The final round of league phase fixtures delivered unmatched excitement in the UEFA Champions League.
Storylines unfolded across all 18 simultaneous kick-offs, showcasing 64 goals. Aston Villa and Lille secured automatic qualification for the round of 16, while Manchester City made a remarkable comeback from elimination to reach the knockout phase play-offs. UEFA.com summarizes the thrilling action.
Manchester City Triumphs Over Club Brugge
Manchester City achieved the necessary win to advance to the knockout phase play-offs, recovering from Raphael Onyedika’s emphatic opener for Club Brugge.
Mateo Kovačić’s precise finish and Joel Ordóñez’s own goal flipped the scoreline within 18 minutes of the restart.
Visiting goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and Brandon Mechele combined to deny Erling Haaland and half-time substitute Savinho.
The Brazil winger inspired City, volleying in their third goal with 13 minutes remaining, capping an exhilarating comeback.
Player of the Match:Mateo Kovačić (Man City)
PSG Dominates Stuttgart with Dembélé’s Hat-Trick
Ousmane Dembélé shone for Paris Saint-Germain, netting a hat-trick to secure a convincing win at Stuttgart.
Bradley Barcola’s early goal set the tone, with Dembélé scoring twice before the break and once after, marking his seventh consecutive game with a goal.
Pacho’s late own goal reduced Stuttgart’s deficit, confirming their elimination.
Player of the Match: Ousmane Dembélé (Paris)
Aston Villa Outlasts Celtic in Thrilling Clash
Morgan Rogers made history as the first player to score twice within the opening five minutes, securing Aston Villa a top-eight spot.
Jacob Ramsey hit the post after Rogers’ initial goals, while Adam Idah equalized with two goals in three minutes, making it 2-2 at halftime.
Ollie Watkins scored his first goal in the competition, and despite missing a penalty, he assisted Rogers for the hat-trick.
Player of the Match:Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Real Madrid Ends League Phase Strongly
Rodrygo scored twice for Real Madrid, demonstrating their attacking prowess in a high-scoring victory over Brest.
The Brazilian forward opened the scoring by weaving through the defense and finding the net.
Jude Bellingham tapped in during a counterattack early in the second half, followed by Rodrygo reacting quickly to score the visitors’ third.
Madrid finished 11th in the league phase standings.
Player of the Match: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Arsenal Fights Back Against Girona
Arsenal recovered from an early deficit to secure a 2-1 victory against Girona, confirming their place in the round of 16.
Arnaut Danjuma put Girona ahead, but Jorginho equalized with a penalty after Thomas Partey was fouled.
Ethan Nwaneri’s stunning strike sealed the win, despite Raheem Sterling missing a late penalty.
Player of the Match: Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
Barcelona and Atalanta Share Points
Atalanta denied Barcelona victory, coming from behind twice in a 2-2 draw that prevented the Blaugrana from securing the top spot.
Lamine Yamal scored first, but Éderson equalized with a powerful shot.
Ronald Araújo’s header seemed to secure victory, only for Mario Pašalić to respond seven minutes later, ensuring Atalanta’s place in the knockout phase play-offs.
Player of the Match: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Bayern Defeats Slovan Bratislava
Thomas Müller inspired Bayern Munich to victory, scoring his 56th Champions League goal with a header from Joshua Kimmich’s cross.
Manuel Neuer made a stellar save to deny an equalizer, and Bayern extended their lead after Harry Kane guided in Jamal Musiala’s cross.
Kingsley Coman added a third, while Marko Tolić’s strike was merely a consolation.
Player of the Match:Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern)
Inter Dominates Monaco with Convincing Win
Inter secured their sixth campaign win and seventh clean sheet with a dominant performance against Monaco at Stadio San Siro.
The hosts took control early, with Lautaro Martínez converting a penalty and later scoring a calm finish after Nicolò Barella’s assist.
Martínez added a third after the break, sealing the victory.
Player of the Match: Lautaro Martínez (Inter)
PSV Edges Liverpool in Thrilling Match
PSV Eindhoven clinched their knockout phase play-off spot with an exciting 3-2 victory over Liverpool, who finished top despite dropping points.
The hosts equalized twice, with Johan Bakayoko’s silky effort cancelling out Cody Gakpo’s penalty.
Harvey Elliott restored Liverpool’s lead, but PSV quickly responded again through Ismael Saibari.
Player of the Match:Johan Bakayoko (PSV)
Benfica Claims Victory Over Juventus
Benfica secured a knockout phase play-off spot with a convincing win against Juventus in Turin.
Alexander Bah assisted Vangelis Pavlidis for the opening goal, while a fine save denied Pavlidis a second.
Orkun Kökçü capitalized on a defensive error to double Benfica’s lead late in the match.
