Champions League 2025-26 Round-up: Five English Clubs Advance to Round of 16

The Champions League league phase concluded in thrilling style with 18 simultaneous kick-offs, as Barcelona and Sporting CP secured top-eight positions alongside Bayern and five English teams. Meanwhile goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin’s last-gasp header sensationally earned Benfica a place in the knockout phase play-offs on a dramatic final night of league phase action.

Teams Through to Round of 16 and Knockout Phase Play-offs

The UCL league phase produced clear outcomes with eight teams advancing directly to the round of 16, while 16 teams qualified for the knockout phase play-offs. Twelve teams were eliminated from the competition.

Champions League Qualification Breakdown

The knockout phase play-off draw takes place at 12:00 CET on Friday 30 January.

Arsenal Complete Perfect Champions League League Phase

Arsenal recorded their eighth victory to become the first team to finish the UCL league phase with a 100% record. The Gunners flew out the blocks against Kairat Almaty, Viktor Gyökeres charging through and curling in a low finish within three minutes. The visitors responded quickly, Jorginho stroking in a confident penalty four minutes later, but Arsenal had reasserted themselves by half-time.

Kai Havertz cut in from the right to curl in and Gabriel Martinelli finished a fine team move to give Arsenal a 3-1 lead. The home side continued to dominate in the second half but Kairat concluded their campaign on a positive note when Ricardinho headed in with the final touch of the match for a final score of 3-2.

Kai Havertz was named Player of the Match as Arsenal secured their historic 100% Champions League league phase record.

Trubin’s Sensational Header Sends Benfica Through

Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin’s sensational 98th-minute header earned Benfica a place in the knockout phase play-offs in one of the most dramatic finishes in UCL history. The Eagles looked set to miss out despite recovering from 1-0 down to open up a 3-1 lead thanks to two goals from Andreas Schjelderup either side of Vangelis Pavlidis’ penalty against Real Madrid.

Kylian Mbappé’s second of the game—his 13th league phase goal setting a new Champions League record—pushed them out of the top 24 and there they remained until José Mourinho ordered Trubin forward. Against opponents suddenly down to nine men, the Ukrainian delivered the telling blow with a dramatic header in the 98th minute to secure a 4-2 victory.

Andreas Schjelderup was named Player of the Match in the thrilling 4-2 victory that secured Benfica’s place in the UCL knockout phase play-offs.

Five English Clubs Reach Champions League Round of 16

Arsenal’s Perfect Record

Arsenal became the first team in Champions League history to complete the league phase with a 100% record, winning all eight matches. Their 3-2 victory over Kairat Almaty was highlighted by early goals from Viktor Gyökeres, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli.

Liverpool’s Dominant Display

Liverpool secured a comfortable 6-0 win at Anfield against Qarabağ to confirm their place in the Champions League round of 16. The hosts dominated from the outset and opened the scoring through Alexis Mac Allister’s close-range header, doubling their advantage courtesy of Florian Wirtz’s low drive into the bottom corner.

Mohamed Salah made it 3-0 with a sweetly-struck free-kick, before Hugo Ekitiké’s deft finish added a fourth seven minutes later. Mac Allister bundled in before Federico Chiesa completed the scoring in the final minute to secure Liverpool a top-eight finish for the second season running.

Alexis Mac Allister was named Player of the Match for his two-goal performance.

Manchester City’s Comfortable Victory

A first-half masterclass from Jeremy Doku secured Man City a comfortable 2-0 win to finish the UCL league phase and earn a top-eight spot. Doku set up Erling Haaland, who dinked the ball over keeper Uğurcan Çakır in the 11th minute for his 56th Champions League goal, before assisting Rayan Cherki to rifle in a second.

Galatasaray threatened more after the break, with Victor Osimhen a constant danger, though City’s defence held firm. Rayan Cherki was named Player of the Match.

Chelsea Come From Behind

João Pedro scored a fine double as Chelsea came from behind to progress directly to the last 16 and eliminate Napoli. Enzo Fernández slotted in an early penalty to put Chelsea ahead but Antonio Conte’s side rallied to lead at the break. First Antonio Vergara span inside the penalty area to poke in before Rasmus Højlund fired in off a post.

However, the returning Cole Palmer came on as a Chelsea substitute and found João Pedro for a long-range shot, before the pair linked up again for the winner in a 3-2 victory. João Pedro was named Player of the Match.

Tottenham Seal Top-Eight Finish

Tottenham sealed a place in the top eight by winning 2-0 in Frankfurt for the second consecutive season. Both sides hit the woodwork in an even first half, Wilson Odobert striking the post for Spurs before Hugo Larsson clipped the bar for the hosts.

But just moments after half-time Randal Kolo Muani bundled in from close range against his former club to give the visitors the lead, substitute Dominic Solanke racing through to fire emphatically in on 77 minutes to secure the win. Cristian Romero was named Player of the Match.

Other Notable Champions League Results

Barcelona Secure Top-Eight Spot

Barcelona came from behind to secure a top-eight spot thanks to four second-half goals in a 4-1 victory over Copenhagen. Seventeen-year-old Viktor Dadason put Copenhagen ahead in the fourth minute, running onto a pass from Mohamed Elyounoussi to slot in.

Barcelona pushed for an equaliser and broke through early in the second half, when a superb long ball from Dani Olmo found Lamine Yamal to set up Robert Lewandowski to level. Yamal scored a goal of his own on the hour through a deflected strike that looped in, and Raphinha extended the hosts’ advantage from the penalty spot before Marcus Rashford’s late free-kick wrapped up the victory.

Lamine Yamal was named Player of the Match in the UCL encounter.

