Champions League 2025-26 Round-up: Arsenal Stay Perfect, Real Madrid Thrash Monaco

The Champions League Matchday 7 delivered spectacular action on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, as Arsenal extended their perfect record to eight wins from eight matches and Real Madrid produced a devastating attacking display. Gabriel Jesus scored his first UCL 2025-26 goals since November 2023 in Arsenal’s victory at Inter, while Kylian Mbappé continued his prolific form with a double against his former club Monaco. Bodø/Glimt upset defending champions Manchester City, Sporting CP defeated Paris, and Tottenham boosted their top-eight hopes with victory over Borussia Dortmund.

Inter 1-3 Arsenal: Jesus Double Keeps Gunners Perfect

Gabriel Jesus’s first Champions League goals since November 2023 helped Arsenal win in Milan to make it eight victories from eight in a statement performance at the San Siro.

The Brazilian struck twice from inside the box during the first half, giving Arsenal a commanding position against the Italian champions. Petar Sučić fired in a fierce equaliser to briefly threaten Arsenal’s dominance, and David Raya made a double save from Inter’s Federico Dimarco before the break to preserve the advantage.

The second period proved end-to-end as both teams created chances, but substitute Viktor Gyökeres curled in with six minutes remaining to seal the victory. The result ensured Arsenal stayed perfect in the league phase while Inter suffered their third straight defeat.

Player of the Match: Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal)

Arsenal’s eight wins from eight matches represents a perfect start to their UCL 2025-26 campaign and positions them strongly for a top-eight finish that would guarantee automatic qualification to the Round of 16.

Real Madrid 6-1 Monaco: Mbappé Stars Against Former Club

Real Madrid produced a scintillating attacking display to bounce back from December’s loss at home to Manchester City, demolishing Monaco in a six-goal masterclass at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Kylian Mbappé scored twice in the first half against his former club to put the 15-time European champions in control. The French superstar’s clinical finishing demonstrated why he leads the race to be UCL 2025-26 top scorer with 11 goals.

The hosts stretched their advantage further after the restart through Franco Mastantuono, a Thilo Kehrer own goal and a Vinícius Júnior strike into the top corner. Monaco got a consolation thanks to Jordan Teze but Jude Bellingham then rounded off an emphatic Madrid victory.

Player of the Match: Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)

The comprehensive victory showcased Real Madrid’s attacking prowess and sent a warning to their Champions League rivals about their title credentials.

Bodø/Glimt 3-1 Manchester City: Norwegian Shock

Bodø/Glimt claimed their first victory of the league phase with an eye-catching display against the 2023 winners in one of the night’s biggest upsets.

Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki forced an early save before Kasper Høgh smartly converted a pair of Ole Didrik Blomberg deliveries in the space of three minutes midway through the opening period, giving the hosts a shock 2-0 lead.

The Norwegian champions extended their advantage soon after half-time thanks to Jens Petter Hauge’s exquisite strike into the top corner. Cherki’s low finish then cut the deficit on the hour, but City, who had captain Rodri sent off shortly afterwards, were unable to mount a comeback. Hauge almost restored the three-goal lead only to hit the bar.

Player of the Match: Jens Petter Hauge (Bodø/Glimt)

The victory represented Bodø/Glimt’s first points of the league phase and dealt a significant blow to Manchester City’s hopes of automatic qualification.

Sporting CP 2-1 Paris: Suárez Double Stuns Holders

Luis Suárez’s double inspired Sporting to a statement victory over the Champions League holders in Lisbon.

Paris were on top for most of the game and had two strikes ruled out before falling behind when Suárez finished coolly in the 74th minute. The hosts absorbed sustained pressure from the French champions before taking their chance.

Substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia levelled with a wonderful curling effort five minutes later, appearing to rescue a point for Paris. However, there was time for Suárez to head in a rebound and send Sporting up to sixth in the league phase standings.

