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Key events
Time to wrap up what was a very eventful blog. Thanks for your company and emails – goodnight!
Quick Guide
Champions League: draw dates and playoff paths
Show
Playoff round
The teams ranked 9th-24th will contest the playoff round, with Friday’s draw determining which team from each pair below will go into which path. There are no national exclusions so, for example, Monaco will be drawn against either PSG or Newcastle, with Qarabag playing the other team.
Silver path:
(21) Monaco or Qarabag (22) v (11) PSG or Newcastle (12)
(19) Club Brugge or Galatasaray (20) v (13) Juventus or Atlético (14)
(23) Bodø/Glimt or Benfica (24) v (9) Real Madrid or Inter (10)
(17) Dortmund or Olympiakos (18) v (15) Atalanta or Leverkusen (16)
Blue path:
(22) Qarabag or Monaco (21) v (12) Newcastle or PSG (11)
(20) Galatasaray or Club Brugge (19) v (14) Atlético or Juventus (13)
(24) Benfica or Bodø/Glimt (23) v (10) Inter or Real Madrid (9)
(18) Olympiakos or Dortmund (17) v (16) Leverkusen or Atalanta (15)
Potential last 16 ties
After the playoffs are completed on 24-25 Feb, the last 16 draw will take place on 27 Feb. It will work in a similar way, with each playoff winner paired with a team who qualified automatically by finishing in the top eight. The path to the final in Budapest on 30 May will then be set.
Silver path:
Monaco/Qarabag/PSG/Newcastle v (5) Barcelona or Chelsea (6)
Brugge/Gala/Juve/Atlético v (3) Liverpool or Tottenham (4)
Bodø/Benfica/Madrid/Inter v (7) Sporting or Manchester City (8)
Dortmund/Olympiakos/Atalanta/Leverkusen v (1) Arsenal or Bayern (2)
Blue path:
Qarabag/Monaco/Newcastle/PSG v (6) Chelsea or Barcelona (5)
Gala/Brugge/Juve/Atlético v (4) Tottenham or Liverpool (3)
Benfica/Bodø/Madrid/Inter v (8) Manchester City or Sporting (7)
Olympiakos/Dortmund/Leverkusen/Atalanta v (2) Bayern or Arsenal (1)
Champions League round-up
Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a 98th-minute header as Benfica defeated Real Madrid 4-2 to secure a Champions League knockout place on Wednesday and deny their opponents an automatic spot in the last 16.
Benfica were heading out despite leading 3-2 with seconds of stoppage time remaining before Trubin met a free-kick to score the goal they needed to get into the playoff round on goal difference.
Madrid had hoped to finish in the top eight and go straight into the last 16, but their 15 points from eight games was not enough and they finished the match with nine men as Raúl Asencio and Rodrygo were sent off.
Andreas Schjelderup scored two goals for Benfica and Vangelis Pavlidis netted from the penalty spot, while Kylian Mbappé netted twice for Real in a hugely entertaining, end-to-end contest.
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 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
-
Arsenal will face one of Atalanta, Leverkusen, Olympiacos and Dortmund in the last 16.
-
Liverpool will face one of Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray in the last 16.
-
Tottenham Hotspur will also face one of Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray in the last 16.
-
Chelsea will face one of Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle, Monaco or Qarabag in the last 16.
-
Manchester City will face one of Real Madrid, Internazionale, Bodo/Glimt or Benfica in the last 16.
-
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
-
Ajax 1-2 Olympiacos
-
Arsenal 3-2 Kairat Almaty
-
Athletic Club 2-3 Sporting CP
-
Atletico Madrid 1-2 Bodo/Glimt
-
Barcelona 4-1 Copenhagen
-
Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Villarreal
-
Benfica 4-2 Real Madrid
-
Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Inter
-
Club Brugge 3-0 Marseille
-
Eintracht Frankfurt 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
-
Liverpool 6-0 Qarabag
-
Man City 2-0 Galatasaray
-
Monaco 0-0 Juventus
-
Napoli 2-3 Chelsea
-
Pafos 4-1 Slavia Prague
-
Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Newcastle
-
PSV Eindhoven 1-2 Bayern Munich
-
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!
