On Wednesday, January 28, the Champions League concluded its eighth and final matchday of the group stage. The eight teams advancing to the next round, the sixteen who will play in the playoffs, and the eliminated teams were all decided. According to the Argentine News Agency, eighteen matches were held simultaneously to determine which clubs will compete for the European title this season. The biggest surprise of the round came from Benfica, who secured a spot in the playoffs with a historic, dramatic goal from goalkeeper Anatoli Trubin in the 53rd minute of the second half. The Eagles won 4-2 against none other than Real Madrid, the competition's most winner with 15 titles. Meanwhile, all the teams that qualified for the round of 16 (Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool - with a double from Alexis Mac Allister, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting CP, and Manchester City) won their respective matches and reaffirmed their strong form in the competition. The current Champions League champion, Paris Saint-Germain, could only manage a 1-1 draw against Newcastle and will also contest the playoffs, as will the Spanish capital's white team after their loss to the Portuguese side. Furthermore, Chelsea's 3-2 victory, including a penalty goal from Enzo Fernández, eliminated Napoli, a team currently at the top of the Italian league, while Atlético de Madrid fell 2-1 to Bodo/Glimt, and the Norwegian team also advanced to the playoffs.
