Overview
- The reworked 36‑team league phase ended with 18 simultaneous matches that set the round‑of‑16 berths, playoff spots and eliminations.
- The eight clubs advancing directly are Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting Clube and Manchester City.
- Real Madrid lost 4–2 at Benfica to finish ninth and enter the playoffs, with Benfica clinching 24th thanks to a stoppage‑time header by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.
- The 16 playoff teams are Real Madrid, Inter, PSG, Newcastle, Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Olympiacos, Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Monaco, Qarabag, Bodø/Glimt and Benfica.
- Key results included Barcelona’s 4–1 win over Copenhagen to secure a top‑eight place and Atlético Madrid’s 2–1 home defeat to Bodø/Glimt that confirmed a playoff route.