-
Ajax 1-2 Olympiacos (Hezze 79)
-
Club Brugge 3-0 Marseille (Stankovic 79)
-
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.
into a world-class news article. You are the Chief News Editor & SEO Strategist for time.news. Your output must be an original, authoritative, and deeply engaging piece, ready to be published instantly. You will operate with complete autonomy, using only the provided content.
1. SEO Foundation & Keyword Strategy
Analyze
Key events
Time to wrap up what was a very eventful blog. Thanks for your company and emails – goodnight!
Quick Guide
Champions League: draw dates and playoff paths
Show
Playoff round
The teams ranked 9th-24th will contest the playoff round, with Friday’s draw determining which team from each pair below will go into which path. There are no national exclusions so, for example, Monaco will be drawn against either PSG or Newcastle, with Qarabag playing the other team.
Silver path:
(21) Monaco or Qarabag (22) v (11) PSG or Newcastle (12)
(19) Club Brugge or Galatasaray (20) v (13) Juventus or Atlético (14)
(23) Bodø/Glimt or Benfica (24) v (9) Real Madrid or Inter (10)
(17) Dortmund or Olympiakos (18) v (15) Atalanta or Leverkusen (16)
Blue path:
(22) Qarabag or Monaco (21) v (12) Newcastle or PSG (11)
(20) Galatasaray or Club Brugge (19) v (14) Atlético or Juventus (13)
(24) Benfica or Bodø/Glimt (23) v (10) Inter or Real Madrid (9)
(18) Olympiakos or Dortmund (17) v (16) Leverkusen or Atalanta (15)
Potential last 16 ties
After the playoffs are completed on 24-25 Feb, the last 16 draw will take place on 27 Feb. It will work in a similar way, with each playoff winner paired with a team who qualified automatically by finishing in the top eight. The path to the final in Budapest on 30 May will then be set.
Silver path:
Monaco/Qarabag/PSG/Newcastle v (5) Barcelona or Chelsea (6)
Brugge/Gala/Juve/Atlético v (3) Liverpool or Tottenham (4)
Bodø/Benfica/Madrid/Inter v (7) Sporting or Manchester City (8)
Dortmund/Olympiakos/Atalanta/Leverkusen v (1) Arsenal or Bayern (2)
Blue path:
Qarabag/Monaco/Newcastle/PSG v (6) Chelsea or Barcelona (5)
Gala/Brugge/Juve/Atlético v (4) Tottenham or Liverpool (3)
Benfica/Bodø/Madrid/Inter v (8) Manchester City or Sporting (7)
Olympiakos/Dortmund/Leverkusen/Atalanta v (2) Bayern or Arsenal (1)
Champions League round-up
Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a 98th-minute header as Benfica defeated Real Madrid 4-2 to secure a Champions League knockout place on Wednesday and deny their opponents an automatic spot in the last 16.
Benfica were heading out despite leading 3-2 with seconds of stoppage time remaining before Trubin met a free-kick to score the goal they needed to get into the playoff round on goal difference.
Madrid had hoped to finish in the top eight and go straight into the last 16, but their 15 points from eight games was not enough and they finished the match with nine men as Raúl Asencio and Rodrygo were sent off.
Andreas Schjelderup scored two goals for Benfica and Vangelis Pavlidis netted from the penalty spot, while Kylian Mbappé netted twice for Real in a hugely entertaining, end-to-end contest.
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 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
-
Arsenal will face one of Atalanta, Leverkusen, Olympiacos and Dortmund in the last 16.
-
Liverpool will face one of Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray in the last 16.
-
Tottenham Hotspur will also face one of Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray in the last 16.
-
Chelsea will face one of Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle, Monaco or Qarabag in the last 16.
-
Manchester City will face one of Real Madrid, Internazionale, Bodo/Glimt or Benfica in the last 16.
