KEY POINTS
- Real Madrid fell to ninth place after a stunning 4-2 defeat against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica.
- Holders Paris Saint-Germain dropped into the playoff spots following a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United.
- Arsenal and Bayern Munich lead the elite group of eight teams securing direct Round of 16 qualification.
The UEFA Champions League league phase concluded with an evening of unprecedented chaos across Europe on Wednesday. Several heavyweights failed to secure automatic progression to the Round of 16 during a frantic final matchday. Real Madrid and defending champions Paris Saint-Germain were the biggest casualties of a night defined by late goals and shifting standings.
Real Madrid entered the evening in a strong position but suffered a collapse in Lisbon. Despite an early goal from Kylian Mbappe, the 15-time winners fell 4-2 to Benfica. The match ended in total disarray for the Spanish giants as they received two late red cards. A 98th-minute header from Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin sealed the result and pushed Madrid down to ninth.
The holders, PSG, also missed out on a top-eight finish after a tense encounter at the Parc des Princes. A 1-1 draw against Newcastle United proved insufficient to keep the French champions in the automatic qualifying spots. Both clubs now face a two-legged playoff in February to keep their European dreams alive. This precarious path adds unwanted fixtures to an already crowded season schedule.
In contrast, several teams produced dominant performances to bypass the playoff round. Liverpool cruised to a 6-0 victory over Qarabag at Anfield to finish third in the table. Mohamed Salah and Alexis Mac Allister starred as the Premier League leaders comfortably secured their place in the next phase. They joined Arsenal and Bayern Munich, who had already confirmed their elite status before the final round.
Barcelona also enjoyed a successful night after a nervous start against Copenhagen. The Catalan side scored four second-half goals to secure a 4-1 win and jump into fifth place. Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur joined them in the top eight after vital victories. The final standings mean five English clubs have progressed directly to the knockout rounds.
The new tournament format delivered high stakes until the final whistle across all 18 simultaneous matches. Smaller clubs like Norway’s Bodo/Glimt celebrated historic achievements by securing playoff berths. Meanwhile, established names like Napoli and Marseille were eliminated from European competition altogether. The draw for the knockout playoffs will take place this Friday to determine the next matchups.
