The Champions League league phase concluded on Wednesday night in extraordinary fashion, delivering late goals, shifting tables and major surprises across Europe as clubs battled for automatic qualification under the competition’s new format.
By the end of a frenetic final matchday, five Premier League sides secured direct qualification to the last 16, while Newcastle United were pushed into the knockout play-offs, setting up a potentially treacherous route toward the latter stages of the tournament.
Premier League Dominance in the Top Eight
Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City all finished inside the top eight, guaranteeing their place in the round of 16 and avoiding the uncertainty of the February play-offs.
Arsenal were the standout performers of the league phase. Mikel Arteta’s side completed a perfect campaign, winning all eight matches after edging Kairat Almaty 3–2 at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners finished top of the table and will face one of Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund or Olympiacos in the last 16.
Liverpool claimed third place following a dominant 6–0 victory over Qarabag at Anfield, underlining their attacking strength in Europe. Arne Slot’s team will be drawn against Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray.
Tottenham finished fourth after a composed 2–0 away win against Eintracht Frankfurt, giving them the same pool of potential opponents as Liverpool in the next round.
Chelsea secured sixth place in dramatic fashion, coming from behind to beat Napoli 3–2 in Italy. João Pedro’s second-half brace proved decisive, keeping the Blues among the elite and setting up a last-16 tie against PSG, Newcastle, Monaco or Qarabag.
Manchester City narrowly claimed the final automatic qualification spot in eighth place. Pep Guardiola’s side now face a challenging draw against Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Bodo/Glimt or Benfica, highlighting the unforgiving nature of the new format.
Newcastle Forced Into the Play-Offs
Despite earning a valuable 1–1 draw away to Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle United finished 12th and must now contest a two-legged play-off in February against Monaco or Qarabag.
Should they progress, the task becomes even more daunting, with Barcelona or Chelsea awaiting them in the round of 16.
Shockwaves Across Europe
The final night produced several major shocks. Real Madrid and PSG, both pre-tournament favourites, were forced into the play-offs, while Napoli were eliminated entirely, marking one of the biggest surprises of the league phase.
One of the most dramatic moments came in Lisbon, where Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a 98th-minute header, a rare and unforgettable scene that kept José Mourinho’s side alive and altered the fate of multiple clubs.
Looking Ahead
With the league phase complete, attention now turns to the February play-offs and the knockout draw that will follow. Arsenal and Manchester City find themselves on the same side of the bracket, opening the possibility of an all-English quarter-final, while Liverpool and Tottenham could yet cross paths with Chelsea or Newcastle later in the competition.
What is already clear is that the Champions League’s new format has delivered unrelenting drama and high stakes and with Europe’s giants now entering the knockout rounds, the road to the final promises even greater intensity.
