Champions League group stage finale: as it happened: scores, stats, goals, standings

It was dramatic last round of UCL group stage games last season with moments that Man City and PSG were out of the competition, but my word, the end of tonight's action was pure Hollywood as Benfica keeper Trubin headed the fourth goal as part of a 4-2 win over Real Madrid which sends Jose Mourinho's men through to a play-off place.

Cheers for tuning in !

The select group

These are the teams that progress in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League.

The top 8 include five Premier League sides along with Bayern, Barça and Sporting CP.

The other 16 teams who finished 9th-24th will now play a two legged play-off round with the eight winners advancing.

Champions League

When and what time is the 2025/26 Champions League knockout phase play-off draw?

Atletico implode

Cholo Simeone's men followed up a poor showing in Istanbul against Galatasaray and have now to look to progress via the play-off path.

The LaLiga side could face Galatasaray or Bruges in the next phase.

Possible play-off rivals for Real Madrid

After falling out of the top 8, Real Madrid will now need to participate in the play-off and could face either Bodo Glimt or Benfica (again!)

Five of the six Premier sides advance

Newcastle were the only Premier League side who failed to secure a top eight finish after their 1-1 draw in Paris.

They will meet either Qarabag or Monaco in the play-off.

Madrid miss out on top 8

What a last few minutes for the two Lisbon sides.

Sporting score in Bilbao and their goal sends them through to the Round of 16 and condemns Real Madrid to the play-off round.

Benfica bag a late, late fourth goal which is enough to leapfrog Marseille and the Lisbon side progress.

FT: Benfica 4-2

Drama with a capital D in Lisbon !

My word!!!!!

What have we just seen at the Estadio Da Luz.

In the 97th minute, Benfica keeper Trubin nods past Courtois and that goal secures their place in the play-off!

Incredible scenes in Lisbon.

Bodo beat City and Atleti

What a series of results for the Norwegian side.

First they beat Man City and tonight beat Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano.

FT's everwhere apart from Lisbon

We're in injury time in Lisbon.

Madrid need a goal otherwise they will finish in 9th and have to participate in the play-off round.

FT's

Barcelona 4-1 Copenhagen

Club Brugge 3-0 OM

Athletic 2-3 Sporting CP

Atletico 1-2 Bodo Glimt

Drama continues to unfold in the final games....

Napoli crash out!

Napoli 2-3 Chelsea

That Matos goal could see Real Madrid move into the play-offs !!!!

Goal in Bilbao

Heartbreak for Athletic as Sporting bag what could be a late winner.

Santos with a 95th strike !

Full times

Liverpool 6-0 Qarabag

PSV 1-2 Bayern

Eintracht 0-2 Spurs

FT in Brussels

USG 1-0 Atalanta

The Belgians bow out... Atalanta destined for top 24 finish

Arsenal fourth ruled out!

Offside at the Emirates!

Arsenal 3-1 Almaty

Liverpool hit Qarabag for six

Chiesa bags a sixth for the Reds as part of a rout over the surprise package of the competition.

Liverpool 6-0 Qarabag

Copenhagen hit back

The Danes make it 4-2.

Nothing more than a consolation for the visitors.

Barça 4-2 Copenhagen

Arsenal too make it four

Jesus hits a fourth goal at the Emirates and Kiriat will bow out with the wooden spoon from the top 36 side.

Paphos hit a 4th

Easy for the Cypriots as they punish ten man slavia and bag a fourth.

Paphos 4-1 Slavia

Madrid nerves jangling in Lisbon !

A goal for PSG or Newcastle could demote Real Madrid from the top 8 !!!!!!

Barcelona bag a fourth

Marcus Rashford makes it four and Barça cement their place in the top eight.

Barcelona 4-1 Copenhagen

Bayern go ahead again at PSV

PSV's joy was short-lived.

The German side retake the lead as Harry Kane slots home into the top corner.

PSV 1-2 Bayern

Big goal in Naples

Chelsea bag a third in the south of Italy and the Serie A champions are staring an exit from the competition as things stand.

João Pedro bags his second of the night.

Napoli 2-3 Chelsea

More goals flying in ....

BVB trail Inter by 0-1, Dimarco puts the Serie A side ahead in the 81st minute. 

Brugge lead by 3-0 over Marseille and Ajax now trail Olympiakos 1-2

Spurs set for top 8 finish

Saibari strikes for PSV

A big goal for PSV as they return to the top 24 at the expense of Benfica.

