The league phase of the 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League concluded on 28 January, with Arsenal leading the standings. The Gunners achieved a flawless record, winning all eight of their matches, scoring 23 goals and conceding only four.
Five English clubs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, and Manchester City, were among the eight teams to automatically progress to the round of 16. Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and Sporting CP also secured direct qualification.
Teams ranked ninth to 24th, including Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and Newcastle United, will now compete in the knockout phase play-offs. A dramatic finish saw Benfica's goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin score a 98th-minute goal against Real Madrid to earn a play-off spot. Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé was the league phase's top goalscorer with 13 goals.
