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Match report: Napoli 2-3 Chelsea
Jacob Steinberg
The onus was on Chelsea to silence the jibes about their lack of experience. Behind to a goal from Rasmus Højlund at half-time, they were facing the inconvenience of a two-legged playoff to reach the last 16 of the Champions League. Another lead had been thrown away and the momentum was with Napoli after they cancelled out a penalty from Enzo Fernández at a bouncing Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Yet the night ended with a humiliating early exit for Napoli and another failure for Antonio Conte in Europe. The former Chelsea manager watched in despair as Cole Palmer came on to undo his depleted side with a devastating cameo. Palmer set up João Pedro for two outstanding goals as Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea finished in the top eight thanks to their first away win at this level in over three years.
Match report: Man City 2-0 Galatasaray
Jamie Jackson
Pep Guardiola often bemoans the schedule so for Manchester City to enter the last 16 directly and miss the home-and-away knockout play-off round will please.
The manager, though, was clearly unhappy with the team performance that set up the victory and progression due to a troubling sluggishness and doing what annoys him most: failing to play the high-octane way that he drills into his players.
Erling Haaland’s opener – only a second in the striker’s last eight matches – and Rayan Cherki’s second, each before the interval, were slickly taken but they derived from slack Galatasaray defensive work.
Match report: Liverpool 6-0 Qarabag
Andy Hunter
Liverpool are having to stomach “a very bad cocktail” of cheap goals against and wasted chances in the Premier League, according to Arne Slot. To extend the mixologist’s analogy, his team are enjoying life with a few margaritas in the Champions League.
Slot’s team cruised into the last 16 for the second successive season with a demolition of Qarabag at Anfield. Mohamed Salah was among the goalscorers for the first time since accusing Liverpool of throwing him under the bus in December, while Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz, the influential Hugo Ekitiké and Federico Chiesa were also on the scoresheet.
Match report: PSG 1-1 Newcastle
Barney Ronay
On a chilly, fun, boisterous night in Paris, with the Champions League mega-table scrolling away in the background throughout a breathless 90 minutes, Newcastle produced a fine away performance at the home of the European champions.
A 1-1 draw means Eddie Howe’s team will now enter the knockout phase in February, as had always seemed likely. Paris Saint-Germain will now join them there after some late score-ticker malarkey sent the reigning champions into the playoffs.
Howe will take huge heart from this performance, as a weakened team recovered from a start that suggested the ceiling might be about to fall in. As for PSG, the rest of Europe will look at this team with a little less fear of the furious full-court press that marked last season’s post-Christmas run. Newcastle were compact, powerful in the challenge, and really could have won this game in the second half.
Match report: Arsenal 3-2 Kairat
Ed Aarons
Arsenal’s challenge for the Premier League title may be showing some signs of wobbling but there are no such problems in the Champions League. An eighth successive victory – all by a margin of at least two goals – means Mikel Arteta’s side have become the first team to end the league phase with a 100% record since it was introduced last season.
Whether that can translate into silverware in a competition that Arsenal have infamously never won and in which they only reached one final – way back in 2006 under Arsène Wenger – remains to be seen. But even with a second-string side that once again showed the strength in depth at Arteta’s disposal, completing the job against the bottom side was never in doubt even when Kairat equalised after an early goal from Viktor Gyökeres.
Match report: Eintracht Frankfurt 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
David Hytner
Randal Kolo Muani was lucky to be on the field. The Tottenham striker had suffered a moment of indescribable panic when the front right tyre on his Ferrari blew out on the motorway on Tuesday as he drove to Stansted airport for the team flight to Frankfurt.
The car was a write-off but Kolo Muani walked away from it. He had to take a later flight to make this Champions League game and he was plainly determined to make his mark on it.
Kolo Muani was once a hero to the Eintracht fans, scoring prolifically for them in the 2022-23 season. They were not happy to see him back and booed his every touch. The best one was that with which he broke the deadlock just after half-time to set Spur
The moment of the night, with nary a scintilla of doubt, was the Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin’s 98th-minute header against Real Madrid. Jose Mourinho Benfica were already 3-2 up, but they needed a fourth to qualify for the playoffs – where they will play either Real Madrid or another of Jose’s old clubs, Internazionale.
