OFFICIAL: Several major clubs eliminated early in the 2025/26 Champions League

Following the end of the Champions League qualifying phase, the teams knocked out have been determined, including prominent clubs such as Napoli, Marseille, Ajax, and Villarreal who underperformed significantly.

Marseille, Pafos, Royale Union SG, PSV, Athletic Bilbao, Napoli, Copenhagen, Ajax, Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, Villarreal, and Kairat are the representatives who had to say goodbye to the Champions League immediately after the qualifying round. The early exit of many traditionally strong clubs highlights the harshness of the new format, where only the most consistent teams can survive.

Among the eliminated teams, Napoli's exit was the most regrettable. The squad led by coach Antonio Conte entered as the reigning Serie A champions but managed only 2 wins, 2 draws, and suffered 4 defeats. In the final match, Napoli held a significant advantage but still allowed Chelsea to come back and win 3-2, finishing the qualifying round in 30th place out of 36 teams.

After the match, coach Antonio Conte openly expressed his disappointment. He stated: “I am very proud that despite missing more than half of our squad, we played better than Chelsea. Napoli deserved more. Let’s not forget Chelsea won the Club World Cup and have many outstanding players, but we matched them level for level. It’s truly unfortunate; I believe Napoli deserved a spot in the play-offs.”

Meanwhile, Marseille was also eliminated in a bitter way. In the last match, the French side only needed a draw to advance, but Mason Greenwood and his teammates lost 0-3 to Club Brugge. This defeat not only left Marseille empty-handed but also severely damaged their goal difference, allowing Benfica to rise to 24th place and claim the final play-off spot.

Besides Napoli and Marseille, Bilbao, Ajax, and Villarreal also caused major disappointment. Despite having squads valued at hundreds of millions of euros and many experienced stars, these clubs failed to advance past the qualifying round, ending their Champions League journey to the dismay of their fans.