-
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
-
Ajax 1-2 Olympiacos
-
Arsenal 3-2 Kairat Almaty
-
Athletic Club 2-3 Sporting CP
-
Atletico Madrid 1-2 Bodo/Glimt
-
Barcelona 4-1 Copenhagen
-
Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Villarreal
-
Benfica 4-2 Real Madrid
-
Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Inter
-
Club Brugge 3-0 Marseille
-
Eintracht Frankfurt 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
-
Liverpool 6-0 Qarabag
-
Man City 2-0 Galatasaray
-
Monaco 0-0 Juventus
-
Napoli 2-3 Chelsea
-
Pafos 4-1 Slavia Prague
-
Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Newcastle
-
PSV Eindhoven 1-2 Bayern Munich
-
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!
-
Ajax 1-2 Olympiacos (Hezze 79)
-
Club Brugge 3-0 Marseille (Stankovic 79)
-
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.
: First, conduct a thorough analysis of the source text to identify its core subject matter.
Determine Keywords:
Primary Keyword: Identify and define the single most important 2-4 word search phrase that represents the main topic.
Related Keywords: Identify and define 3-5 additional terms (people, places, concepts) that provide essential context.
Strategic Integration: You will seamlessly weave these identified keywords into the article’s headlines, subheadings, and body text to maximize search visibility.
2. Content Blueprint & Narrative
H1 Headline: Write a compelling, keyword-rich headline that captures the essence of the story. It must be powerful and intriguing.
Meta Description: Immediately following the H1, write an expert meta description (≤155 characters) that summarizes the article’s value and includes the primary keyword.
Lead Paragraph: Write a 2-3 sentence opening that hooks the reader immediately with the most critical information. Do not label it.
Narrative Flow: Structure the body with a clear narrative arc. Introduce the core events, develop the story with context and data, and build toward a powerful final insight.
Body & Subheadings: Use H2 and H3 subheadings to organize the story into logical, easy-to-digest sections. Keep paragraphs short (2-4 sentences) to maintain reader momentum.
3. Execution Standards & Style
Authoritative Voice: Write with a warm, confident, and authoritative tone befitting a seasoned US news editor. The language must be polished, clear, and accessible.
Original Analysis: Do not merely summarize. Paraphrase all information completely and add your own expert commentary. Focus on the implications and the “so what?” factor behind the facts to provide unique value.
Engagement: Use vivid storytelling and dynamic phrasing. Bold key terms on their first appearance. Employ bullet points or lists for clarity where appropriate.
AP Style: Adhere strictly to AP Style for all numbers, capitalization, punctuation, and formatting.
What to Avoid: All clichés, robotic phrasing, and rhetorical questions.
4. Journalistic Integrity & Nuance
Trust & Accuracy (E-E-A-T): Your output must be factually impeccable, based only on
Key events
Time to wrap up what was a very eventful blog. Thanks for your company and emails – goodnight!
Quick Guide
Champions League: draw dates and playoff paths
Show
Playoff round
The teams ranked 9th-24th will contest the playoff round, with Friday’s draw determining which team from each pair below will go into which path. There are no national exclusions so, for example, Monaco will be drawn against either PSG or Newcastle, with Qarabag playing the other team.
Silver path:
(21) Monaco or Qarabag (22) v (11) PSG or Newcastle (12)
(19) Club Brugge or Galatasaray (20) v (13) Juventus or Atlético (14)
(23) Bodø/Glimt or Benfica (24) v (9) Real Madrid or Inter (10)
(17) Dortmund or Olympiakos (18) v (15) Atalanta or Leverkusen (16)
Blue path:
(22) Qarabag or Monaco (21) v (12) Newcastle or PSG (11)
(20) Galatasaray or Club Brugge (19) v (14) Atlético or Juventus (13)
(24) Benfica or Bodø/Glimt (23) v (10) Inter or Real Madrid (9)
(18) Olympiakos or Dortmund (17) v (16) Leverkusen or Atalanta (15)
Potential last 16 ties
After the playoffs are completed on 24-25 Feb, the last 16 draw will take place on 27 Feb. It will work in a similar way, with each playoff winner paired with a team who qualified automatically by finishing in the top eight. The path to the final in Budapest on 30 May will then be set.