PSV 1-1 Bayern

Spurs strike again

Tottenham cruising now in Frankfurt as Solanke bags the second for the Londoners.

Eintracht 0-2 Tottenham

Top 8 with 15 mins to go

These are the eight sides who would automatically advance to the Round of 16 without having to play the play-off round.

Barça move to fifth!

Barcelona lead Copenhagen by 3-1 ..Raphinha from the spot for the Catalan side.

Ajax also score from the spot and now draw against Olympiakos.

The three games in Dortmund and Monaco are the only without goals after USG open the scoring in Brussels.

Nine points now may be enough to see at least two teams through to the play-off stage... a decent goal difference is also needed though !

Mbappé strikes again in Lisbon

Benfica still lead but the French striker hits his 13th UCL goal of the season.

Benfica 3-2 R.Madrid

Former Barça and Wolves man strikes

Sporting bag a second in Bilbao

A huge lifeline for the Lisbon side as they draw level at San Mames.

Trincao bagging the second just after the hour mark.

Athletic 2-2 Sporting

Three more key goals fly in

Barcelona go 2-1 ahead vs Copenhagen

Napoli vs Chelsea now 2-2 and Liverpool now lead Qarabag by 5-0.

Double blow for Madrid clubs

Bodo have taken the lead in the Spanish capital.

Atletico 1-2 Bodo

Real Madrid now three-one behind in Lisbon.

Benfica 3-1 R. Madrid

First red card of the night

Jan Boril is off for Slavia Prague and the Czech side are now down to ten men against Paphos.

Liverpool make it four...Bayern strike in Eindhoven

Etitike strikes for the Premier League side as Bayern break the deadlock against PSV.

Musiala on target for the German side.

Liverpool 4-0 Qarabag

PSV 0-1 Bayern

As things stand.... 9 points will not be enough to advance to the play-off stage of the competition.

Olympiakos and Paphos strike

Ajax are heading out of the competition as things stand ... the Dutch side trail the Greek champions.

Ajax 0-1 Olympiakos

Goal in Cyprus too as Paphos now lead Slavia by a 2-1 scoreline.

Liverpool punishing Qarabag

Mo Salah celebrates his 80th Champions League appearance in a Liverpool jersey as he strikes from a free kick. 

Easy for the Premier League champions.

Liverpool 3-0 Qarabag

Barcelona go level

Robert Lewandowski has drawn the LaLiga side level.

FC Barcelona 1-1 Copenhagen

First goal of the second half

Spurs strike in Frankfurt.

Eintracht 0-1 Spurs

So, what to expect in the second half....

As things stand, 5 of the 6 Premier League sides would progress to the top 8 and Chelsea would have to settle for a place in the play-offs.

Barcelona making life difficult and they would be forced to face either Napoli or Copenhagen (again)!

HT in Matchday 8

Barça trailing is the major talking point at the halfway point in the 18 games.

Napoli have done it the hard way but the Serie A champions are in the play-offs as things stand.

Benfica go two ahead !

In the 6th minutes of added time, Pavlidis bags a spot kick for the Lisbon side in the pouring rain.

Madrid trail to Mou on the cusp of the interval.

Goooool

Newcastle get an added time equaliser in Paris

PSG 1-1 Newcastle

First half time ....

PSV 0-0 Bayern (HT)

Paphos 1-1 Slavia (HT)

Slavia draw level in Cyprus

The Czech side are back on level terms.

Chaloupek hits the equaliser.

Paphos 1-1 Slavia

Napoli go ahead

The Serie A champions have come from behind and now lead Chelsea.

Holjund on target.

Napoli 2-1 Chelsea

Less than five minutes remain in 18 games

Only five games remain goalless....

Monaco 0-0 Juve

Ajax 0-0 Olympiakos

BVB 0-0 Inter

PSV 0-0 Bayern

USG 0-0 Atalanta

Madrid still on target for top eight finish

Arsenal bag a third

Martinelli hits the third for the Gunners.

More goals flying in

Bodo Glimt draw level in Madrid.

Bayer Leverkusen double their lead over Villarreal and now Benfica draw level against Real Madrid.

Atletico 1-1 Bodo

Leverkusen 2-0 Villarreal

Benfica 1-1 Real Madrid

Napoli go level !

Delight for the packed house at the Stadio Maradona as local lad Vergara bags his first ever goal for Napoli.

Napoli 1-1 Chelsea

VAR cancels Ajax goal!

