Can Real Madrid defend their Champions League title in 2023?

Real Madrid remain on course for a positive second half to the 2022/23 season as domestic action returns at the end of December.

Los Blancos headed into the 2022 World Cup break in second place in La Liga, with a spot in the Champions League last 16 already assured, alongside the Copa del Rey and Spanish Supercopa.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side are on course for an unprecedented quadruple and you can bet with great Promo codes on this website for the months ahead.

As it stands, Real Madrid are two points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona, after 14 games played, and they will be confident of launching a solid title defence in 2023.

The short format of the Spanish Supercopa in January could throw up a challenge, and Ancelotti’s side have not won the Copa del Rey since 2014, so the Champions League will be a key focus again.

Real Madrid are the most successful club in the history of the European Cup/Champions League with 14 titles since winning the inaugural competition in 1956.

They battled through to the 2021/22 final in Paris at the back end of last season as Vinicius Junior’s goal sealed a win over Liverpool at the Stade de France.

Ancelotti will be determined to retain the title in 2023, after enjoying an incredible return to Madrid last season, with a first European title since winning it in the Spanish title in 2014.

Top spot in Group F granted Real Madrid a seeded place in the last 16 draw and they face a rerun of the final after being drawn against Jurgen Klopp’s Reds in the first knockout stage.

Both sides have incredible pedigree in the competition, with Liverpool joint-third on the all-time winners list, with six titles, alongside Bayern Munich.

The tie will be the fifth meeting between the two clubs since Klopp’s arrival at Anfield but the Spanish powerhouses have enjoyed a firm edge.

Zinedine Zidane’s side won 3-1 in Kiev, as Gareth Bale scored an incredible goal off the bench, to haul the tie away from Liverpool, following Mo Salah’s controversial early injury.

The duo were paired together in Champions League quarter final stage in 2020/21, and a 3-1 win in Madrid, followed by a goalless draw on Merseyside, saw Zidane’s side progress.

History is on Real Madrid’s side in the drive for the last eight and Ancelotti will be confident of matching Zidane’s historical Champions League defence in 2017 at the end of 2022/23.