By Samuel Adeola
The UEFA Champions League league phase ended dramatically on Wednesday night, with late results across Europe determining automatic qualifiers, playoff contenders and eliminated teams.
The standout result came in Lisbon, where Benfica stunned Real Madrid 4-2, denying the 14-time champions direct qualification for the Round of 16 and pushing them into the knockout playoffs.
English clubs finished strongly, with Liverpool thrashing Qarabağ 6-0 to secure a top-eight finish, Manchester City beating Galatasaray 2-0, and Arsenal edging Kairat Almaty 3-2.
Elsewhere, Barcelona defeated Copenhagen 4-1, Inter Milan claimed a crucial 2-0 away win over Borussia Dortmund, and Tottenham Hotspur saw off Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0. Olympiacos shocked Ajax 2-1 in Amsterdam, while Chelsea edged Napoli 3-2 and Paris Saint-Germain drew 1-1 with Newcastle United.
With the league phase concluded, the top eight teams advance directly to the Round of 16. Clubs finishing ninth to 24th, including Real Madrid and PSG, will contest a two-legged playoff in February for the remaining spots.
The knockout playoff draw will be held on Friday, January 30, 2026, in Nyon, Switzerland.