As you were in Amsterdam as a VAR intervention chalks off the goal for the Dutch side due to an offside!

Ajax go ahead in Amsterdam

Big goal for the Dutch side as Dolberg bags the opener for the home side, however Ajax need the win !

Mbappé fires Madrid in front

Bad news for Benfica fans as Real Madrid lead in Lisbon as the French striker bags his 12th goal of the season in the Champions League.

Guruzeta puts Athletic back in control

The third goal of the evening at San Mames sees the Basque side recover their lead.

Athletic 2-1 Sporting

City make it 2

Man City now lead Galatasaray by two goals as Cherki doubles the home sides advantage.

Barcelona trail at Camp Nou

The surprise story of the evening (so far) is FC Barcelona trailing at home to FC Copenhagen and as things stand the Catalan side will need to continue in the play-off stage.

Benfica go close in Lisbon!

A stunning save from Courtois keeps Madrid alive as he tips a long range shot onto the crossbar.

Golazoooooo for Paphos

Not sure if any goal will be as spectacular tonight as the strike from Paphos player Dragomir with a beautiful long range hit. 

Paphos 1-0 Slavia

Reds double their lead

Liverpool now lead Qarabag by two goals as Wirtz bags the second.

Chelsea take the lead in Italy.

Napoli 0-1 Chelsea

Enzo with the goal.

Sorloth on target for Atleti

Liverpool take the lead vs Qarabag: 1-0

Arsenal go ahead vs Sporting: 2-1

Atletico go ahead vs Bodo: 1-0

Pafos lead Slavia: 1-0

Leverkusen take the lead against Villarreal

Tillman puts the German side ahead in the 12th minute

Bruges double their lead

Club Brugge 2-0 Marseille

Diomande hits back for Sporting

Athletic Club 1-1 Sporting

Haaland puts City ahead

Vitinha fires PSG ahead

PSG 1-0 Newcastle

Bruges have taken the lead against Marseille. Diakhon on target.

Kariat draw level at the Emirates after Jorginho bags a spot kick

Copenhagen go ahead vs Barça

Sancet strikes for the Basques

Gyokeres for the Gunners

Goals in Bilbao and London

We've got two early goals ....

Athletic Club go ahead vs Sporting

Arsenal too go ahead....

We're underway across 18 European stadiums

Off we go.....

The games are underway....

Kick off looms across 18 cities

We're just minutes away from all 18 games commencing....

Strap yourselves in as it's going to be fast, furious and frantic with every goal impacting on positions in the strandings !

Mo milestone

An impressive 80th appearance for the Egyptian tonight (The Reds face Qarabag) as he draws level with Jamie Carragher and equals a Liverpool club record in the Champions League.

Avoiding an elimination place

Eight teams will join the already eliminated, Almaty, Villarreal, Slavia and Eintracht tonight.... At the moment, the likes of Napoli, Benfica and Ajax have their work cut out if they are to keep dreams of reaching the Budapest final alive.

Real Madrid XI

Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappé lead the line for ‘Los Blancos’ in Lisbon tonight in a clash with plenty of ‘morbo’ (intrigue) as current Benfica boss Jose Mourinho faces the side he formerlñy coached.

Mbappé: Top UCL marksman

With 11 goals to date for Real Madrid in the seven group stage games, French striker Mbappé leads the way as Champions League top scorer. He's followed by Bayern's Harry Kane with 7 as Haaland (Man City), Gordon (Newcastle) and Osimhen (Galatasaray) have all bagged six goals to date. 

Qarabag: UCL revelations

Qarabağ go into the final matchday of the league phase sitting in 18th place with 10 points, putting them ahead of established European powerhouses like Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille, and PSV Eindhoven.  They secured a stunning 3–2 victory over Benfica in Lisbon and most recently eliminated Eintracht Frankfurt with a last-gasp 3–2 win in Baku.

They managed a 2–2 draw against Chelsea and a clinical 2–0 win over Copenhagen, proving they can compete with various tactical styles.

With 10 points already secured, they are virtually guaranteed a spot in the knockout round play-offs—a massive achievement for a team often written off as an underdog.

Arctic conditions in Madrid for Bødo visit

Freezing conditions in the Spanish capital saw a flurry of snow on Wednesday morning as Atletico face Bødo Glimt this evening with the Norwegian side unable to shake off the snow.

Atleti need a win (and with a decent margin) to ensure a solid chance of making the top eight. 