Player of the Match: Vangelis Pavlidis (Benfica)
Bayer Leverkusen Secures Round of 16 Spot
Leverkusen advanced to the round of 16 with a solid victory over Sparta Praha.
Jeremie Frimpong’s clever assist allowed Florian Wirtz to score in the first half.
The hosts continued to dominate, and Nathan Tella sealed the win by slotting in a rebound after a saved free-kick.
Player of the Match:Florian Wirtz (Leverkusen)
Borussia Dortmund Ends Phase with Strong Win
Dortmund finished the league phase on a high, defeating Shakhtar Donetsk to secure their knockout phase play-off spot.
Serhou Guirassy opened the scoring by redirecting Karim Adeyemi’s shot, then doubled the tally before halftime.
Despite Shakhtar’s brief hope, Ramy Bensebaini’s goal sealed the victory.
Player of the Match:Serhou Guirassy (Dortmund)
Atlético de Madrid Clinches Top Eight Finish
Atletico Madrid secured a top-eight finish with a decisive victory over Salzburg.
Giuliano Simeone’s early goal set the stage for a dominant display, followed by Antoine Griezmann adding two goals before halftime.
Marcos Llorente sealed the win, rendering Adam Daghim’s late strike a mere consolation.
Player of the Match:Antoine Griezmann (Atleti)
GNK Dinamo Upsets AC Milan
Marko Pjaca’s second-half goal led Dinamo to a famous win over AC Milan, though it wasn’t enough for knockout phase progression.
Martin Baturina opened the scoring, rolling the ball through Mike Maignan’s legs.
Yunus Musah’s dismissal boosted Dinamo’s spirits, while Christian Pulišić’s goal provided some hope for Milan.
Player of the Match:Martin Baturina (GNK Dinamo)
Lille Thrashes Feyenoord in Goal-Filled Match
Lille secured their spot in the last 16 with a dominant 6-1 victory over Feyenoord.
Osame Sahraoui and Santiago Giménez exchanged early goals, but Lille pulled away in the second half.
A four-goal burst within 23 minutes ensured a comfortable win and a top-eight berth.
Player of the Match:Osame Sahraoui (Lille)
Sporting CP Fights Back Against Bologna
Sporting CP earned a crucial point against Bologna, securing their knockout phase play-off spot.
The visitors shocked the hosts with an early goal from Tommaso Pobega.
Sporting struggled until the 77th minute when Conrad Harder equalized from João Simões’ cross, sealing their advancement.
Player of the Match: João Simões (Sporting CP)
Crvena Zvezda Tops Young Boys
Substitute Guélor Kanga scored a spectacular second-half winner, leading Crvena Zvezda to victory over Young Boys.
Silas missed a first-half opportunity for the visitors, but Kanga’s stunning long-range effort secured the win, denying the home side their first point in the league phase.
Player of the Match: Mirko Ivanić (Crvena Zvezda)
Sturm Graz Secures Narrow Victory
Arjan Malić’s goal just before halftime secured Sturm Graz a 1-0 victory over Leipzig.
Malić bundled in from close range after a corner flicked on.
Christoph Baumgartner came close for Leipzig, but both Yussuf Poulsen and William Bøving had goals ruled out.
Player of the Match: Arjan Malić (Sturm Graz)
Upcoming Knockout Phase Play-Off Draw
The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off draw takes place from 12:00 CET on Friday, 31 January.
The knockout phase play-offs are new to the competition this season.
The top eight sides in the league phase qualify automatically for the round of 16, while teams finishing between ninth and 24th compete in a two-legged knockout phase play-off to secure their path to the last 16.
From the knockout phase play-offs onwards, the tournament follows a bracket format. Teams finishing between ninth and 16th will be seeded for the first draw and will face teams placed 17th to 24th. The seeded team will, in principle, play the return leg at home.
Potential opponents are pre-defined by pairings based on teams’ final league positions. For instance, teams finishing ninth and tenth will face sides that ended 23rd or 24th; teams in 11th or 12th will be drawn against either the 21st or 22nd-placed sides, and so forth.
The eight clubs that prevail in the knockout phase play-offs will progress to the round of 16.
Teams in the Knockout Phase Play-Off Draw
The teams that finished between ninth and 24th in the inaugural league phase will compete in a two-legged knockout phase play-off to secure their path to the last 16 of the competition.
Seeded Teams
- Atalanta (ITA)
- Borussia Dortmund (GER)
- Real Madrid (ESP)
- Bayern München (GER)
- Milan (ITA)
- PSV (NED)
- Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
- Benfica (POR)
Unseeded Teams
- Monaco (FRA)
- Brest (FRA)
- Feyenoord (NED)
- Juventus (ITA)
- Celtic (SCO)
- Manchester City (ENG)
- Sporting CP (POR)
- Club Brugge (BEL)