Champions League Final Match DayA Chapter by Steve Clark The following article details matches surrounding the 2025-26 Champions League. Champions League Final Match Day Sporting Lisbon v Pafos Sporting Lisbon consolidated their spot in the Champions League Playoffs with a solid victory over Pafos. Pedro Gonçalves got the ball rolling, running onto a through ball in the sixth minute. Francisco Trincão doubled the lead just before the half hour, as he was found alone in the box with a cross from the left wing. Trincão added another right before the break as a solo effort, and Colombian Luis Suárez finished off Match Day Eight in the 71st minute with Sporting’s fourth.
Newcastle v Barcelona Nick Woltemade stunned Barcelona when he scored in the 35th minute for Newcastle, giving his side a potential taste of the top eight. The visitors, however, had other ideas as Alejandro Balde scored soon after the break, and Raphinha gave Barcelona the lead with eighteen minutes left for a win propelling them momentum-wise for the knockout stages.
Manchester City v Napoli Napoli made one change as Manchester City made two in the clash between tenth and eleventh. Kevin de Bruyne faced his old side, and nearly set up Rasmus Højlund with the opener. Erling Haaland nearly had his own, before Tijjani Reijnders had two attempts to gift the hosts the lead. Højlund and Scott McTominay had chances late in the second half to equalise, but Manchester City held onto the lead through smart use of possession. Jérémy Doku hit the woodwork, nearly adding a second goal, but one was enough to pounce on a top eight position, pending other results happening at the same time.
Frankfurt v Galatasaray A win or possibly a draw would keep Frankfurt in the top 24, whilst Galatasaray desired three points to ensure a top four placing. The first half was a battle for the midfield, with neither really dominating, and both sides tried balls into space with runners leading onto them. In the second half, Galatasaray had the better of the play early, before Frankfurt wrestled momentum, and then Galatasaray had the last efforts, all to no avail. A scoreless draw was the result, and Frankfurt had to wait other matches in play to reveal their resting place after Match Day Eight.
København v Bayer Leverkusen Leverkusen had to win by a large margin to have any hope of the Playoffs, whilst København knew a result would keep them alive in the desired Top 24. The first twenty minutes saw København create two opportunities of the ball pinballing in the 18-yard box, only for it to fail in crossing the goal line. Late in the half, Leverkusen worked back into the game, creating chances to score. København wrestled back momentum and eventually scored at the second attempt via Jordan Larsson. Mohamed El Younoussi doubled the lead from the spot after Edmond Tapsoba brought down Rodrigo Huecas inside the box. From there, København came home with the three points.
Club Brugge v Monaco Club Brugge needed to defeat Monaco to advance to the Playoffs, and started with aplomb. Hans Vanaken set up Raphael Onyedika for the opener in the fifteenth minute, and Monaco were on the back foot, knowing a loss would mean they drop places. Onyedika should have had a second, but it was Hugo Vetlesen who bagged another for Club Brugge, as they kept stealing the ball from Monaco through piling on pressure across the entire field. After the break, Mika Biereth had the best chance for Monaco, hitting the post with his power shot. In the next passage of play, Lamine Camara curled his left footer into the back of the net after Maghnes Akliouche found him in the box. Biereth then equalised with a through ball, and his one-on-one effort shot them back into the match. However, Romeo Vermant had other ideas as Club Brugge took the lead back, after substitute George Ilenikhena had a chance to give Monaco the lead. A win for the hosts means they carry on in the Champions League.
PSG v Atalanta Atalanta hoped to overtake PSG on the ladder with a win, and the hosts needed three points themselves for a slight chance to make the top eight. PSG made two changes and Atalanta one. After Atalanta started the better of the two sides, Ousmane Dembélé turned things around with a goal from outside the box against the run of play. PSG turned up the heat and scored again late in the first half off a corner and via Willian Pacho’s head. After the break, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia made it three and four goals, thanks to two more assists by Dembélé. Kvaratskhelia gained his hat trick after Atalanta failed to clear the ball, again assisted by the PSG striker. Dembélé then made it six goals in a ruthless display as the hosts reached for the top eight, with other results pending. Atalanta, meanwhile, waited on other results to see if losing 6-0 would drop out of the top 24.
Liverpool v Atlético Madrid Atlético needed at least a draw to keep their Champions League alive, pending other results, while a win could propel Liverpool into the top eight. Atlético tried the tactic of chipping over the Liverpool back four, and it nearly paid off. However, Liverpool took control of the match and pressured the ball into the back of the net via Dominik Szoboszlai. The midfielder added a second goal minutes later and Liverpool clamped down on the match via possession, wanting to carry momentum into the knockout stages. The second half was even across the board until Virgil Van Dijk managed a header into the back of the net to make it three goals. Federico Chiesa came off the bench to add a fourth, and Liverpool looked set to break into the top eight.