The draw for the rest of the tournament takes place on Friday. This, if I’ve read the brackets correctly, is what could happen to the English sides
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Arsenal will face one of Atalanta, Leverkusen, Olympiacos and Dortmund in the last 16.
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Liverpool will face one of Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray in the last 16.
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Tottenham Hotspur will also face one of Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray in the last 16.
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Chelsea will face one of Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle, Monaco or Qarabag in the last 16.
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Manchester City will face one of Real Madrid, Internazionale, Bodo/Glimt or Benfica in the last 16.
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Newcastle will face Monaco or Qarabag in the playoff round, then Chelsea or Barcelona in the last 16 if they get through.
The final Champions League table
Full-time scores
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Ajax 1-2 Olympiacos
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Arsenal 3-2 Kairat Almaty
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Athletic Club 2-3 Sporting CP
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Atletico Madrid 1-2 Bodo/Glimt
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Barcelona 4-1 Copenhagen
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Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Villarreal
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Benfica 4-2 Real Madrid
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Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Inter
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Club Brugge 3-0 Marseille
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Eintracht Frankfurt 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
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Liverpool 6-0 Qarabag
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Man City 2-0 Galatasaray
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Monaco 0-0 Juventus
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Napoli 2-3 Chelsea
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Pafos 4-1 Slavia Prague
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Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Newcastle
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PSV Eindhoven 1-2 Bayern Munich
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Union SG 1-0 Atalanta
Full time: Benfica 4-2 Real Madrid
Benfica are through at Marseille’s expense – and they could meet Real in the playoffs! It was a fabulous downward header from Trubin, and Jose Mourinho was off down the touchline to celebrate with a ballboy. That is wonderful.
GOAL! Benfica 4-2 Real Madrid (Trubin 90+8)
Real are down to nine men after Rodrygo is sent off. And now Benfica have scored! The goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin has put them into the playoffs with a fantastic header!
90+4 min: Benfica 3-2 Real Madrid Benfica need another goal to make the playoffs; Real need a goal to finish in the top eight.
Full time: Man City 2-0 Galatasaray
City have avoided the playoffs by virtue of a comfortable win at home to Galatasaray.
Full time: Athletic Club 2-3 Sporting
Sporting have gatecrashed the top eight! It’s not a done deal – a Real Madrid equaliser would knock them down to ninth, but that looks less likely given Raul Asencio has just been sent off.
Full time: Napoli 2-3 Chelsea
A fine win for Chelsea, who qualify automatically as one of the top eight. Joao Pedro scored two goals, the first a screamer, to inspire a fightback from 2-1 down. Napoli go out.
Full time: PSG 1-1 Newcastle
PSG and Newcastle have knocked each other out of the top eight. They are currently 11th and 12th, which would mean a tie against Qarabag or Monaco.
GOAL! Athletic Bilbao 2-3 Sporting (Santos 90+4)
The Sporting bench are all on the pitch! Alisson Santos’s goal has put Sporting into the top eight – and Real Madrid are currently in the playoffs as a result.
GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Inter (Diouf 90+4)
Andy Diouf’s late goal doesn’t change anything for Inter, who are currently in ninth place.
That Copenhagen goal has been ruled out by VAR. Liverpool and Spurs have both won their games, 6-0 and 2-0 against Qarabag and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively, and go straight into the knockout rounds.
GOALS!
87 min: PSG 1-1 Newcastle Harvey Barnes has just missed a glorious chance for Newcastle, hitting the side netting from six yards after great work from Gordon. That would have lifted them into the top eight at the expense of Real Madrid.
Pafos are now 4-1 up against Slavia Prague. That goal lifts them into the playoff places ahead of Athletic Club.
GOAL! Barcelona 4-1 Copenhagen (Rashford 85)
A free-kick from Marcus Rashford confirms Barcelona’s victory – and probably a place in the top eight.
As things stand, PSG will face either Real Madrid or Manchester CIty in the last 16 if they get through the playoff round.
