League phase of Champions League concludes as chaos, history & controversy collide

Last Updated on 29 January 2026

The Champions League’s second-ever League Phase didn’t just end, it exploded into life. Final-day drama delivered everything UEFA hoped for and more.

Elite clubs tumbling into danger, underdogs forcing their way into history, and a goalkeeper quite literally heading his team into immortality.

From perfect records to catastrophic collapses, the Champions League reshuffled reputations across Europe. By the time the dust settled, some giants were cruising straight into the Round of 16, while others were left staring at an unforgiving playoff route.

English sides unbeaten on the night: Liverpool and Arsenal cruise through

Premier League’s representatives wasted no time stamping their authority on the final standings.

Arsenal finished top of the league phase with a perfect 8-from-8 record, sealing first place with a 3-2 victory over Kairat Almaty.

Liverpool produced the performance of the night at Anfield, annihilating Qarabag 6-0. But the mood around Arne Slot and Liverpool remains tense.

Virgil van Dijk made Champions League history by becoming the first centre-back to register three assists in a single match, while Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike ran riot to put Liverpool 3rd.

Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur handled Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 away from home, while Chelsea showed resilience in Naples, overturning a 2-1 deficit to beat Napoli 3-2.

Manchester City also took care of business with a 2-0 win over Galatasaray. Although, they had to rely on other results to make it to the top eight.

Newcastle United held PSG to a 1-1 draw in Paris. It was not enough to finish in the top eight but the Magpies delivered a fighting performance against the defending champions.

The top-eight scramble: Sporting and Barcelona steal the headlines

While Arsenal, Liverpool and Bayern Munich (2nd after a 2-1 win over PSV) progressed comfortably, the final automatic qualification spots went down to the wire.

Sporting CP pulled off one of the moments of the season. Needing victory against Athletic Bilbao, they twice came from behind before Alisson Santos struck a 94th-minute winner to complete a stunning 3-2 comeback. The result lifted Sporting into 7th place.

Barcelona joined them after a dominant 4-1 win over Copenhagen, inspired by a dazzling Lamine Yamal display that underlined why the teenager is already shaping elite-level matches.

The fall from grace: giants dragged into the playoffs

The most jaw-dropping collapse belonged to Real Madrid.

In Lisbon, Madrid were dismantled as a Mourinho masterclass saw Benfica mount a ferocious comeback. Then came the moment that defined the entire league phase: goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin rising in the 98th minute to head home the winning goal in a 4-2 victory.

That single moment didn’t just win the match. It knocked Marseille out of the competition entirely and forced Madrid into the playoff bracket, while confirming Benfica’s qualification, as well.

Joining them in the uncomfortable 9th-24th zone are Inter Milan, who won but remained 10th, and Paris Saint-Germain, held to a damaging 1-1 draw by Newcastle.

The story of the tournament: Bodo/Glimt defy European hierarchy

No team embodied the spirit of this new format more than Bodo/Glimt.

After stunning Manchester City 3-1 in Gameweek 7, the Norwegians travelled to Madrid and defeated Atletico 2-1 at the Metropolitano.

Kasper Hogh’s second-half strike sealed a historic victory and ensured Bodo/Glimt finished 23rd, securing their first-ever Champions League knockout appearance, as per BBC Sport.

Champions League knockout playoff draw: potential paths

The teams finishing 9th-24th now face a two-legged playoff (February 17-18 & February 24-25). Winners will advance to the Round of 16, where the top eight await.

Seeded teams (9th–16th) host the second leg at home.
The official draw takes place Friday, 30 January 2026.

Knockout Playoff Breakdown: