2025-26 UEFA Champions League Matchday 8 LIVE: Updates and standings from league phase finale

Newcastle equalize the match just before halftime as Joseph Willock finds the net. Meanwhile, Benfica take the lead against Real Madrid, making it 2–1 after Vangelis Pavlidis converts from the penalty spot.

Slavia Prague equalize against Pafos as Stepan Chaloupek scores to make it 1–1.

Napoli take the lead against Chelsea, moving ahead 2–1 as Rasmus Hojlund finds the net.

With his goal against Benfica, Kylian Mbappe made history by surpassing a legendary mark previously held by Cristiano Ronaldo. Mbappé has now scored 12 goals in seven matches during the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League league phase, setting a new record.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s previous benchmark stood at 11 goals in six matches during the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League group stage, a record that had remained untouched until now.

Arsenal push further ahead, making it 3–1 as Gabriel Martinelli gets on the scoresheet.

Benfica equalize the match at 1–1 as Andreas Schjelderup finds the net, pulling Real Madrid back level in Lisbon.

Bayer Leverkusen extend their lead to 2–0 as Malik Tillman scores his second goal of the match. Meanwhile, Bodo/Glimt pull level against Atlético Madrid, making it 1–1 thanks to a goal from Fredrik Sjovold.

Napoli respond and equalize 1–1 against Chelsea as Antonio Vergara gets on the scoresheet.

Real Madrid open the scoring against Benfica, and it is Kylian Mbappe who finds the net to make it 1–0.

Athletic Club regain the lead, making it 2–1 against Sporting Lisbon after Guruzeta finds the net. Manchester City also extend their advantage, moving ahead 2–0 against Galatasaray thanks to a goal from Rayan Cherki.

Liverpool score again to make it 2–0 against Qarabag, with Florian Wirtz finding the net.

Atlético Madrid open the scoring against Bodø/Glimt as Alexander Sørloth puts them ahead. Pafos also take the lead in their match, going up 1–0 against Slavia Prague with a goal from Vlad Dragomir.

Arsenal regain the advantage, making it 2–1 after Kai Havertz finds the net, while Liverpool also get on the scoresheet, opening a 1–0 lead against Qarabag thanks to a goal from Alexis Mac Allister.

Chelsea open the scoring in their key matchup against Napoli as Enzo Fernández finds the back of the net, giving Chelsea a 1–0 lead.

Sporting Lisbon equalize against Athletic Club as Ousmane Diomande scores to make it 1–1 in that key matchup. Bayer Leverkusen also get on the board, opening the scoring with a 1–0 lead over Villarreal thanks to a goal from Malik Tillman. Meanwhile, Club Brugge extend their advantage against Marseille, moving ahead 2–0 after Romeo Vermant finds the net.

Manchester City join the wave of early goals as Erling Haaland finds the net to give them a 1–0 lead against Galatasaray.

Kairat Almaty level the score against Arsenal, making it 1–1 in their match and bringing an early twist to the contest. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain take the lead in their game, going up 1–0 thanks to a goal from Vitinha.

Athletic Club quickly joined Arsenal among the early scorers, taking the lead in their crucial matchup against Sporting Lisbon thanks to a goal from Tirapu, a result with major implications in the race for qualification. At the same time, Club Brugge went up 1–0 against Marseille, with Diakhon opening the scoring and boosting the Belgian side’s hopes of staying alive.

One of the biggest surprises of the day came in Barcelona, where Barcelona fell behind 1–0 at home against Copenhagen. Viktor Daoason found the net for Copenhagen, sending shockwaves through the stadium and adding immediate pressure on Barcelona as the UEFA Champions League standings continue to shift in real time.

Arsenal take an early 1–0 lead as Viktor Gyökeres finds the back of the net, scoring the first goal of the day across the UEFA Champions League.

The final UEFA Champions League matchday is officially underway, and it is absolute chaos across Europe with all 18 matches kicking off simultaneously. With direct qualification spots, playoff places, and elimination all on the line, every goal from this moment on could dramatically reshape the standings.

This new UEFA Champions League format allows 24 clubs to remain in contention, with only 12 eliminated outright after the league phase. Several clubs are already well clear of the top eight but have effectively secured their place in the playoff round. Inter and Juventus sit on 12 points, while Borussia Dortmund follow closely with 11, placing them firmly in that category.

The most intense fight for playoff qualification comes just below. Galatasaray and Qarabag, both on 10 points, are in solid positions but face difficult road tests away to Manchester City and Liverpool, respectively. Olympique de Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen, and Monaco each have nine points and currently sit in qualifying spots, with Marseille visiting Club Brugge, Leverkusen hosting already eliminated Villarreal, and Monaco facing Juventus at home.

Further down the table, PSV Eindhoven, Athletic Club, Olympiacos, Napoli, and Copenhagen all have eight points and are still alive. PSV and Athletic Club occupy the final two playoff places for now, while Napoli are currently outside the cut line and must defeat Chelsea at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium to stay alive, making it one of the standout matches of the day. Club Brugge sit on seven points, while Benfica, Pafos, Union Saint-Gilloise, and Ajax each have six and will need a win combined with favorable results elsewhere to extend their UEFA Champions League run.

Real Madrid sit third with 15 points and are well-positioned to secure a direct place in the round of 16. They visit Benfica, who have six points, and a victory would guarantee qualification without relying on other results. Liverpool also have 15 points and will close the league phase at home against Qarabag, one of the surprise sides with 10 points. Both Real Madrid and Liverpool could still advance with a draw.

Tottenham Hotspur are fifth on 14 points and also control their own destiny in the race for a top-eight finish. They travel to face already eliminated Eintracht Frankfurt, who have four points, and a win would be enough to send Tottenham straight into the round of 16.

From sixth place onward, a tightly packed group of clubs sit on 13 points, all aiming to break into the top eight. The marquee matchup in this zone is Paris Saint-Germain hosting Newcastle in France, where the winner will move closer to direct qualification and the loser will likely drop into the playoff round. Sporting Lisbon visit Athletic Club, Manchester City host Galatasaray, Chelsea travel to Napoli, Barcelona play at home against Copenhagen, Atlético Madrid welcome Bodø/Glimt, and Atalanta visit Union Saint-Gilloise. With limited spots available, goal difference could ultimately decide who advances directly and who is forced into the playoffs.

Barcelona will play this final UEFA Champions League matchday without two of their most influential players, as Pedri and Frenkie de Jong are both unavailable for tonight’s decisive clash. The absences represent a significant challenge for Barcelona as they look to secure their position in the standings.

De Jong will miss the match due to suspension after accumulating yellow cards. The Dutch midfielder picked up his third booking of the competition during last week’s 4–2 victory over Slavia Prague, triggering an automatic one-match ban for Matchday 8.

Pedri, meanwhile, is sidelined through injury. The Spanish midfielder suffered a muscle injury to the biceps femoris in his right leg during that same win over Slavia Prague.

• Round of 16 (2):
  Arsenal are guaranteed to finish either first or second in the standings, ensuring a direct place in the round of 16 with a top seeding position. Bayern Munich also booked their spot after a 2–0 victory over Union Saint-Gilloise on Wednesday.

• Guaranteed at least a place in the knockout playoff round (13): Real Madrid, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle, Chelsea, Barcelona, Sporting Portugal, Manchester City, Atlético Madrid, Atalanta, Inter, and Juventus have all secured a minimum of a playoff-round berth.

• Still in contention for the knockout rounds or facing elimination (17):
  Borussia Dortmund, Galatasaray, Qarabag, Olympique de Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen, Monaco, PSV Eindhoven, Athletic Club, Olympiacos, Napoli, Copenhagen, Club Brugge, Bodø/Glimt, Benfica, Pafos, Union Saint-Gilloise, and Ajax enter the final matchday with their European futures still undecided.

• Eliminated (4):
  Eintracht Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, Villarreal, and Kairat Almaty are officially out of the competition.

• Benfica vs Real Madrid
• Barcelona vs Copenhagen
• Atlético Madrid vs Bodø/Glimt
• Athletic Club vs Sporting Portugal
• Bayer Leverkusen vs Villarreal
• Paris Saint-Germain vs Newcastle
• Manchester City vs Galatasaray
• Borussia Dortmund vs Inter
• Napoli vs Chelsea
• Monaco vs Juventus
• Ajax vs Olympiacos
• Union Saint-Gilloise vs Atalanta
• PSV Eindhoven vs. Bayern Munich
• Club Brugge vs. Olympique de Marseille
• Liverpool vs. Qarabag
• Arsenal vs Kairat
• Eintracht Frankfurt vs Tottenham Hotspur
• Pafos vs Slavia Prague

Welcome to our live blog of today’s UEFA Champions League action as the league phase reaches its decisive final matchday 8!

All 18 matches will be played simultaneously, with qualification spots and final standings on the line across Europe. Stay with us for goal alerts, key updates, and real-time movements in the table as the race for the round of 16 intensifies.