GOALS! PSV 1-2 Bayern (Kane 84); Pafos 3-1 Slavia Prague (Anderson Silva 84)
Harold Kane Esq., who started the night on the bench, has finished majestically to put Bayern back in front.
GOAL! Napoli 2-3 Chelsea (Joao Pedro 82)
Chelsea are back in the top eight! Joao Pedro has scored his second of the night to put them back in front in Naples.
MORE GOALS!
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Ajax 1-2 Olympiacos (Hezze 79)
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Club Brugge 3-0 Marseille (Stankovic 79)
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Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Inter (Dimarco 81)
That last goal, a cracking free-kick from Federico Dimarco, is a biggie – it moves Inter into the top eight at PSG’s expense.
GOAL! PSV 1-1 Bayern (Saibari 78)
Ismael Saibari equalises for PSV with a stunning goal! And it matters, because it moves PSV into the playoff places.
The top eight as things stand
Arsenal, Bayern, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Man City, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain.
GOAL! Frankfurt 0-2 Tottenham (Solanke 77)
Lads, it’s Tottenham, and they’re really good at European football. Dominic Solanke has surely secured a place in the top eight with his second goal in as many Champions League games.
“I was a huge Fonzie fan in the 70s,” writes Phil Sawyer. “You’ve now awakened memories of me going to a fancy dress party as a kid dressed up in my mum’s idea of the Fonz, which was my usual jacket with the collar turned up. I can still hear the mocking laughter of my peers at the time.”
67 min: Benfica 3-2 Real Madrid Apparently Jose Mourinho took a comedy tumble on the touchline a moment ago. There are no accidents, not with Jose.
GOALS! Union SG 1-0 Atalanta (Khalaili 70); Ajax 1-1 Olympiacos (Dolberg 70 pen)
That probably jiggers Atalanta’s chances of finishing in the top eight.
GOAL! Barcelona 3-1 Copenhagen (Raphinha 69 pen)
Barcelona have surely got the job done against Copenhagen. They’re still at the mercy of other results but as things stand they are going through automatically.
“Just to clarify,” says Ian Copestake, “when you said ‘This is almost entirely pointless’, did you just jump the shark?”
Sunday Monday happy days
Tuesday Wednesday happy days
Thursday Friday happy days
Saturday what a day
Rockin’ all week for you
The as-it-stands table, which will be out of date in about 47 seconds when somebody does a goal
GOAL! Benfica 3-2 Real Madrid (Mbappe 58)
Kylian Mbappe sweeps in his second of the night to give Real Madrid a sniff. Bayer Leverkusen have also scored a third agianst Villarreal.
GOAL! Liverpool 5-0 Qarabag (Mac Allister 61)
Alexis Mac Allister gets his second of the night at Anfield. Meanwhile it’s Athletic Club 2-2 Sporting in Bilbao.
GOAL! Barcelona 2-1 Copenheagen (Yamal 60)
A deflected shot from Lamine Yamal loops into the far corner to give Barcelona lead. That goal moves them into the top eight at the expense of Newcastle.
GOAL! Napoli 2-2 Chelsea (Joao Pedro 61)
Joao Pedro equalises with a rare old sizzler!
GOAL! Benfica 3-1 Real Madrid (Schjelderup)
Andreas Schjelderup scores his second goal, beating Thibaut Courtois at the near post to give Benfica a two-goal lead against Real Madrid!
Madrid are still in the top eight but it’s getting hairy, and not in a good way.
GOAL! Atletico Madrid 1-2 Bodo/Glimt
Atletico are making a right mess of this.
GOAL! PSV 0-1 Bayern (Musiala 58)
Jamal Musiala, just back from long-term injury, has scored for Bayern, who are already through to the last 16. PSV drop out of the playoff places as a result.
GOAL! Liverpool 4-0 Qarabag (Ekitike 57)
A swaggering solo goal from Hugo Ekitike makes it 4-0 to Liverpool.
