Champions League live updates, scores: Round of 16, playoff spots on the line during Matchday 8 as League Phase comes to an end
- - Champions League live updates, scores: Round of 16, playoff spots on the line during Matchday 8 as League Phase comes to an end
Sean Leahy January 29, 2026 at 12:56 AM
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The final matchday of the opening phase of the Champions League has arrived Wednesday with all 36 teams in action at the same time beginning at 3 p.m. ET.
Only two teams — Arsenal and Bayern Munich — have achieved automatic qualification for the Round of 16 and will be seeded when those matches take place in March. Meanwhile, 13 clubs have guaranteed themselves at least a spot in the knockout phase playoffs scheduled for February. Twenty-four clubs in total will advance with four clubs joining Eintracht Frankfurt, Slavia Prague, Villarreal and Kairat Almaty as exiting the competition after Wednesday.
Real Madrid, Liverpool, Tottenham, PSG, Newcastle and Chelsea are among the clubs with the ability to earn a Round of 16 place following Matchday 8, but it's a very tight table. From third place Real Madrid to 16th place Borussia Dortmund is only a separation of four points.
There is a lot on the line when it comes to trying to earn a seeded place in the next round — whether that's the Round of 16 or the two-legged knockout playoff phase.
Six places in the top eight up for grabs 🤯#UCL pic.twitter.com/5ddpSxLhGA
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 28, 2026
“I prefer to have more (points) but it is what we deserve,” said Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola ahead of their game against Galatasaray. “We need to focus and try to win our game then see what position we finish.
“We’ll see the result in the last 10 minutes and then we will see (what we have to do). We have to focus on our game, that’s the key.”
“I would sign up for a defeat or a draw and be in the top 15 like last season,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said as they get set to face Newcastle. “If you tell me we’ll be in the top 15 and then win the Champions League outright.”
The February playoffs draw will be held Friday at 6 a.m. ET.
U.S. men's national team players in action Wednesday include Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Johnny Cardoso (Atletíco Madrid), Sergiño Dest (PSV), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (Atalanta), Malik Tilman (Leverkusen) and Timothy Weah (Marseille). PSV’s Ricardo Pepi is out after he broke his arm while scoring a goal earlier this month.
Champions League knockout round schedule
Playoffs: Feb. 17-18 and 24-25Round of 16: March 10-11 and 17-18Quarterfinals: April 7-8 and 14-15Semi-finals: April 28-29 and May 5-6Final: May 30 (Puskás Aréna, Hungary)
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for all the Matchday 8 action live:
Live6 updates - Thu, January 29, 2026 at 3:26 AM GMT+8Yahoo Sports StaffStarting XI: Barcelona vs. Copenhagen
⭐️ 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐔𝐏 ⭐️#BarçaCopenhaguen | @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/7IasWpaAAd
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 28, 2026
- Thu, January 29, 2026 at 3:24 AM GMT+8Yahoo Sports StaffStarting XI: Atlético Madrid vs. Bodø/Glimt
Our XI to take on Bodø/Glimt 💪 pic.twitter.com/92ZnTJVDcA
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) January 28, 2026
- Thu, January 29, 2026 at 3:23 AM GMT+8Yahoo Sports StaffLineups: Athletic Club vs. Sporting CP
💥 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗫𝗜 🆚 @SportingCP_enLet's keep this @ChampionsLeague adventure going!#AthleticSportingCP #UniqueInTheWorld 🦁 pic.twitter.com/IU9Iry1ZoY
— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) January 28, 2026
📋 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄-𝐔𝐏 for today ⛓️ #ATHSCP #UCL pic.twitter.com/MOQ7Bkt0lp
— Sporting CP English (@SportingCP_en) January 28, 2026
- Thu, January 29, 2026 at 3:21 AM GMT+8Yahoo Sports StaffKai gets the starting nod for Arsenal vs. Kairat Almaty
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️©️ White skippers the side🔙 Calafiori returns to the team💪 Havertz starts in midfield Let's finish the league phase strongly, Gunners 👊
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 28, 2026
- Thu, January 29, 2026 at 3:17 AM GMT+8Yahoo Sports StaffUSMNT making its mark in European action
USMNT players on last day of Champions League first stage:StartersMcKennie (Juventus at Monaco)Balogun (Monaco)Dest (PSV v Bayern Munich)Weah (Marseille at Brugge)Tillman (Leverkusen v Villarreal)Musah (Atalanta at Union SG)SubsCardoso (Atletico Madrid v Bodo/Glimt)
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) January 28, 2026
- Thu, January 29, 2026 at 3:13 AM GMT+8Yahoo Sports StaffMatchday 8 is here!
Hello and welcome to Yahoo Sports' live coverage of the Champions League. We're less than an hour away from kickoff as 18 games are set to begin simultaneously. Follow all of the action right here as we attempt to keep track of everything going on.
Champions League Matchday 8 scores
3 p.m. ET: Ajax vs. Olympiacos3 p.m. ET: Arsenal vs. Kairat Almaty3 p.m. ET: Monaco vs. Juventus3 p.m. ET: Athletic Club vs. Sporting3 p.m. ET: Atlético Madrid vs. Bodø/Glimt3 p.m. ET: Barcelona vs. Copenhagen3 p.m. ET: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Villarreal3 p.m. ET: Benfica vs. Real Madrid3 p.m. ET: Borussia Dortmund vs. Inter Milan3 p.m. ET: Club Brugge vs. Marseille3 p.m. ET: Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Tottenham3 p.m. ET: Liverpool vs. Qarabağ3 p.m. ET: Manchester City vs. Galatasaray3 p.m. ET: Napoli vs. Chelsea3 p.m. ET: Pafos vs. Slavia Prague3 p.m. ET: PSG vs. Newcastle3 p.m. ET: PSV vs. Bayern Munich3 p.m. ET: Union St.-Gilloise vs. Atalanta
Source: “AOL Sports”
