Real Madrid take on Paris FC as both teams try to get off the mark in the 2026-27 UEFA Women’s Champions League. Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano in Madrid hosts the fourth matchday of the competition with both teams sit in precarious positions in the table. Here is our preview for Real Madrid vs Paris FC.
Real Madrid vs. Paris FC: The Spaniards Can’t Hold On
Las Blancas have had a rocky start to the new season. They sit 9th in the Champions League group phase table, with three places between them and safety. They have played three games in the Champions League, and all three have ended in draws. More precisely, all three games have seen them score first and then give away the three points by full time.
Last round was agonizing, as they had masterminded a 2-0 lead over FC Bayern within just 27 minutes, with goals from Athenea del Castillo and Lineth Beerensteyn. This was a Bayern team that are on 9/9 wins in the league currently, won the previous Frauen-Bundesliga season undefeated, and were last season’s Champions League semifinalists. The German powerhouses definitely showed their caliber to snatch the points away from Real Madrid as they completed their comeback by the 52nd minute.
Previously, Real Madrid had faced Manchester City and PSG in the opening two rounds. It was the same story. Linda Caicedo had put the visitors ahead vs. City in the previous round, only for their opponents to score an equalizer at the exact same minute that Momoko Tanikawa would score for Bayern in the next round.
The same pattern took place when Real Madrid last hosted another team from Paris, when PSG visited and also played out a 1-1 draw after Real Madrid had gone up 1-0 in the 2nd minute. Pau Quesada must be scratching his head trying to hold on to leads that his team amazingly seems to throw away every single game.
Paris FC Seek Revenge
In a rematch of last season’s knockout playoff tie, Paris FC will be seeking to avenge their 5-2 aggregate loss to Real Madrid that ended their European dreams the previous season.
Paris FC had dragged themselves to the knockout playoffs last season after finishing 10th in the league phase, where they also drew 1-1 on Matchday 3.against Madrid. However, Las Blancas won both ties against Les Parisiennes, across fixtures that had a red card and an own goal conceded by the French side. Madrid didn’t have too much trouble dispatching them that time, but now, with both clubs yet to take a win, the tie can swing either way.
So far, Paris FC sits 14th in the table, two places away from qualification for the knockout playoffs. Their campaign started off disastrously with a 5-2 defeat to Spanish opponents FC Barcelona, who are four-time and current winners of this competition. Putting that loss behind them, they came back from 2-0 down against Arsenal to tie the game and get their first points of the season. Still chasing their first win, Paris FC thought they had all 3 points against Swedish side BK Häcken before Anna Anvegård scored in the 94th minute to salvage a draw. Very similar patterns among both sides.
Real Madrid vs. Paris FC: The Build-Up
Paris FC enter this fixture five games unbeaten, with their last defeat coming against Barcelona in the campaign opener. Their only other loss this season has been to Lyonnes, a 7-1 defeat to the current Première Ligue leaders. Paris FC have actually beaten Real Madrid in the sides’ very first fixture back in 2023, and that fixture was at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano as well. Coming off the back of a 5-0 victory against Montpellier on the weekend, preceded by a tight 1-1 draw against PSG, I’d say Sandrine Soubeyrand’s girls will fancy their odds of repeating the result from 2023.
Real Madrid haven’t been doing too badly either, sitting 2nd in Liga F behind FC Barcelona. The Madrid club also enter this fixture five games unbeaten, but their last loss was a demoralizing 7-0 El Clasico defeat at the start of October. The same opponents beat Paris FC with two goals fewer (5-2) just a month and a half ago as well.
Aside from that, Madrid have scored three goals in each of their last three wins, and the two draws in that run have been the aforementioned slip-ups, most recently against Athletic Club on the weekend, where they once again conceded a 90+ minute equalizer. The landscape of Madrid’s domestic and European campaigns would have looked vastly different if only the team had been able to see games out. Unfortunately, that concern still remains, so don’t get too excited if you see Madrid draw first blood against Paris FC.
Team News and Predictions
Linda Caicedo is most likely out injured for this fixture, as she went off in the 64th minute against Athletic Club. This is how the lineup is expected to look for Real Madrid:
M. Frohms;
S. Cristóbal, M. Lakrar, M. Méndez, E. Navarro;
E. Senß, F. Angeldahl, A. Caruso;
A. del Castillo, L. Beerensteyn, S. Bruun
As for Paris FC, Clara Mateo picked up a red card in the previous round, so she will be unavailable for selection.
K. Seweryn;
M. N’Dongala, T. Gréboval, C. Ould Hocine, K. Roche-Dufour;
K. Korošec, A. Le Moguédec, M. Mendy;
M. Toloba, K. Torres, E. Viens
Prediction: A 1-1 draw.
Abhik Deb is an accomplished sports journalist and content creator, renowned for his innovative approach to digital storytelling within the football world. With a Master’s degree in Sports Journalism and Communications from Universidad Europea de Madrid, Abhik brings a sophisticated understanding of both traditional journalistic tenets and contemporary digital media strategies to his work. His professional journey includes a significant tenure as a multimedia journalist at Real Madrid C.F., where his contributions spanned video editing, scriptwriting, and on-camera presenting. Notably, Abhik made history as the first Indian to record a live stand-up from the hallowed Santiago Bernabéu pitch for Real Madrid TV, underscoring his pioneering spirit and influential presence. A specialist in La Liga and Spanish football, Abhik excels at captivating audiences through viral football content and insightful documentary-style videos. His natural ability to blend rigorous journalism with creative digital storytelling is evident in his independent fan channel, ‘LaLigaVic,’ where he cultivates a growing audience through engaging, original coverage of Spanish football culture. Abhik’s proficiency extends to social media strategy and audience engagement, crucial skills in today’s digital landscape. You can explore more of Abhik’s work on Hooligan Soccer and Muckrack. Connect with Abhik on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube to follow his continuous dedication to delivering high-quality, authoritative sports content.
