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English Clubs Dominate as Real Madrid, PSG Drop to Playoffs in Dramatic Champions League Finale

Posted : 29 January 2026

The second edition of the revamped Champions League league phase concluded on Wednesday night with extraordinary drama, as all 18 matches were played simultaneously. Late goals, sudden comebacks and constant shifts in the table defined a thrilling finale that ultimately confirmed the 24 teams continuing their European journey this season.

Eight clubs secured automatic qualification for the quarter-finals, led by a strong English contingent. Arsenal finished top of the table, followed by Bayern Munich in second place. Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City ensured England had five representatives in the last eight, underlining the Premier League’s dominance. Barcelona climbed into fifth place after a 4–1 comeback win over Copenhagen, while Sporting Lisbon completed the top eight thanks to a last-gasp victory over Athletic Bilbao sealed by a 94th-minute winner.

Teams placed between ninth and 24th now head into the playoff round, where 16 sides will battle for the remaining spots in the last 16. Among them are European heavyweights Real Madrid, Inter and defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, all of whom spent parts of the final matchday inside the top eight before slipping out in the closing moments.

Real Madrid were arguably the night’s biggest losers. The Spanish giants missed out on direct qualification only after Sporting’s dramatic late goal. Their own 4–2 defeat to Benfica, coached by former Madrid boss José Mourinho, was compounded by a stunning 98th-minute goal from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, which secured Benfica the final playoff berth in 24th place.

The playoff draw, set for Friday, promises more high-stakes clashes, with potential matchups involving Real Madrid, Inter, PSG and Newcastle among others. The first legs of the playoffs will be played on February 17 and 18, with the return fixtures scheduled a week later. A separate draw on February 27 will determine the full knockout bracket for the remainder of the competition.

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