Silver path:
Monaco/Qarabag/PSG/Newcastle v (5) Barcelona or Chelsea (6)
Brugge/Gala/Juve/Atlético v (3) Liverpool or Tottenham (4)
Bodø/Benfica/Madrid/Inter v (7) Sporting or Manchester City (8)
Dortmund/Olympiakos/Atalanta/Leverkusen v (1) Arsenal or Bayern (2)
Blue path:
Qarabag/Monaco/Newcastle/PSG v (6) Chelsea or Barcelona (5)
Gala/Brugge/Juve/Atlético v (4) Tottenham or Liverpool (3)
Benfica/Bodø/Madrid/Inter v (8) Manchester City or Sporting (7)
Olympiakos/Dortmund/Leverkusen/Atalanta v (2) Bayern or Arsenal (1)
Champions League round-up
Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a 98th-minute header as Benfica defeated Real Madrid 4-2 to secure a Champions League knockout place on Wednesday and deny their opponents an automatic spot in the last 16.
Benfica were heading out despite leading 3-2 with seconds of stoppage time remaining before Trubin met a free-kick to score the goal they needed to get into the playoff round on goal difference.
Madrid had hoped to finish in the top eight and go straight into the last 16, but their 15 points from eight games was not enough and they finished the match with nine men as Raúl Asencio and Rodrygo were sent off.
Andreas Schjelderup scored two goals for Benfica and Vangelis Pavlidis netted from the penalty spot, while Kylian Mbappé netted twice for Real in a hugely entertaining, end-to-end contest.
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 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
-
Arsenal will face one of Atalanta, Leverkusen, Olympiacos and Dortmund in the last 16.
-
Liverpool will face one of Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray in the last 16.
-
Tottenham Hotspur will also face one of Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray in the last 16.
-
Chelsea will face one of Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle, Monaco or Qarabag in the last 16.
-
Manchester City will face one of Real Madrid, Internazionale, Bodo/Glimt or Benfica in the last 16.
-
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
-
Ajax 1-2 Olympiacos
-
Arsenal 3-2 Kairat Almaty
-
Athletic Club 2-3 Sporting CP
-
Atletico Madrid 1-2 Bodo/Glimt
-
Barcelona 4-1 Copenhagen
-
Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Villarreal
-
Benfica 4-2 Real Madrid
-
Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Inter
-
Club Brugge 3-0 Marseille
-
Eintracht Frankfurt 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
-
Liverpool 6-0 Qarabag
-
Man City 2-0 Galatasaray
-
Monaco 0-0 Juventus
-
Napoli 2-3 Chelsea
-
Pafos 4-1 Slavia Prague
-
Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Newcastle
-
PSV Eindhoven 1-2 Bayern Munich
-
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!
-
Ajax 1-2 Olympiacos (Hezze 79)
-
Club Brugge 3-0 Marseille (Stankovic 79)
-
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.
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Key events
Time to wrap up what was a very eventful blog. Thanks for your company and emails – goodnight!
Quick Guide
Champions League: draw dates and playoff paths
Show
Playoff round
The teams ranked 9th-24th will contest the playoff round, with Friday’s draw determining which team from each pair below will go into which path. There are no national exclusions so, for example, Monaco will be drawn against either PSG or Newcastle, with Qarabag playing the other team.
