Real Madrid have won only two of four previous meetings with RB Leipzig, with the Bundesliga side earning a 1-1 draw the last time they visited the Bernabéu, albeit they went out 2-1 on aggregate.
Ahead of this Champions League clash from the Spanish capital, check out our preview, predictions, team news and TV guide.
Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig match info
- Date: Wednesday 21 September 2026.
- Kick off times: 9pm (local) and 3pm (ET)
- Competition: UEFA Champions League league phase matchday 3
- Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu - Madrid
- How to watch: Paramount+ (USA), Movistar+ (Spain) and TNT Sports (UK).
How can I watch Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig?
Country | Broadcaster(s) |
|---|---|
Spain | Movistar Liga de Campeones |
United States | Paramount+ |
UK & Ireland | TNT Sports 4 and HBO Max |
Australia | Stan Sport |
Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Portugal and Austria | DAZN |
Arab world | beIN Sports |
Africa | SuperSport MáXimo 3 |
South America | ESPN2 |
Central America | Disney+ Premium |
France | Canal+ Live 3 |
Nordic nations | Viaplay |
Italy | Sky Sport 254 |
Netherlands | Ziggo Sport 3 |
Mexico | Max |
Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig match preview
Are Real Madrid starting to build momentum at a crucial period of the season? On Sunday night, José Mourinho's team put in their most complete performance since he returned to the club, demolishing Sevilla 4-1 at the Bernabéu. Arda Güler broke the deadlock and Kylian Mbappé scored twice, before Yan Diomandé made the points secure.
This means los Blancos remain six points adrift La Liga leaders Barcelona, who are yet to drop a single point. The pair go head-to-head in the Clásico at Camp Nou on Sunday which, while not must win for Real Madrid, is surely must not lose.
Before then, can los Merengues maintain their perfect start in the Champions League? A week ago, they looked down and out at Stadio Olimpico, 3-1 behind against Roma with just eight minutes to play. However, in an astonishing spree, Carlos Espí, Endrick and Antonio Rüdiger all scored from corners to snatch the points. A Real Madrid Champions League comeback; as eternal as the city in which it occurred. So now, will they win again?
As for RB Leipzig, they will arrive in the Spanish capital needing to bounce back from an embarrassing defeat. On Saturday evening, die Roten Bullen were demolished 6-1 by Bayern Munich, their second-heaviest Bundesliga loss of all-time, with Andrija Maksimović's goal in stoppage time at Allianz Arena scant consolation.
This means, under Martín Demichelis, they have now won all three home Bundesliga games, scoring 14 times and conceding none at all. On the road however, RB Leipzig have lost all three, shipping 11 and scoring only twice, making it tough to know quite how strong they are.
That trend has continued in the Champions League too. Die Roten Bullen were annihilated 4-1 by Como at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on opening night. However, a week ago, Brajan Gruda's long-range curler was enough to defeat PSV Eindhoven in Saxony, albeit only after Maarten Vandevoordt had saved a first half penalty, denying Ivan Perišić.
Nevertheless, Leipzig have now lost each of their last five Champions League away games, a sequence that seems likely to continue at the Bernabéu.
Real Madrid team news
Considering he is in the midst of a four match domestic ban, it is safe to assume that Vinícius Júnior will start here, even if one could certainly argue that Real Madrid play better without him. Elsewhere, bizarrely, Fede Valverde started at right-back against Sevilla, leaving both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Denzel Dumfries in reserve, with the Dutchman set to return here.
In a boost, Éder Militão came off the bench at the weekend, his first action since 21 April due to a hamstring injury. If José Mourinho rotates ahead of the Clásico, Antonio Rüdiger, Álvaro Carreras, Eduardo Camavinga, Bernardo Silva and Brahim Díaz are among those hoping to come in.
RB Leipzig team news
Martín Demichelis is without Assan Ouédraogo, Christoph Baumgartner and Marc Guiu due to injury, but does have quality at his disposal. Christopher Nkunku scored a hat-trick the weekend before last against Eintracht Frankfurt, but Antonio Nusa is the danger man, having netted four times this season so far.
Predicted Line-ups
- Real Madrid predicted lineup: Courtois; Dumfries, Konaté, Rüdiger, Carreras; Valverde, Silva, Bellingham; Güler, Vinícius, Mbappé.
- RB Leipzig predicted lineup: Vandevoordt; Baku, Orbán, Lukeba, Raum; El Aynaoui, Reitz, Banzuzi; Gruda, Nkunku, Nusa.
- Score prediction: Real Madrid 2-0 RB Leipzig.
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