Player of the Match: Luis Suárez (Sporting CP)

The victory demonstrated Sporting’s quality and dealt Paris a damaging defeat in their quest for a top-eight finish.

Tottenham 2-0 Borussia Dortmund: Spurs Boost Top-Eight Hopes

Tottenham boosted their chances of claiming a top-eight place with a convincing win over Borussia Dortmund at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The home side started strongly and went ahead when Cristian Romero turned in Wilson Odobert’s low cross. Daniel Svensson was then sent off for Dortmund, reducing the German side to ten men and shifting the momentum decisively.

Spurs added a second soon after as Dominic Solanke marked his return from injury with a goal, capitalizing on their numerical advantage. The home side protected that 2-0 lead in the second half confidently and could have added to it, with some promising chances falling for Xavi Simons.

Player of the Match: Pedro Porro (Tottenham)

The victory kept Tottenham in contention for automatic qualification and demonstrated their ability to control games against quality opposition.

Olympiacos 2-0 Leverkusen: Greek Hosts End German Drought

Olympiacos picked up their first win in 14 games against German opposition as they defeated Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 in Piraeus.

The hosts opened the scoring inside two minutes through Costinha, stunning the German champions with an electric start. Mehdi Taremi finished off a quick counterattack to double their advantage just before half-time, giving Olympiacos a commanding position.

Leverkusen did create several opportunities throughout the game, but goalkeeper Kostas Tzolakis was consistently equal to their efforts, producing crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet.

Player of the Match: Kostas Tzolakis (Olympiacos)

The victory ended Olympiacos’s long winless run against German teams and boosted their chances of progression.

Copenhagen 1-1 Napoli: Late Larsson Rescues Point

Substitute Jordan Larsson tapped in from close range to rescue a point for ten-man Copenhagen in a dramatic encounter.

Napoli made their first-half pressure count just before half-time when Scott McTominay nodded in from Eljif Elmas’ corner shortly after home captain Thomas Delaney’s dismissal for a red card.

The hosts grew in stature despite their numerical disadvantage and got the opportunity to level via the penalty spot midway through the second half. Larsson followed in on the rebound after Vanja Milinković-Savić saved the initial kick, securing a valuable point.

The Partenopei went closest to claiming maximum points late on via Mathías Olivera’s header and Lorenzo Lucca’s shot that spun narrowly over the crossbar.

Player of the Match: Gabriel Pereira (Copenhagen)

Club Brugge 4-1 Kairat Almaty: Comfortable Belgian Victory

Club Brugge cruised to their first win since Matchday 1 with victory in Astana against Kairat Almaty.

Mamadou Diakhon shot against a post for the visitors before Aleksandar Stanković put them ahead with an emphatic 32nd-minute strike. Hans Vanaken prodded in to double the advantage six minutes later.

Diakhon then set up Romeo Vermant’s 74th-minute tap-in and Brandon Mechele headed in Vanaken’s delivery six minutes from time to complete the rout. Adilet Sadybekov replied from distance during added time, opening Kairat’s home account in the league phase.

Player of the Match: Mamadou Diakhon (Club Brugge)

Ajax 2-1 Villarreal: Late Edvardsen Strike

Ajax clinched a dramatic victory against winless Villarreal thanks to Oliver Edvardsen’s late strike at the Johan Cruijff Arena.

After a goalless first half, the home side broke the deadlock when Tani Oluwaseyi powered past Vitězslav Jaroš. Ajax responded through Oscar Gloukh’s free-kick 12 minutes later to level the scores.

With the scores tied in the final minutes, Ajax substitute Edvardsen latched onto a low cross and swept the ball into the bottom corner to secure all three points.

Player of the Match: Oscar Gloukh (Ajax)

Matchday 7 Tuesday Results

Top Scorer Update

Kylian Mbappé leads the way in the race to be UCL 2025-26 top scorer with 11 goals following his double against Monaco. The Real Madrid forward has been in exceptional form throughout the league phase.

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