Spanish counterpart, Madridistas should be feeling good about the thought of facing the DFB-Pokal winners, Leipzig, in the group stage.

RB Leipzig could trouble Real Madrid

Sorry Shakhtar and Celtic, but the toughest competition in Group F are the Germans of Leipzig. Especially after the return of striker Timo Werner, Leipzig has the squad, coach, and confidence needed to give Real a run for their money.

I do expect Real Madrid to qualify for the knockout stage without much issue, but the game that could decide who finishes top of the group will likely be the one in Eastern Germany.

Leipzig is led by second-year manager Domenico Tedesco. The Italian led the team to an 18-9-7 record in his first year back in Germany after coaching Spartak Moscow for 54 matches between October 2019 and March 2021.

Though Leipzig has gotten off to a surprisingly slow start this month (two draws and a loss), Tedesco did lead the club to its first German cup in the spring after they finished runners-up twice before.

It’s the forward line of RB Leipzig that worries me the most.

Real Madrid has a clear personnel advantage with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, on defense, and in the midfield. Los Blancos also boast a stunning bench, and of course, the UEFA manager and player of the year in Carlo Ancelotti and Karim Benzema.

However, Christopher Nukunku pairing up with Timo Werner could spell trouble for the at times leaky Real back four.

Throw in the threat of Emil Forsberg and Spaniard Daniel Olmo through the middle and this Leipzig team could surprise Real Madrid if they are not careful. It’s no mystery that Real Madrid has started the last two group stage campaigns poorly, and even suffered a shock defeat in the Santiago Bernabeu against Sherriff Tiraspol.

The group stage begins September 6th!