Champions League 2025-26 Round-Up: Barcelona Edge Thriller, Liverpool Cruise Past Marseille

The Champions League delivered another thrilling night of football on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, as Matchday 7 of the UCL 2025-26 league phase concluded with dramatic victories, comebacks, and milestone achievements. Barcelona came from behind to beat Slavia Praha, Liverpool cruised past Marseille, and Harry Kane reached a historic scoring landmark as Bayern München recorded their 250th Champions League win. Newcastle, Juventus, and Athletic Club were among the other teams to earn three points in a dramatic conclusion to Matchday 7.

Barcelona 4-2 Slavia Praha: Catalans Survive Prague Thriller

Last season’s semi-finalists came from behind to defeat a resilient Slavia Praha side in an enthralling encounter. Robert Lewandowski scored his 114th goal in UEFA competition as Barcelona secured all three points despite defensive vulnerabilities.

In a thrilling opening 45 minutes, the hosts took an early lead when Vasil Kušej bundled in from a corner. Fermín López’s brilliant double put Barcelona ahead before Lewandowski tapped into his own net from another Slavia corner to level the scores just before the interval.

Substitute Dani Olmo’s stunning long-range strike regained the lead for Barcelona midway through the second half, and Lewandowski wrapped up the victory with a well-taken shot from close range following Marcus Rashford’s delivery.

Player of the Match: Fermín López (Barcelona)

Barcelona face Copenhagen in Matchday 8, while Slavia Praha travel to Pafos.

Liverpool 3-0 Marseille: Reds Cruise in France

Six-time champions Liverpool cruised to victory against Marseille in France to boost their chances of a top-eight spot in the league phase standings.

Hugo Ekitiké’s slick effort was disallowed for offside but Dominik Szoboszlai’s clever free-kick under the wall ensured the visitors led at the break. The Hungarian midfielder’s innovative set-piece caught the Marseille goalkeeper completely off guard.

Ekitiké then struck the woodwork with a fierce effort after the restart before an own goal from Gerónimo Rulli increased the advantage. Cody Gakpo’s composed finish rounded off a stylish victory deep in stoppage time.

Player of the Match: Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool)

Liverpool host Qarabağ in Matchday 8, while Marseille travel to Club Brugge.

Newcastle United 3-0 PSV Eindhoven: Magpies Maintain Perfect Home Record

Newcastle will also harbour hopes of a top-eight finish after a comfortable victory at St James’ Park, extending their impressive home form in the Champions League.

Yoane Wissa broke the deadlock from Joelinton’s lay-off eight minutes into his full Champions League debut. The forward then turned provider on 30 minutes, pouncing on a loose back pass to tee up Anthony Gordon to slide into an empty net.

Harvey Barnes skipped through the defence to add a third in the 65th minute, sealing the Magpies’ third straight home win without conceding.

Player of the Match: Yoane Wissa (Newcastle)

Newcastle face Paris Saint-Germain away in Matchday 8, while PSV host Bayern München.

Qarabağ 3-2 Frankfurt: Last-Gasp Winner in Baku

Bahlul Mustafazade hit an impressive winner with the last kick of the game as Qarabağ outlasted Frankfurt in a thrilling encounter at home.

The hosts took the lead within four minutes, Camilo Duran finishing from close range after Leandro Andrade’s effort was parried. Frankfurt were quickly back on level terms, Can Uzun converting after winning the ball from Pedro Bicalho.

Fares Chaibi’s 78th-minute penalty for Frankfurt sparked the second half into life. Qarabağ responded quickly through Duran, who tapped in Elvin Jafarguliyev’s low cross two minutes later. The decisive moment came in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Mustafazade darted in to power Matheus Silva’s low cross into the roof of the net.

Player of the Match: Camilo Duran (Qarabağ)

Qarabağ travel to Liverpool in Matchday 8, while Frankfurt host Tottenham.

Bayern München 2-0 Union Saint-Gilloise: Kane Double Despite Penalty Miss

Bayern became just the second club in history to record 250 wins in the Champions League as a second-half Harry Kane double secured a 2-0 victory over Union Saint-Gilloise.

After a slow first half, Bayern burst to life in the second. Kane’s double came in a hectic four-minute period where he first headed in a corner and then converted a penalty.

