Top 8 teams in the 2025 - 2026 Champions League group stage: Real Madrid and PSG absent

All 18 matches in the final round of the Champions League group stage this season took place simultaneously, determining the top 8 teams earning direct spots in the round of 16: Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting CP, and Manchester City.

Arsenal topped the group with 24 points and a +19 goal difference after a 3-2 win over Kairat Almaty. The Gunners’ performance confirms their status as title contenders. Bayern Munich (21 points) secured second place after defeating PSV, while Liverpool climbed to third by thrashing Qarabag 6-0 in the last matchday.

Sporting CP was a major surprise, securing a spot among the top 8 thanks to a late goal in their 3-2 victory over Athletic Club.

English football dominated with five representatives, whereas Spain, Germany, and Portugal each had only one team qualify directly. This highlights the Premier League’s superiority over other European leagues.

Many unexpected results occurred in the final round, forcing several big clubs to face the tough play-off round to continue their campaign.

With a 1-1 home draw against Newcastle, defending champions PSG finished the group stage with 14 points, placing 11th. This outcome means both teams must now enter the play-offs.

Another shock came as Real Madrid lost 2-4 to Benfica. This disappointing result dropped the Whites to 9th place, forcing them into the play-offs — a rare occurrence for the Spanish giants, the most decorated club in the competition. This is surely an unexpected outcome for Real Madrid, especially amid recent coaching changes.

Besides PSG and Real, other notable teams in the play-offs include Inter Milan, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, and Dortmund. With many strong clubs involved, the upcoming matches promise to be intense and unpredictable. The play-offs will be a critical test where any mistake could be costly for these big names.

The final round also witnessed a historic win by Norwegian newcomer Bodo/Glimt, who defeated Atlético Madrid 2-1 to secure a knockout spot in 23rd position.

Benfica’s impressive victory over Real Madrid helped them avoid elimination and reach the play-offs. After this memorable match, Benfica’s coach Jose Mourinho praised his players highly and even claimed that his team could compete for the title.

Teams ranked 25th to 36th have been eliminated from the competition. Most notably, Napoli, Ajax, and Marseille.

The Italian club finished 30th after losing 2-3 to Chelsea in the final match and was knocked out. Ajax disappointed by losing 1-2 to Olympiakos, ending in 32nd place. Meanwhile, French side Marseille exited bitterly after a 0-3 defeat to Club Brugge.

The play-off round, featuring teams ranked 9th to 24th, will be drawn by UEFA on January 31. The play-off teams are divided into two groups: seeded teams ranked 9th to 16th, who will have the advantage of playing the second leg at home, and the others. The seeded group includes Real, Inter, PSG, Newcastle, Juventus, Atletico, Atalanta, and Leverkusen. The remaining teams are Dortmund, Olympiacos, Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Monaco, Qarabag, Bodo, and Benfica.

Real Madrid draws the most attention, as the Bernabeu club has never missed the Champions League round of 16. However, if their performance does not improve, coach Arbeloa’s squad could leave a lasting stain in the club’s history.

Matchups are determined by ranking, and teams from the same country may face each other. This round will take place in mid-February with home-and-away legs to decide the 8 remaining spots for the Champions League round of 16.