The curtain came down on the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League in breathtaking fashion on Wednesday night, with 18 matches kicking off simultaneously across Europe.
As the dust settled, places in the top eight, playoff spots, and elimination zone were finally decided in a final-day spectacle packed with goals, twists and heartbreak.
While while Europe’s giants dominated the headlines, Nigerian players once again ensured their presence would be felt deep into the competition.
Champions League Final Matchday Across Europe
The final night delivered everything the Champions League promised. It was a night where margins disappeared, calculators came out, and every goal was decisional.
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Chelsea edged Napoli 3–2 in Italy, a result that sealed a top-eight finish for the Blues and cruelly eliminated Antonio Conte’s Napoli from playoff contention.
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Benfica stunned Real Madrid 4–2, a result that pushed José Mourinho’s side into the playoffs and also ensured Álvaro Arbeloa’s Real Madrid progressed alongside them.
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Arsenal completed a flawless league phase, finishing first overall with eight wins from eight, following a thrilling 3–2 victory over Kairat Almaty.
Nigerian Internationals: Five Players Through to the Knockouts
As the league phase concluded, five Nigerian players confirmed their places in the Champions League knockout rounds, all advancing via the round of 16 playoffs after finishing between 9th and 24th in the standings.
While none secured automatic qualification, all but one Nigerian involved progressed.
Victor Osimhen Battles, Galatasaray Survive
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray)
Galatasaray entered the final matchday knowing they needed a result against Manchester City to guarantee progression.
They fell to a 2–0 defeat, but Osimhen remained lively, testing Gianluigi Donnarumma three times without finding the net.
Fortunately for the Turkish champions, results elsewhere went their way, allowing them to finish 20th and sneak into the playoff round.
Late Heroics Send Onyemaechi Through
Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos)
Olympiacos began the night outside the top 24, needing victory away to Ajax at the Johan Cruyff Arena to stand any chance.
The Super Eagles defender was introduced in the 87th minute, as goals from Gelson Martins and Santiago Hezze sealed a crucial 2–1 win.
The result propelled Olympiacos into the playoff spots, with Onyemaechi now eyeing a favorable draw.
Onyedika Dominates as Club Brugge Shock Marseille
Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge)
Club Brugge produced one of the night’s most emphatic results, thrashing Marseille 3–0 to force their way into the top 24.
Nigerian midfielder, Raphael Onyedika, a key figure throughout the campaign, played the full 90 minutes, anchoring the midfield as Brugge claimed an unprecedented victory.
Monaco Hold Firm, Ilenikhena Watches On
George Ilenikhena (Monaco)
Monaco secured qualification with a 0–0 draw against Juventus, a result that proved decisive.
Anything less would have seen them slip down the table, but the point was enough to secure a 21st-place finish.
Ilenikhena did not feature, watching the entire match from the bench.
Lookman and Atalanta Fall Short of Top Eight
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)
Atalanta’s hopes of automatic qualification suffered a blow with a 1–0 defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise.
Victory would have lifted them to 16 points and ninth place, missing the top eight only on goal difference. Instead, they finished 15th with 13 points.
Lookman featured in the match but was substituted in the 51st minute.
Premier League Power: England Eye History
It is an impressive achievement for five and potentially six Premier League clubs to reach the knockout stages.
However, questions have emerged about whether English sides benefited from a kinder fixture list.
Pre-season analysis by Opta ranked:
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Arsenal’s fixtures as the third easiest
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Tottenham fourth
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Liverpool seventh
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Chelsea eighth
By contrast:
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Manchester City were ranked 14th
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Newcastle United, who faced defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, were ranked 32nd
A Familiar English Surge – With Bigger Possibilities
The last time five Premier League teams reached the knockouts was 2017, when Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham progressed.
Only Liverpool and Manchester City made it beyond the last 16, with Liverpool eventually reaching the final after knocking City out in the quarter-finals.
This season presents a different opportunity.
With five English clubs finishing in the top eight, they avoid facing each other in the last 16, opening the door to a record-breaking number of English quarter-finalists.
England has previously placed four teams in the quarter-finals in 2007–08, 2008–09, and 2018–19, including two all-English finals.
This year, England could have as many as six.
All Results: Wednesday 28 January
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Ajax 1–2 Olympiacos
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Arsenal 3–2 Kairat
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Athletic Club 2–3 Sporting CP
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Atlético Madrid 1–2 Bodø/Glimt
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Barcelona 4–1 Copenhagen
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Bayer Leverkusen 3–0 Villarreal
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Benfica 4–2 Real Madrid
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Borussia Dortmund 0–2 Inter Milan
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Club Brugge 3–0 Marseille
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Eintracht Frankfurt 0–2 Tottenham Hotspur
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Liverpool 6–0 Qarabağ
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Manchester City 2–0 Galatasaray
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Monaco 0–0 Juventus
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Napoli 2–3 Chelsea
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PSV 1–2 Bayern Munich
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Pafos 4–1 Slavia Prague
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Paris Saint-Germain 1–1 Newcastle United
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Union Saint-Gilloise 1–0 Atalanta