Sporting CP’s Dramatic Winner

Sporting secured a top-eight finish following Alisson Santos’ dramatic winner in Bilbao against Athletic Club. The visitors twice pegged back their opponents at San Mamés, where Ousmane Diomande and Francisco Trincão cancelled out efforts from Oihan Sancet and Gorka Guruzeta respectively.

Then, in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Santos drilled a last-gasp winner beyond Unai Simón, who had kept out Luis Suárez’s initial attempt, for a 3-2 victory. Francisco Trincão was named Player of the Match.

Bayern München’s Late Winner

An 84th-minute winner from Harry Kane, his eighth goal in the Champions League this season, was enough to secure a 2-1 win against a spirited PSV in Eindhoven. The England captain came off the bench to strike the winner with a trademark clinical finish six minutes from time.

PSV had enjoyed a strong first half and looked very dangerous going forward, before Bayern came to life in the second with Jamel Musiala finishing off a beautiful counterattack. Ismael Saibari scored on his birthday to level with 12 minutes remaining, but Kane had the final word. Jonas Urbig was named Player of the Match.

Teams Reaching Knockout Phase Play-offs

Bodø/Glimt’s Historic Victory

Bodø/Glimt came from behind to claim their second-ever Champions League victory and with it a place in the knockout phase play-offs. Atleti took a deserved early lead when Alexander Sørloth headed in after 15 minutes. The visitors worked their way back into the game and levelled in the 34th minute through Fredrik Sjøvold.

The hosts pushed after the break but it was Bodø/Glimt who struck, Kasper Høgh poking over the line after a scramble in the box to make it a memorable night for the Norwegian side at Estadio Metropolitano with a 2-1 victory. Kasper Høgh was named Player of the Match.

Olympiacos Return to UCL Knockouts

Olympiacos earned a place in the knockout phase play-offs after winning 2-1 away following a breathless second period in Amsterdam against Ajax. After an even first half, Gelson Martins clinically fired the visitors ahead on 52 minutes before Kasper Dolberg levelled from the spot.

Both teams pushed for a winner but it was Olympiacos who took their chance, a fine Santiago Hezze header on 79 minutes ensuring the Greek side will play knockout Champions League football for the first time since 2014. Gelson Martins was named Player of the Match.

Club Brugge Advance

Club Brugge advanced to the knockout phase play-offs with an inspired 3-0 home victory against Marseille. The hosts’ flowing football brought two unanswered goals within 11 minutes, Mamadou Diakhon finishing the first after an ingenious Hans Vanaken dummy before Romeo Vermant applied a striker’s finish to Aleksandar Stanković’s cutback.

Marseille ramped up the pressure in the second half and may have found a way back if not for the inspired Simon Mignolet in the Club Brugge goal. But the hosts then rediscovered their rhythm and sealed the win as Stanković shot across goal in the 79th minute. Aleksandar Stanković was named Player of the Match.

Inter’s Victory Over Dortmund

Last season’s finalists Inter soaked up pressure from Dortmund but struck with precision to win 2-0. The Italian side grew into the game and broke the deadlock when Federico Dimarco curled a sublime free kick past Gregor Kobel.

Serhou Guirassy had a great chance for the hosts in the first half but Andy Diouf was on hand to wrap it up in added time with a deflected second. Federico Dimarco was named Player of the Match.

Other Play-off Qualifiers

Leverkusen booked their place in the knockout phase play-offs with a commanding 3-0 win at home to eliminated Villarreal. Malik Tillman’s first-half double set the German side on course for victory – their first at the BayArena in this season’s competition. Alejandro Grimaldo added gloss to the scoreline with a back-post volley from Lucas Vázquez’s cross. Malik Tillman was named Player of the Match.

Monaco joined Juventus in the knockout-phase play-offs after a goalless draw. The home side very nearly took the lead inside the first minute when visiting goalkeeper Mattia Perin presented Maghnes Akliouche with an open goal, but the Monaco midfielder was unable to capitalise. Monaco enjoyed the better of the chances after the interval too, but could ultimately find no way past an inspired Perin. Vanderson was named Player of the Match.

Paris and Newcastle both qualified for the knockout phase play-offs after a 1-1 draw. The hosts began brightly and took the lead early on, with Vitinha’s precise finish into the bottom corner coming just minutes after Nick Pope had kept out Ousmane Dembélé’s spot kick. Eddie Howe’s men levelled on the stroke of half-time when Joe Willock nodded in emphatically, having been teed up by Dan Burn. Dan Burn was named Player of the Match.

Champions League Players of the Match

Teams Eliminated from UCL

Union SG earned their third victory of the league phase with a 1-0 win over Atalanta but were denied a place in the knockout phase after missing out on goal difference. The hosts enjoyed the better of the match but had to wait until the 70th minute to get the game’s only goal, Anan Khalaili finishing first time at the back post from a floated free-kick. The Belgian debutants will look back at their debut Champions League campaign with pride despite not making it through, while Atalanta are in the knockout play-offs after finishing 15th.

Pafos ended the league phase on a high with a resounding 4-1 victory over Slavia Praha. Vlad Dragomir opened the scoring with a stunning drive from 30 metres but, on the stroke of half-time, Štěpán Chaloupek turned in David Douděra’s cross. Bruno neatly restored Pafos’ lead in the 53rd minute and Slavia’s hopes dwindled further after Jan Bořil was dismissed just shy of the hour. Anderson and Mislav Oršić struck late on to add gloss for the Cypriot outfit.

Read More: How is Florian Wirtz Finding His Rhythm at Liverpool

FAQs