An hour to go before we have kick off ...... All eyes tonight on: Amsterdam, North London, Monaco, Bilbao, Madrid, Leverkusen, Dortmund, Bruges, Frankfurt, Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester, Pafos, Paris, Eindhoven, Brussels, Lisbon and Naples. 

Premier League dominance

Five of the six participating Premier League sides currently sit in the top eight positions ahead of the final matchday. Man City face Galatasaray at the Etihad and we could conceivably have a situation with all English clubs advancing without having to participate in the play-off round.

The Premier League domination in European football is very real !

UCL 25-26 key dates

The Road to Budapest looks like this:

Knockout phase play-offs: 17/18 & 24/25 February 2026
Round of 16: 10/11 & 17/18 March 2026
Quarter-finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026
Semi-finals: 28/29 April & 5/6 May 2026
Final: 30 May 2026 (Budapest)

Opta predicts....

Based on Opta's AI projections, the eight teams qualifying directly for the round of 16 would be Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Tottenham, Barcelona, Manchester City and Atlético Madrid. Missing out would be major names such as Paris Saint-Germain in ninth, Chelsea in 11th, and Italian sides Juventus and Inter in 13th and 14th.

At this stage, Opta cites Arsenal are the clear favorites to win the Champions League, with Mikel Arteta’s side having won every game so far and currently setting the pace with Bayern Munich sit second, followed by Manchester City in third.

BVB-Inter, another huge clash

Both teams will be battling for a win that could secure a top eight finish.

Dortmund could still sneak into the top eight and qualify directly for the round of 16, or tumble into the bottom 12 and be eliminated, although both scenarios feel unlikely. Inter, 14th with 12 points, are guaranteed a playoff spot but must win to have any chance of a top-eight finish.

Plenty on the line in Naples

Napoli’s home game against Chelsea may just be the pick of the 18 games being played simultaneously tonight.

If the league phase had finished after Matchday 7, the reigning Serie A champions’ European campaign would already be over. Napoli currently find themselves 25th in the standings, just outside the playoff spots.

For one of the strongest teams in one of Europe’s top leagues to miss out on qualification even for the playoffs would be an enormous disappointment. Napoli will be desperate for a big night at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, where an electric atmosphere is guaranteed with so much at stake.

A victory for Napoli, who are on eight points, would almost certainly see them clinch a playoff spot. That would only change if Qarabag and Galatasaray both take at least a point against Liverpool and City, and the six teams immediately above Napoli all win, which is highly unlikely.

Chelsea, though, are desperate to hang on to their current position. The Blues, who have 13 points, occupy eighth place and, as things stand, would be the last team to secure direct qualification for the round of 16, allowing them to skip the playoff round entirely.

Champions League

What do Real Madrid need vs. Benfica on Matchday 8 to reach the Champions League round of 16?

How teams level on points are separated

If teams end matchday 8 level on points, the following criteria will be used to decide group stage placing:

a. Superior goal difference in the league phase
b. Higher number of goals scored in the league phase
c. Higher number of away goals scored in the league phase
d. Higher number of wins in the league phase
e. Higher number of away wins in the league phase

f. Higher number of points obtained collectively by league phase opponents
g. Superior collective goal difference of league phase opponents
h. Higher number of goals scored collectively by league phase opponents
i. Lower disciplinary points total based only on yellow and red cards received by players and team officials in all league phase matches (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points)
j. Higher club coefficient

Champions League

Champions League permutations: What every team needs to qualify for the round of 16 or the playoffs?

Arsenal, unbeaten in seven UCL clashes

Despite defeat in the Premier League last weekend, The Gunners are flying in the Champions League and favourites to lift the trophy in Budapest. Mikel Arteta's men are also involved in the Carabao and FA Cup competitions as they look to nail an ambitious quartet.

Champions League

When and what time is the 2025/26 Champions League knockout phase play-off draw?

How the group stage looks ahead of the last round

Only two teams are 100% guaranteed of a place in the top 8 which are Arsenal and Bayern with both Real Madrid and Liverpool almost certain of securing a berth in the top eight.

18 games x 100% drama

Only 4 sides (Almaty, Villarreal, Slavia and Eintracht) have nothing to play for but for the other 32 teams, the outcome of their games tonight will be pivotal in keeping their season in Europe alive.

Hello and welcome to our live ‘minute by minute carrusel’ of all 18 games on the final night of the 2025-26 Champions League group stage draw where we will discover: what teams secure a place in the top 8 and the names of the other 16 sides who will advance to the play-off.

A night of drama and tension is 100% guaranteed !