Bayern München v Chelsea Chelsea needed a win to possibly reach the top eight, while Bayern had the top four in their sights. Luis Díaz started the great contest with a goal from outside the box. Chelsea worked mostly down the right wing, to no avail. Instead, Harry Kane doubled the lead after Díaz hit the woodwork. Díaz gained a brace soon after the break, tapping in after his first shot was saved. Pedro Neto tried to get a goal back for Chelsea, with the shot saved onto the crossbar. Kane instead had his own brace, turning and shooting with power and prowess. Michael Olise himself stole the ball late and snagged from a tight angle. 5-0 was the final score.
Ajax v Inter Milan Ajax needed a big win to have any hope of reaching the Playoffs, while a win for Inter Milan would consolidate a top eight spot. Both sides had chances in the first half, but it was the midfield battle that was most exciting for the crowd. In the second half, Ajax tightened screws, but Inter managed to hold firm and have an attempt at goal themselves. Yann Sommer was Player of the Match thanks to two crucial saves, stopping Ajax from reaching the knockout stages.
Slavia Praha v Bodø/Glimt In a dead rubber and only with two sides playing for pride, Christos Zafeiris scored the opener for Slavia Praha. After this, the midfield was where the main contest took place. Bodø/Glimt had more possession and attacking drive in the second half, only to fail to score, and Slavia Praha overtook them on the table.
Olympiacos v Kairat Olympiacos wanted to be in the top sixteen, and scored early against Kairat via Chiquinho. Rodinei de Almeida made it two goals in the 24th minute, before Ayoub El Kaabi added another three minutes later. From there, Olympiacos had 70% possession across the match, with seventeen shots to two.
Tottenham v Villarreal Tottenham had to defeat Villarreal in first place to make the Playoffs, and Dominic Solanke started them off with a bang early. The first period saw Villarreal ease back into the match, only to not create any final passes that led to a goal. The second half saw more of the same, though Villarreal could have equalised, only to come up short. Defender Pape Sarr, as Player of the Match, ensured his side would remain in the Champions League. Villarreal, meanwhile, dropped to second place after dominating at the top.
Benfica v Qarabağ Benfica and Qarabağ faced off for a spot in the Playoffs. Draw and things get complicated for both sides, relying on other results to go their way. Qarabağ had the first shot on goal from a free kick right in front, but it was Vangelis Pavlidis who opened the tale for Benfica. Pavlidis made it two goals soon after the half hour mark, shooting from 18 yards out with his left foot. Though Benfica dominated the second half as they had done the first, Qarabağ did not capitulate in this final match as other teams had done, and the 2-0 score was respectable in the end for the away side, even if it meant bowing out of the Champions League.
Real Madrid v Marseille Sixth faced seventh in the match to decide who would extend their stay in the Round of 16, and who might, pending results, take their place in the Playoffs. Vinicius Jr set the tone with an early goal for Real, and it looked like the hosts could earn a top four spot with a great victory. Real did look dangerous every time they advanced, only for Marseille to absorb the pressure each time. Right after the hour mark, more pressure wore down Marseille, and Jude Bellingham walked into the box and slotted Real’s second. Ten minutes before the end, Kylian Mbappé did the same. Bellingham then gained two more goals for a hat trick, as Marseille folded in the dying stages.
Juventus v Borussia Dortmund Juventus and Borussia Dortmund both needed a win to make the Playoffs. A draw for Juventus was unlikely to be enough, pending other results. The Italian side had the possession early, but kept breaking down in the final third. Finally, they broke Borussia with a steal, and Khéphren Thuram hit the underside of the crossbar and over the line. In the second half, Dortmund absorbed more pressure, before the match opened up and they tried in vain down either wing. Instead, it was Juventus who gave their Champions League a lifeline, and entered the Playoffs eager to improve.
PSV v RUSG In a dead rubber, Royale Union made a mistake and Ricardo Pepi drifted the ball into the goal for the opener. Right before the hour, Ismael Saibari doubled the lead as he finished off a pinball play in the box. PSV looked set for their second win, particularly when Pepi gained his brace. Three-nil to the hosts.
Athletic Club v Arsenal In a match where Arsenal grasped to reach the top eight, it was a first half dominated by free kicks, three of which involved Bukayo Saka. Player of the Match David Raya, in goals, played out of his skin, managing the rear guard with eight saves as Athletic Club craved a top sixteen position for themselves. Both sides threw their all into scoring a goal, all to no avail, and though Arsenal worked down the right wing constantly, all they could muster was a single point, missing out on a top eight spot.
Indeed, Atalanta losing 6-0 was the worst possible outcome, as they missed out on the Playoffs by a goal difference of two under Frankfurt. Monaco stayed in the top eight and will have a rest during the Playoff weeks, along with Liverpool, Manchester City, Galatasaray, Real Madrid, Bayern München, Villarreal and Barcelona. The two biggest surprises missing out are Atlético Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.
© 2026 Steve Clark |
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Added on January 6, 2026 Last Updated on January 6, 2026 Author
Steve ClarkAdelaide, South Australia, AustraliaAboutA free spirited educator who dabbles in the art of writing novels and articles. more.. |
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