The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League has delivered another thrilling season of top-level European football, blending drama, high-scoring games, and intense competition across the league and knockout phases. The league phase, involving 36 elite teams from across Europe, ran from 16 September 2025 to 28 January 2026, with the next stage of the tournament kicking off in February and the final scheduled for 30 May 2026 in Budapest, Hungary.

What’s New in the Format

This season continues the updated Champions League structure that features an expanded league phase rather than traditional groups. All 36 teams play eight matches against a variety of opponents in a single table format. The top eight clubs at the end of this phase automatically progress to the Round of 16, while teams ranked 9th to 24th enter the knockout play-off round.

League Phase Highlights

Across eight matchdays, football fans witnessed a blend of expected results and surprising outcomes:

  • Arsenal topped the league phase standings with an unbeaten run, showcasing consistent attacking football throughout the competition.

  • Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur also secured strong positions in the top ranks, reinforcing the strength of Europe’s elite leagues.

  • Notable league phase match results included Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Kairat Almaty, Liverpool’s emphatic 6-0 victory against Qarabağ, and Barcelona’s dominant 4-1 home win against Copenhagen on the final matchday.

  • Several mid-table sides such as Bodø/Glimt and Olympiacos produced surprising results, keeping the competition unpredictable until the final matchdays.

This varied set of results ensured strong fan engagement, with several matches impacting who secured direct entry to the Round of 16 versus those entering the play-offs.

Knockout Phase Play-offs (17-25 February)

2025/26 UEFA Champions League Fixtures and Results: Full Schedule, Key Matches and Knockout Preview
Play-off Champions League 2025/26

The knockout play-offs are set to begin mid-February, with high-stakes first and second legs drawing intense interest:

  • The fixture list includes Galatasaray vs Juventus, Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain, and Benfica vs Real Madrid.

  • Other key ties include Qarabağ vs Newcastle, Bodø/Glimt vs Inter, Olympiacos vs Leverkusen, and Club Brugge vs Atlético de Madrid.

These play-offs determine who advances to the Round of 16, where fresh knockout drama awaits. Clubs that finished in the top spots of the league phase are already guaranteed a place in this round, while play-off victors will join them.

Standout Performances

Several individual and team performances have grabbed headlines:

  • Kylian Mbappé has emerged as the competition’s top scorer so far, showcasing his consistent threat in front of goal.

  • Harry Kane’s leadership and goals for Bayern Munich have helped secure a strong league phase placing and maintain their status as contenders.

  • Dramatic results such as Benfica’s late-game victory over Real Madrid on the final matchday underlined the competitive balance this season.

What to Expect Next

With the knockout stages beginning in February and the final due in Budapest on 30 May 2026, the remaining months promise more intense rivalries, tactical battles, and unforgettable goals. Fans can expect every match to have significant implications as teams chase European glory.

The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League remains one of the most prestigious club competitions in world football, offering weekly excitement and a showcase of the continent’s best talent. Whether you’re tracking fixtures, results, or club progression, this season delivers plenty for supporters and pundits alike.

Knockout phase play-off fixtures

Kick-offs 21:00 CET unless stated.

First legs

Tuesday 17 February

Galatasaray vs Juventus (18:45 CET)

Monaco vs Paris

Borussia Dortmund vs Atalanta

Benfica vs Real Madrid

Wednesday 18 February

Qarabağ vs Newcastle (18:45 CET)

Club Brugge vs Atlético de Madrid

Bodø/Glimt vs Inter

Olympiacos vs Leverkusen

Second legs

Tuesday 24 February

Atlético de Madrid vs Club Brugge (18:45 CET)

Leverkusen vs Olympiacos

Inter vs Bodø/Glimt

Newcastle vs Qarabağ

Wednesday 25 February

Atalanta vs Borussia Dortmund (18:45 CET)