The home side were reduced to ten men with 30 minutes remaining after Minjae Kim’s red card, but they were able to retain a lead that could have been even greater if not for Kane’s missed spot kick in the 81st minute. It was a rare blemish for the Englishman, who rose to sixth in the all-time UEFA club competition goalscoring rankings with 71 goals.

Player of the Match: Harry Kane (Bayern München)

Bayern travel to PSV Eindhoven in Matchday 8, while Union Saint-Gilloise host Atalanta.

Juventus 2-0 Benfica: Bianconeri Extend Winning Run

A pair of well-taken goals in the space of ten second-half minutes extended Juventus’ winning run to three league phase matches.

Khephren Thuram made the breakthrough shortly after half-time via a precise finish, having regained possession on the edge of the Benfica area. Weston McKennie doubled the advantage with a finely-crafted strike, exchanging passes with Jonathan David before confidently slotting in.

The visitors almost responded soon afterwards, but Fredrik Aursnes’ header struck the base of the post. Benfica’s fortune was compounded when Vangelis Pavlidis lost his footing in attempting to convert a late penalty.

Player of the Match: Khephren Thuram (Juventus)

Juventus travel to Monaco in Matchday 8, while Benfica host Real Madrid.

Athletic Club 3-2 Atalanta: Stunning Second-Half Comeback

Athletic Club staged a stunning 16-minute second-half comeback to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout phase alive.

Atalanta had dominated the first half and led through Gianluca Scamacca’s header, but tactical changes and impactful substitutes swung the momentum in favor of the visitors.

Gorka Guruzeta levelled in the 58th minute for Athletic Club before Nico Serrano and Robert Navarro both struck within four minutes. Nikola Krstović scored late for Atalanta, but it proved only a consolation.

Player of the Match: Robert Navarro (Athletic Club)

Athletic Club host Sporting CP in Matchday 8, while Atalanta travel to Union Saint-Gilloise.

Galatasaray 1-1 Atlético de Madrid: Points Shared in Istanbul

The hosts claimed a share of the spoils thanks to Marcos Llorente’s 20th-minute own goal in an entertaining draw.

Atlético began purposefully and their attacking outlook paid off when Giuliano Simeone met Matteo Ruggeri’s inviting cross with an emphatic downward header. Galatasaray responded and drew level after a sustained spell of pressure, the unfortunate Llorente turning Roland Sallai’s low delivery into the Atlético net.

Both teams went close to sealing victory late on, as Antoine Griezmann’s delightful free-kick brought the very best out of home keeper Uğurcan Çakır and Jan Oblak, on his 100th Champions League appearance, was tested by Gabriel Sara’s effort deep in added time.

Player of the Match: Giuliano Simeone (Atlético de Madrid)

Galatasaray travel to Manchester City in Matchday 8, while Atlético host Bodø/Glimt.

Chelsea 1-0 Pafos: Late Winner at Stamford Bridge

Moises Caicedo’s second-half header earned Chelsea a 1-0 victory against a spirited Pafos side at Stamford Bridge.

Visiting goalkeeper Jay Gorter produced several big stops, denying Caicedo on multiple occasions as well as Jorrel Hato and substitute Estêvão. Jajá went closest for Pafos when his deflected shot hit the post.

The breakthrough came with 12 minutes of regular time remaining when Caicedo connected to nod in from close range after Pedro Neto’s corner had been diverted into his path.

Player of the Match: Moises Caicedo (Chelsea)

Chelsea travel to Napoli in Matchday 8, while Pafos host Slavia Praha.

Matchday 7 Results Summary

Key Matchday 8 Fixtures

Top Scorers After Matchday 7

While individual scoring charts weren’t detailed in the Matchday 7 report, Harry Kane’s elevation to sixth in the all-time UEFA club competition goalscoring rankings with 71 goals highlighted his continued excellence. Robert Lewandowski’s 114th UEFA competition goal also demonstrated his longevity at the highest level.

Knockout Phase Race Intensifies

With just one matchday remaining in the league phase, the race for the top eight automatic qualification spots and the play-off positions has intensified dramatically. Liverpool’s victory strengthened their claims for a top-eight finish, while Newcastle, Bayern, and Juventus all took significant steps toward qualification.

Teams finishing in the top eight will advance directly to the Round of 16, while those finishing 9th through 24th will contest the knockout phase play-offs. The final matchday promises to deliver high drama as teams fight for their European lives.

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