UEFA Champions League 2025-26: Manchester City Stun Real Madrid as Race for Knockout Stages Intensifies

Manchester City’s Crucial Victory at the Bernabéu

The UEFA Champions League continues to deliver thrilling drama as Europe’s elite clubs battle for supremacy in the 2025-26 season. Manchester City came from behind to defeat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Bernabéu on Wednesday, with Erling Haaland and Nico O’Reilly scoring in the final 10 minutes of the first half. Haaland’s goal marked his 51st Champions League goal from his 50th start in the competition, underlining his exceptional record in Europe’s premier club tournament.

New Format Expands Competition

The 2024-25 season marked the 70th edition of Europe’s premier club football tournament, and the first under a new format which has 36 participating teams playing eight games each against different opponents in a league phase. This revolutionary change has created more matches and greater unpredictability, with the total number of matches increasing from 125 to 189. The current 2025-26 season continues with this expanded structure, offering fans more high-stakes encounters throughout the campaign.

Liverpool Lead the Way

Recent matchday action has seen several compelling results. Liverpool defeated Internazionale with Dominik Szoboszlai scoring a game-winning penalty, while Barcelona secured a 2-1 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt. The top eight teams in the standings will receive a bye to the round of 16, while teams ranked from 9th to 24th will contest the knockout phase play-offs, adding extra pressure to every match.

Looking Ahead

The Champions League remains football’s most prestigious club competition, showcasing the world’s best talent on the biggest stage. Europe’s elite club competition is in its 71st season and 34th since being renamed the UEFA Champions League, running until the final in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday 30 May 2026. As the league phase progresses towards its conclusion in January, every point becomes crucial for clubs hoping to secure their place in the knockout rounds and ultimately lift European football’s most coveted trophy.