MANCHESTER, England — Premier League teams are making strong progress in the Champions League, with five of England’s top flight clubs in position to advance to the last 16.
Arsenal top the standings and have already secured their place in the next round, while victories by Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea on Wednesday put them in the top eight automatic qualification positions with one league match left to play. Tottenham are in fifth place, with Manchester City the only English team in the playoffs heading into next week’s matches.
Dani Olmo (center) celebrates after scoring Barcelona’s third goal in a 4-2 victory over Slava Prague in the Champions League, Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
(Petr David Josek/AP)
Bayern Munich are second and joined Arsenal in advancing to the last 16 with Harry Kane scoring twice in a 2-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise.
Barcelona are in ninth place despite a 4-2 win at Slavia Prague and risk having to go through the playoffs to advance.
But there is a lot at stake in the final round of the league phase with just three points separating Real Madrid in third and Juventus in 15th.
Liverpool are fourth after a 3-0 win in Marseille. Newcastle beat PSV Eindhoven by the same score and Chelsea won 1-0 against Paphos.
Qarabag wins again Little Qarabag is making a big impression in the tournament and claimed its third victory in the league stage after Bahlul Mustafazade scored in injury time to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2.
The Azerbaijani team came close to securing a playoff spot with just one game remaining thanks to their late comeback, which also confirmed Frankfurt’s elimination.
Camilo Duran had put the home team ahead in the fourth minute, but Frankfurt responded through Can Uzun and Fares Chaibi. Duran tied the game in the 80th before Mustafazade’s game-winning goal in the 94th.
A Marcos Llorente own goal denied Atlético Madrid victory as the Spanish side drew 1-1 at Galatasaray. Giuliano Simeone scored early for Atlético before Llorente’s own goal in the 20th.