Silver path:
(21) Monaco or Qarabag (22) v (11) PSG or Newcastle (12)
(19) Club Brugge or Galatasaray (20) v (13) Juventus or Atlético (14)
(23) Bodø/Glimt or Benfica (24) v (9) Real Madrid or Inter (10)
(17) Dortmund or Olympiakos (18) v (15) Atalanta or Leverkusen (16)
Blue path:
(22) Qarabag or Monaco (21) v (12) Newcastle or PSG (11)
(20) Galatasaray or Club Brugge (19) v (14) Atlético or Juventus (13)
(24) Benfica or Bodø/Glimt (23) v (10) Inter or Real Madrid (9)
(18) Olympiakos or Dortmund (17) v (16) Leverkusen or Atalanta (15)
Potential last 16 ties
After the playoffs are completed on 24-25 Feb, the last 16 draw will take place on 27 Feb. It will work in a similar way, with each playoff winner paired with a team who qualified automatically by finishing in the top eight. The path to the final in Budapest on 30 May will then be set.
Silver path:
Monaco/Qarabag/PSG/Newcastle v (5) Barcelona or Chelsea (6)
Brugge/Gala/Juve/Atlético v (3) Liverpool or Tottenham (4)
Bodø/Benfica/Madrid/Inter v (7) Sporting or Manchester City (8)
Dortmund/Olympiakos/Atalanta/Leverkusen v (1) Arsenal or Bayern (2)
Blue path:
Qarabag/Monaco/Newcastle/PSG v (6) Chelsea or Barcelona (5)
Gala/Brugge/Juve/Atlético v (4) Tottenham or Liverpool (3)
Benfica/Bodø/Madrid/Inter v (8) Manchester City or Sporting (7)
Olympiakos/Dortmund/Leverkusen/Atalanta v (2) Bayern or Arsenal (1)
Champions League round-up
Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a 98th-minute header as Benfica defeated Real Madrid 4-2 to secure a Champions League knockout place on Wednesday and deny their opponents an automatic spot in the last 16.
Benfica were heading out despite leading 3-2 with seconds of stoppage time remaining before Trubin met a free-kick to score the goal they needed to get into the playoff round on goal difference.
Madrid had hoped to finish in the top eight and go straight into the last 16, but their 15 points from eight games was not enough and they finished the match with nine men as Raúl Asencio and Rodrygo were sent off.
Andreas Schjelderup scored two goals for Benfica and Vangelis Pavlidis netted from the penalty spot, while Kylian Mbappé netted twice for Real in a hugely entertaining, end-to-end contest.
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 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
-
Arsenal will face one of Atalanta, Leverkusen, Olympiacos and Dortmund in the last 16.
-
Liverpool will face one of Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray in the last 16.
-
Tottenham Hotspur will also face one of Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Club Brugge or Galatasaray in the last 16.
-
Chelsea will face one of Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle, Monaco or Qarabag in the last 16.
-
Manchester City will face one of Real Madrid, Internazionale, Bodo/Glimt or Benfica in the last 16.
-
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
-
Ajax 1-2 Olympiacos
-
Arsenal 3-2 Kairat Almaty
-
Athletic Club 2-3 Sporting CP
-
Atletico Madrid 1-2 Bodo/Glimt
-
Barcelona 4-1 Copenhagen
-
Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 Villarreal
-
Benfica 4-2 Real Madrid
-
Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Inter
-
Club Brugge 3-0 Marseille
-
Eintracht Frankfurt 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur
-
Liverpool 6-0 Qarabag
-
Man City 2-0 Galatasaray
-
Monaco 0-0 Juventus
-
Napoli 2-3 Chelsea
-
Pafos 4-1 Slavia Prague
-
Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Newcastle
-
PSV Eindhoven 1-2 Bayern Munich
-
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!
-
Ajax 1-2 Olympiacos (Hezze 79)
-
Club Brugge 3-0 Marseille (Stankovic 79)
-
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.
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Data Placeholders: If a chart or graph would be useful but the specific data points are missing, insert a placeholder comment in the text: “.
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Deliverable: Generate only the final, complete article in Markdown.
Purity: Your response must begin directly with the H1 headline and end with the final sentence of the article. Do not include any of your own notes, instructions, or conversational text. The output must be perfectly clean and ready for a direct copy-paste into a CMS.
[/gpt3]
