Ali Akbar Rosady
The UEFA Champions League league phase concluded on January 28, 2026, with a frantic Wednesday night of 18 simultaneous fixtures, delivering a blend of high-stakes drama and unexpected outcomes that have set the stage for the upcoming knockout playoff rounds. Benfica’s Anatoliy Trubin emerged as an unlikely hero, scoring a stoppage-time goal against Real Madrid to secure his side’s place in the knockout phase, while Arsenal completed a clean sweep of their eight league phase games. Elsewhere, Chelsea edged out Napoli with a 3-2 victory, ensuring their progression to the Top 8 and eliminating Antonio Conte’s squad. With seedings now finalized for Friday’s knockout playoff round draw, analysts have begun dissecting the key narratives, standout performances, and major disappointments of the competition’s evolving format.
The dramatic conclusion to the league phase was arguably encapsulated by Benfica’s stunning 4-2 victory over Real Madrid, a result that propelled the Portuguese side into the knockout playoffs and saw Real Madrid fall out of the Top 8. Benfica, led by former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, having lost their first four games in the group stage. The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time when goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin ventured forward for a free-kick, heading home to seal an improbable win. This last-gasp goal, coming in the 98th minute, denied Real Madrid a direct path to the Round of 16 and forced them into the playoffs for the second consecutive year under the new format. Real Madrid’s recent form, including three losses in their last four competitive matches, coupled with Benfica’s dominant performance (2.99 to 1.50 xG), underscored the magnitude of the upset. The prospect of a potential playoff rematch between Mourinho’s Benfica and Real Madrid has already ignited significant anticipation, adding another layer to the competition’s evolving narrative.
The league phase format itself, now in its second year, has been a subject of ongoing debate among football analysts. Proponents, such as Julien Laurens and Sam Tighe, argue that the "Swiss model" has consistently delivered compelling drama, particularly on the final matchday, with high stakes maintaining engagement across the eight games. They highlight that dropped points early in the phase can significantly jeopardize a team’s chances of securing a Top 8 spot, as evidenced by major clubs like Real Madrid, Internazionale, Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Juventus facing playoff rounds this season, mirroring Liverpool and PSG’s playoff encounters last year. This format, they contend, encourages more attacking and less speculative football.
Conversely, critics including James Olley and Mark Ogden, maintain that the new format dilutes the importance of individual matches between major teams and imposes an unnecessary increase in player workload through two additional games. They argue that the "televisual feast" of the final matchday comes at the cost of weeks of "sterile build-up," likening the system to a "European Super League by not-so-stealth design." The incentive of home advantage for the top two seeds in the knockout rounds, they suggest, compromises the traditional purity of knockout football. Gab Marcotti offered a potential fix to enhance meaning, suggesting a system where top seeds choose their knockout opponents, adding a layer of strategic drama that is currently absent.
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Regarding the biggest disappointments of the league phase, several teams were highlighted for their underperformance. Napoli, the reigning Serie A champions, drew significant criticism for their early exit. Despite their domestic success, Antonio Conte’s side finished near the bottom of the 36-team table, with analysts pointing to a 6-2 defeat against PSV Eindhoven and a failure to overcome Eintracht Frankfurt at home as key indicators of their struggles. Conte’s historical difficulties in the Champions League were noted as a contributing factor.
Villarreal was another widely cited disappointment. Despite holding fourth position in LaLiga, the Spanish club managed a mere one point from eight Champions League games, a performance described as embarrassing. Their campaign included defeats to lesser-fancied teams like Pafos and F.C. København, raising questions about their commitment to European competition amidst a stretched squad and a focus on domestic priorities.
Inter Milan, last season’s finalists and current Serie A leaders, were also mentioned as underwhelming. While likely to qualify for the Round of 16, their performances, particularly in home matches against Liverpool and Arsenal and an away defeat to Atlético Madrid, suggested they had not yet demonstrated the necessary progression to contend for the title this season. Other teams, including Ajax Amsterdam and Eintracht Frankfurt, were broadly identified as having shambolic campaigns.
Looking ahead to potential Champions League winners, Arsenal and Bayern Munich were identified as initial front-runners due to their dominance in the league phase, with Arsenal achieving a perfect eight wins. However, analysts cautioned that the league phase results might not be a reliable indicator for the knockout rounds. Mark Ogden and Sam Tighe both argued that the "slate is wiped clean" at this stage, with the "real action" only just beginning.
Real Madrid, despite their league phase struggles, were tipped by Rob Dawson as strong contenders due to their pedigree, a squad packed with special players like Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, and the intangible "weight of history" they carry in this competition. The "combustible" nature of the team, however, was acknowledged as a potential vulnerability.
Liverpool also garnered significant support from Beth Lindop, who expressed a "weird feeling" about their potential this season. Despite an inconsistent Premier League campaign, Liverpool has shown strength in Europe, overcoming Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and Atlético Madrid. Their style of play, less reliant on physicality and set pieces, is deemed better suited for European competition, and the absence of a domestic title race could allow them to prioritize the Champions League.
The reigning champions, Paris Saint-Germain, were a contentious pick. While Sam Tighe and Sam Marsden viewed them as strong contenders, noting their ability to "spring to life" in the latter stages, Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens expressed skepticism. Laurens stated that the current PSG team is a "shadow" of last season’s triumphant squad, citing a perceived drop in their collective level and specific losses this season to Marseille, Paris FC, AS Monaco, Bayern (at home), and Sporting CP.
Barcelona, despite defensive frailties (no clean sheets and 14 goals conceded), were considered a threat due to their attacking prowess, although concerns lingered over Pedri’s recurring hamstring issues. Manchester City’s defensive vulnerabilities were also cited as a potential impediment to their chances.
The league phase provided several memorable moments, goals, and standout individual performances. Micky van de Ven’s outrageous solo goal for Tottenham Hotspur against F.C. København, where he dribbled past multiple players from his own box before scoring, was highlighted by Sam Tighe as the best goal he had witnessed live. Gab Marcotti recalled the fairy-tale start of 18-year-old Sherhan Kalmurza, Kairat Almaty’s debutant goalkeeper, who saved a penalty against Sporting CP in his first professional start, despite his team’s subsequent heavy defeats.
Jens Petter Hauge’s superb goal for Bodo/Glimt against Manchester City, featuring a clever step-over and a precise shot into the top corner, was a significant moment for the Norwegian club, as noted by Rob Dawson. Kylian Mbappé’s entire campaign for Real Madrid, including a four-goal haul and a seven-minute hat-trick against Olympiacos, was lauded by Julien Laurens as exceptional, with his 12 goals in seven games putting him on track to challenge Cristiano Ronaldo’s single-season record of 17. Vinícius Júnior’s display against Monaco, creating three goals and scoring a brilliant solo effort, marked a return to his intense and energetic best, according to Alex Kirkland.
Estevao’s magical performance and individual goal against Barcelona, where he was pitted against the prodigious Lamine Yamal, was a memorable highlight for James Olley. Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool was recognized by Beth Lindop as the player of the league phase, contributing four goals and three assists, with his pressure penalty against Inter Milan and a clever free-kick against Marseille cited as key moments. Marcus Rashford’s two goals for Barcelona against Newcastle United on Matchday 1, particularly a stunning 20-yard strike, served as a reminder of his world-class potential, despite his career’s inconsistencies. Finally, Lamine Yamal’s superb goal for Barcelona against Club Brugge, which made it 2-2 in a chaotic 3-3 draw, was praised for its individual brilliance and execution with the outside of his boot.
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