The latest scores
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Ajax 0-1 Olympiacos
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Arsenal 3-1 Kairat Almaty
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Athletic Club 2-1 Sporting CP
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Atletico Madrid 1-1 Bodo/Glimt
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Barcelona 0-1 Copenhagen
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Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Villarreal
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Benfica 2-1 Real Madrid
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Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Inter
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Club Brugge 2-0 Marseille
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Eintracht Frankfurt 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur
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Liverpool 3-0 Qarabag
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Man City 2-0 Galatasaray
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Monaco 0-0 Juventus
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Napoli 2-1 Chelsea
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Pafos 2-1 Slavia Prague
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Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Newcastle
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PSV Eindhoven 0-0 Bayern Munich
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Union SG 0-0 Atalanta
As things stand Chelsea are the only English team outside the top eight, though Newcastle are eighth and vulnerable.
“Evening Rob,” writes Brian Withington. “Struggling to keep up following you and the Goals Show Extra – it’s like the old school Grandstand updates on the third round of the FA Cup on steroids. May need a cold flannel and a lie down soon so don’t know how you cope?”
Half past five!
GOALS! Ajax 0-1 Olympiacos (Martins 52); Pafos 2-1 Slavia Prague (Bruno 53)
This is almost entirely pointless, as the positions will change in the next 40 minutes, but as things stand Chelsea would face either Napoli or Galatasaray in the playoff round – with the winners facing either Liverpool or Spurs in the last 16.
GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Qarabag (Salah 50)
Mo Salah flashes a superb free-kick into the net to seal automatic qualification for Liverpool. It’s his first goal for Liverpool since early November.
GOAL! Barcelona 1-1 Copenhagen (Lewandowski 49)
Robert Lewandowski equalises for Barcelona with a simple finish. They’re still outside the top eight, ninth to be precise, but another goal would change that.
GOAL! Frankfurt 0-1 Tottenham (Kolo Muani 47)
That’s a big goal for Spurs, flicked in from close range by Randal Kolo Muani after a well-worked free-kick. Spurs are up to fourth and currently have a three-point cushion.
The as-it-stands table
It’s all so tight that a goal for Juventus would lift them from 15th to 7th.
Half-time scores
Peep peep!
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Ajax 0-0 Olympiacos
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Arsenal 3-1 Kairat Almaty
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Athletic Club 2-1 Sporting CP
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Atletico Madrid 1-1 Bodo/Glimt
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Barcelona 0-1 Copenhagen
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Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Villarreal
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Benfica 2-1 Real Madrid
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Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Inter
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Club Brugge 2-0 Marseille
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Eintracht Frankfurt 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur
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Liverpool 2-0 Qarabag
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Man City 2-0 Galatasaray
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Monaco 0-0 Juventus
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Napoli 2-1 Chelsea
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Pafos 1-1 Slavia Prague
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Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Newcastle
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PSV Eindhoven 0-0 Bayern Munich
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Union SG 0-0 Atalanta
GOAL! Benfica 2-1 Real Madrid (Pavlidis 45+5 pen)
Jose Mourinho’s Benfica™ have come from behind to lead against his old club. Vangelis Pavlidis clipped a penalty straight down the middle after Aurelien Tchouameni was penalised for pulling Nicolas Otamendi’s shirt.
GOAL! Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Newcastle (Willock 45+2)
Joe Willock pilfers an equaliser for Newcastle on the stroke of half-time! He made an excellent late run to meet Dan Burn’s header across goal and guide a header into the net. That lifts Newcastle up to eighth in the table.
GOAL! Pafos 1-1 Slavia Prague (Chaloupek 44) Slavia Prague, who are already out, have equalised away to Pafos. Pafos need to win to have any chance of making the playoffs.
GOAL! Napoli 2-1 Chelsea (Hojlund 43)
A clinical finish from Rasmus Hojlund is very good news for Napoli and very bad news from Chelsea. John Brewin is following that one.
“Good evening Rob,” writes Kimberley Thonger. “I was in a black cab about an hour ago, driven by an Arsenal supporter with Italian parents in Palermo. He made it quite clear early in the journey that he KNEW that all the British clubs would win tonight EXCEPT Spurs. He may turn out to be right. He also met his wife of 30 years in Costco. I cannot see how that is relevant but he seemed to think it was.”
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