Real Madrid hosts a battered Leipzig in the Champions League with Mbappe and Bellingham in scoring form

A perfect record so far and a rival limping in: that's the backdrop for Wednesday's Real Madrid vs. Leipzig matchup, one of those games that look comfortable on paper but shouldn't be taken for granted. It kicks off at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Wednesday, October 21, for matchday three of the 2026-2027 UEFA Champions League league phase, with the ball rolling at 4:00 p.m. (Argentina/Chile/Uruguay) and 2:00 p.m. (Colombia/Peru/Ecuador). The broadcast will air on Disney+ Premium Plan, exclusive to South America.

Madrid has been showing an attacking side that's a pleasure to watch, and that's exactly the argument that makes it a strong bet to keep picking up three points in Europe. Playing at home always helps, but what matters most here is the level across the field: Leipzig arrives on shaky form, far from the version you'd expect from a squad with that kind of talent.

How both teams arrive

The Merengues are coming off quite a show: they beat Roma 4-3 in their last Champions League outing, a result that makes clear the team can score goals but also that there are still cracks in the back. In LaLiga, though, they looked rock solid with a 4-1 win over Sevilla. Leipzig, for its part, has had a more mixed run in Europe: they beat PSV 1-0 in their previous match, but in the Bundesliga they suffered a painful blowout, falling 6-1 to Bayern Munich. That blow to morale is exactly what they'll be looking to leave behind at the Bernabeu.

Names to watch

At Madrid, there are two storylines worth following. One is tactical: injuries forced some reshuffling, and Uruguayan Fede Valverde ended up filling in at right back. It remains to be seen whether Jose Mourinho sticks with that setup or makes a change. The other storyline is straight-up about goals: up front, Kylian Mbappe is in lethal form, paired with Jude Bellingham, a duo that any defense has to respect. On Leipzig's side, the danger comes from Christopher Nkunku, Antonio Nusa and Brajan Gruda, three players capable of tipping the balance if the German side finds room to break forward quickly.

The most recent meeting

The last time these two faced off was a while back, also at the Bernabeu: it was March 6, 2024, in the second leg of the Round of 16 of the 2023/2024 Champions League. That match ended 1-1, with a goal from Vinicius Junior for the home side and one from Willi Orban for the visitors. Given how both teams arrive now, a similar deadlock at some point in the match wouldn't be far fetched, though Madrid will be going all out for the three points to keep its perfect unbeaten run in this league phase alive.