Juventus vs Galatasaray

Paris vs Monaco

Real Madrid vs Benfica

League phase results

Matchday 8

Wednesday 28 January 2026

Ajax 1-2 Olympiacos

Arsenal 3-2 Kairat Almaty

Monaco 0-0 Juventus

Athletic Club 2-3 Sporting CP

Atlético de Madrid 1-2 Bodø/Glimt

Leverkusen 3-0 Villarreal

Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Inter

Club Brugge 3-0 Marseille

Frankfurt 0-2 Tottenham

Barcelona 4-1 Copenhagen

Liverpool 6-0 Qarabağ

Manchester City 2-0 Galatasaray

Pafos 4-1 Slavia Praha

Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Newcastle United

PSV Eindhoven 1-2 Bayern München

Union Saint-Gilloise 1-0 Atalanta

Benfica 4-2 Real Madrid

Napoli 2-3 Chelsea

Matchday 7

Tuesday 20 January 2026

Kairat Almaty 1-4 Club Brugge

Bodø/Glimt 3-1 Manchester City

Copenhagen 1-1 Napoli

Inter 1-3 Arsenal

Olympiacos 2-0 Leverkusen

Real Madrid 6-1 Monaco

Sporting CP 2-1 Paris Saint-Germain

Tottenham 2-0 Borussia Dortmund

Villarreal 1-2 Ajax

Wednesday 21 January 2026

Galatasaray 1-1 Atlético de Madrid

Qarabağ 3-2 Frankfurt

Atalanta 2-3 Athletic Club

Chelsea 1-0 Pafos

Bayern München 2-0 Union Saint-Gilloise

Juventus 2-0 Benfica

Newcastle United 3-0 PSV Eindhoven

Marseille 0-3 Liverpool

Slavia Praha 2-4 Barcelona

Matchday 6

Tuesday 9 December 2025

Kairat Almaty 0-1 Olympiacos

Bayern München 3-1 Sporting CP

Monaco 1-0 Galatasaray

Atalanta 2-1 Chelsea

Barcelona 2-1 Frankfurt

Inter 0-1 Liverpool

PSV Eindhoven 2-3 Atlético de Madrid

Union Saint-Gilloise 2-3 Marseille

Tottenham 3-0 Slavia Praha

Wednesday 10 December 2025

Qarabağ 2-4 Ajax

Villarreal 2-3 Copenhagen

Athletic Club 0-0 Paris Saint-Germain

Leverkusen 2-2 Newcastle United

Borussia Dortmund 2-2 Bodø/Glimt

Club Brugge 0-3 Arsenal

Juventus 2-0 Pafos

Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City

Benfica 2-0 Napoli

Matchday 5

Tuesday 25 November 2025

Ajax 0-2 Benfica

Galatasaray 0-1 Union Saint-Gilloise

Borussia Dortmund 4-0 Villarreal

Chelsea 3-0 Barcelona

Bodø/Glimt 2-3 Juventus

Manchester City 0-2 Leverkusen

Marseille 2-1 Newcastle United

Slavia Praha 0-0 Athletic Club

Napoli 2-0 Qarabağ

Wednesday 26 November 2025

Copenhagen 3-2 Kairat Almaty

Pafos 2-2 Monaco

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern München

Atlético de Madrid 2-1 Inter

Frankfurt 0-3 Atalanta

Liverpool 1-4 PSV Eindhoven

Olympiacos 3-4 Real Madrid

Paris Saint-Germain 5-3 Tottenham

Sporting CP 3-0 Club Brugge

Matchday 4

Tuesday 4 November 2025

Slavia Praha 0-3 Arsenal

Napoli 0-0 Frankfurt

Atlético de Madrid 3-1 Union Saint-Gilloise

Bodø/Glimt 0-1 Monaco

Juventus 1-1 Sporting CP

Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid

Olympiacos 1-1 PSV Eindhoven

Paris Saint-Germain 1-2 Bayern München

Tottenham 4-0 Copenhagen

Wednesday 5 November 2025

Pafos 1-0 Villarreal

Qarabağ 2-2 Chelsea

Ajax 0-3 Galatasaray

Club Brugge 3-3 Barcelona

Inter 2-1 Kairat Almaty

Manchester City 4-1 Borussia Dortmund

Newcastle United 2-0 Athletic Club

Marseille 0-1 Atalanta

Benfica 0-1 Leverkusen

Matchday 3 results

Tuesday 21 October 2025

Barcelona 6-1 Olympiacos

Kairat Almaty 0-0 Pafos

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético de Madrid

Leverkusen 2-7 Paris Saint-Germain

Copenhagen 2-4 Borussia Dortmund

Newcastle United 3-0 Benfica

PSV Eindhoven 6-2 Napoli

Union Saint-Gilloise 0-4 Inter

Villarreal 0-2 Manchester City

Wednesday 22 October 2025

Athletic Club 3-1 Qarabağ

Galatasaray 3-1 Bodø/Glimt

Monaco 0-0 Tottenham

Atalanta 0-0 Slavia Praha

Chelsea 5-1 Ajax

Frankfurt 1-5 Liverpool

Bayern München 4-0 Club Brugge

Real Madrid 1-0 Juventus

Sporting CP 2-1 Marseille

Matchday 2 results

Tuesday 30 September 2025

Atalanta 2-1 Club Brugge

Kairat Almaty 0-5 Real Madrid

Atlético de Madrid 5-1 Frankfurt

Chelsea 1-0 Benfica

Inter 3-0 Slavia Praha

Bodø/Glimt 2-2 Tottenham

Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool

Marseille 4-0 Ajax

Pafos 1-5 Bayern München

Wednesday 1 October 2025

Qarabağ 2-0 Copenhagen

Union Saint-Gilloise 0-4 Newcastle United

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Monaco 2-2 Manchester City

Leverkusen 1-1 PSV Eindhoven

Borussia Dortmund 4-1 Athletic Club

Barcelona 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain

Napoli 2-1 Sporting CP

Villarreal 2-2 Juventus

Matchday 1 results

Tuesday 16 September 2025

Athletic Club 0-2 Arsenal

PSV Eindhoven 1-3 Union Saint-Gilloise

Juventus 4-4 Borussia Dortmund

Real Madrid 2-1 Marseille

Benfica 2-3 Qarabağ

Tottenham 1-0 Villarreal

Wednesday 17 September 2025

Olympiacos 0-0 Pafos

Slavia Praha 2-2 Bodø/Glimt

Ajax 0-2 Inter

Bayern München 3-1 Chelsea

Liverpool 3-2 Atlético de Madrid

Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 Atalanta

Thursday 18 September 2025

Club Brugge 4-1 Monaco

Copenhagen 2-2 Leverkusen

Frankfurt 5-1 Galatasaray

Manchester City 2-0 Napoli

Newcastle United 1-2 Barcelona

Sporting CP 4-1 Kairat Almaty