Tips
January 29, 2026
The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League league phase reached its dramatic conclusion on Wednesday night with Matchday 8 delivering shocks, high-scoring thrillers and one of the wildest finales in recent memory.
Benfica 4-2 Real Madrid stole the headlines at the Estádio da Luz, where José Mourinho masterminded a stunning upset against his former club. Real Madrid, who started the night in the top eight, led through Kylian Mbappé's early strike before Benfica roared back with Andreas Schjelderup netting twice and Vangelis Pavlidis converting a penalty. Mbappé grabbed his second, but chaos ensued in stoppage time as Real were reduced to nine men after red cards to Raúl Asencio and Rodrygo. Then, in the eighth minute of added time, Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin rose highest to head home the winner — a goal that not only sealed a historic victory but propelled Benfica into the knockout play-off spots on goal difference, dumping Real Madrid into the play-offs instead.
It was Mourinho's first win over Real Madrid in managerial meetings, and a moment of pure theatre that summed up a topsy-turvy night.
Arsenal 3-2 Kairat Almaty saw the Gunners finish the league phase unbeaten and top the 36-team table. They overcame a spirited fightback from the Kazakh side to secure direct qualification to the Round of 16.
Liverpool 6-0 Qarabağ produced a ruthless demolition job at Anfield, with the Reds hammering home their credentials as serious contenders and booking their spot in the last 16.
Manchester City 2-0 Galatasaray ensured Pep Guardiola's side sneaked into the top eight, with Erling Haaland ending a goal drought from open play.
Barcelona 4-1 Copenhagen kept the Blaugrana in the automatic qualification places, while Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Villarreal and Chelsea's win (reported in various sources as contributing to their climb) helped shape the top eight.
Sporting CP 3-2 Athletic Club (away win) boosted Sporting into the direct qualifiers.
Other notable results included:
PSV Eindhoven 1-2 Bayern Munich — Harry Kane on target again as Bayern secured second spot.
Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Inter Milan — Inter strengthened their play-off position.
Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Newcastle United — A draw that left both in the play-offs.
Monaco 0-0 Juventus — A stalemate for both.
Atlético Madrid 1-2 Bodø/Glimt — Another surprise as the Norwegian side won.
Club Brugge 3-0 Marseille — Brugge advanced to play-offs.
Final League Phase Standings Snapshot (Top 8 qualify directly to Round of 16):
Arsenal (unbeaten, +19 GD)
Bayern Munich
Liverpool
Tottenham Hotspur
Barcelona
Chelsea
Sporting CP
Manchester City
Play-off qualifiers (9th-24th) include Real Madrid (dropped to 9th), Inter Milan, PSG, Newcastle, Juventus, Benfica (sneaking in on GD), and others like Olympiacos, Club Brugge.
Teams from 25th downwards are out.
The knockout play-off draw takes place soon, setting up two-legged ties in February/March. The top eight await the winners in the Round of 16.
What a way to end the league phase — drama, upsets and a goalkeeper scoring the decisive goal! Who do you think lifts the trophy in May?
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