Champions League 2025/26: Final Standings & Major Results
The UEFA Champions League league phase has come to a dramatic conclusion! Matchday 8 (January 28, 2026) was a night of historic “firsts,” shocking upsets, and a goalkeeper goal that will
be replayed for years.
🏆 The Elite Eight: Direct Qualifiers
Eight teams have secured their spot directly in the Round of 16, avoiding the high-stakes playoff round. Arsenal leads the pack with a flawless record.
Pos Team Points Notable Result
1 Arsenal 24 3-2 win vs Kairat Almaty (8/8 wins!)
2 Bayern Munich 21 2-1 win vs PSV
3 Liverpool 18 6-0 thrashing of Qarabag
4 Tottenham 17 2-0 win vs Eintracht Frankfurt
5 Barcelona 16 4-1 win vs Copenhagen
6 Chelsea 16 3-2 win vs Napoli
7 Sporting CP 16 3-2 win vs Athletic Bilbao
8 Man City 16 2-0 win vs Galatasaray
Matchday 8 Highlights: Chaos in Lisbon
The headline of the night was undoubtedly Benfica’s 4-2 victory over
Real Madrid.
The Shock: Record-winners Real Madrid fell into the playoff spots after a stunning collapse at the Estádio da Luz.
The Goalkeeper Goal: In a moment of madness, Benfica keeper Anatolii Trubin scored in stoppage time to seal the win and lift Benfica into the top 24.
Arsenal’s History: By beating Kairat Almaty 3-2, Mikel Arteta’s side became the first team in history to win all eight matches in the new league phase format.
The Playoff Picture (Ranked 9th–24th)
These teams must now face a two-legged playoff in February to join the top eight in the Round of 16. Heavy hitters like Real Madrid, PSG, and Inter Milan find themselves in this “extra” round.
Key Playoff Teams: Real Madrid (9th), Inter Milan (10th), PSG (11th), Newcastle (12th), Juventus (13th), and Atletico Madrid (14th).
Who Is Out?
Several established names have been eliminated from European competition entirely after failing to finish in the top 24:
Napoli (30th)
Ajax (32nd)
Villarreal (35th)
What’s Next?
The playoff draw takes place this Friday. The first legs are scheduled for February 16-18, followed by the second legs on February 23-25.
