Overview of the Current Situation
After the conclusion of the penultimate round in the Champions League 2025-26, 15 teams have secured a place in the playoffs, at least. These teams will compete for the remaining nine spots to continue their quest for “La Orejona” (The Little Golden Boot).
Penultimate Round Recap
The penultimate round, played from January 20 to 21, featured 18 matches. The tournament format changed last season (2024-25), eliminating the group stage in favor of a general round-robin among the 36 participants.
Each team plays eight first-round games (four at home and four away), and the top 24 from this round advance to the knockout stage: eight receive direct entry into the round of 16, and 16 compete in the playoffs.
Current Standings
After seven rounds, only two teams have secured direct entry into the round of 16: Arsenal with 21 points and Bayern Munich with 18 points. Arsenal holds a perfect record of seven wins.
Thirteen teams have secured playoff spots following the matches on January 20 and 21: Atalanta, Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Real Madrid, Sporting Lisbon, and Tottenham.
Key Teams and Their Prospects
Barcelona: After defeating Slavia Praga 2-4 in the Czech Republic, Barcelona leads the group vying for playoff spots. Other favorites like Manchester City and Inter Milan are also in this group.
Teams Already Eliminated: Only four teams remain for the last matchday, having been eliminated: Eintracht Frankfurt, Kairat Almaty, Slavia Praga, and Villarreal.
Seventeen teams still have a mathematical chance to continue, even if it’s only through the playoffs. These teams include Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray, Qarabag, Olympique Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen, Monaco, PSV Eindhoven, Athletic Bilbao, Olympiacos, Napoli, Copenhagen, Brugge, Bodo/Glimt, Benfica, Paços de Ferreira, and Ajax.
Notable Results from the Penultimate Round
- Barcelona’s victory over Slavia Praga in the Czech Republic
- Liverpool’s 0-3 win against Olympique Marseille, with goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, and an own goal by Gerónimo Rulli
- Bayern Munich’s 2-0 victory over Union Saint-Gilloise, with a double from Harry Kane
Matchups for the Final Matchday
In the final matchday, Liverpool, Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester City (favorites) will play at home against Qarabag, Copenhagen, Newcastle, Kairat Almaty, and Galatasaray, respectively.
Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Chelsea, and Juventus will play away against Benfica, PSV, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli, and Monaco.
Playoff Standings (as of the Penultimate Round)
Directly Qualified to Round of 16 (2):
- Arsenal (England)
- Bayern Munich (Germany)
At Least Qualified for Playoffs (13):
- Atalanta (Italy)
- Atlético Madrid (Spain)
- Barcelona (Spain)
- Chelsea (England)
- Inter Milan (Italy)
- Juventus (Italy)
- Liverpool (England)
- Manchester City (England)
- Newcastle (England)
- Paris Saint-Germain (France)
- Real Madrid (Spain)
- Sporting Lisbon (Portugal)
- Tottenham (England)
