The second night of UCL Matchday 7 concluded the penultimate round of the league phase with several dramatic turnarounds and critical victories that solidified the knockout bracket. While the first night saw the elite tighten their grip on the top spots, Wednesday was defined by the resilience of teams fighting to climb into the automatic qualification positions or simply survive to the final day. The nine fixtures across the continent provided a clear picture of the stakes remaining for Matchday 8.
1. Galatasaray 1–1 Atletico Madrid
In an early kick-off at Rams Park, Atletico Madrid missed a significant opportunity to cement their place in the top eight after being held to a draw by Galatasaray. The match began perfectly for Diego Simeone’s side when Giuliano Simeone opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a clinical finish. However, the momentum shifted in the twenty-first minute when Marcos Llorente inadvertently turned a cross into his own net, leveling the score. Despite dominating much of the second half and creating several clear chances, Atletico could not find a winning goal against a resolute Turkish defense.
2. Qarabag 3–2 Eintracht Frankfurt
The other early fixture in Baku produced one of the most thrilling encounters of the night as Qarabag secured a vital victory to keep their play-off hopes alive. Camilo Duran was the standout performer for the hosts, scoring twice to put them in a strong position. Eintracht Frankfurt fought back through goals from Can Uzun and a Fares Chaibi penalty to level the match at 2–2. However, deep into stoppage time, Bahlul Mustafazada struck a dramatic ninety-fourth-minute winner to secure all three points for the Azerbaijani champions and leave Frankfurt in a precarious position.
3. Chelsea 1–0 Pafos FC
Under the lights at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea secured a narrow but crucial victory to move into the top eight of the league standings. In what was Liam Rosenior’s first Champions League game in charge, the Blues dominated possession but struggled to break down a disciplined Pafos defense for much of the evening. The breakthrough finally arrived in the seventy-eighth minute when Moises Caicedo reacted quickest to a flicked-on corner to head home from close range. The win ensures Chelsea’s fate remains in their own hands heading into their final league-phase fixture against Napoli.
4. Atalanta 2–3 Athletic Club
Atalanta suffered a major setback in their pursuit of automatic qualification, squandering a first-half lead to lose a five-goal thriller in Bergamo. Gianluca Scamacca had given the hosts the lead with a powerful header, and they looked comfortable until a clinical second-half surge from Athletic Club. Gorka Guruzeta, Nico Serrano, and Robert Navarro scored three times in just sixteen minutes to turn the match on its head. Although Nikola Krstovic pulled one back late for Atalanta, the Spanish side held on for a victory that significantly boosts their own chances of reaching the play-off round.
5. Juventus 2–0 Benfica
Juventus revived their European campaign with a professional performance at the Allianz Stadium, effectively ending Benfica’s hopes of a top-twenty-four finish. After a relatively quiet first half, Khephren Thuram broke the deadlock in the fifty-fifth minute with a composed finish. Weston McKennie doubled the advantage less than ten minutes later following a clever exchange of passes with Jonathan David. Benfica had a golden opportunity to mount a comeback late in the game, but Vangelis Pavlidis missed a penalty, ensuring a comfortable final ten minutes for the Bianconeri.
6. Slavia Prague 2–4 Barcelona
Barcelona overcame a spirited Slavia Prague side in an entertaining encounter that featured goals at both ends for Robert Lewandowski. The hosts took a shock early lead through Vasil Kusej, but a brace from Fermin Lopez turned the tide in Barcelona’s favor before half-time. Although a Lewandowski own goal briefly leveled the scores, Barcelona’s superior quality shone through in the second half. Dani Olmo restored the lead with a stylish strike before Lewandowski atoned for his earlier error by finishing a Marcus Rashford cross to seal the three points.
7. Marseille 0–3 Liverpool
Liverpool delivered a statement away performance at the Vélodrome to move onto the brink of automatic qualification for the last sixteen. Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring late in the first half to settle the visitors’ nerves in a hostile environment. An own goal doubled the advantage after the break, and while Marseille created several opportunities to find a way back into the game, Alisson Becker remained unbeatable in the Liverpool goal. Cody Gakpo rounded off the scoring with the final kick of the match to complete a comprehensive victory.
8. Newcastle United 3–0 PSV Eindhoven
Newcastle United surged into the top eight with a dominant display at St James’ Park, punishing several defensive errors from the Eredivisie leaders. Yoane Wissa marked his first Champions League start with the opening goal after just eight minutes. Anthony Gordon doubled the lead on the half-hour mark, equaling a club record for European goals in a single season. Harvey Barnes completed the scoring in the second half to secure a win that sets up a massive final-day showdown with Paris Saint-Germain for a direct spot in the knockout rounds.
9. Bayern Munich 2–0 Union SG
Bayern Munich maintained their strong position at the top of the table with a routine victory over Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise. Harry Kane was once again the difference-maker, scoring both goals to ensure the German giants remain among the favorites for a top-tier seed. His first goal arrived just after the hour mark with a clinical header from a Michael Olise corner, before he converted a penalty to put the result beyond doubt, Bayern were awarded another penalty and Kane could have completed his hat-trick but he (uncharacteristically) missed from the spot. The win keeps Bayern on the heels of Arsenal as the two sides battle for the overall top spot in the league phase.
The conclusion of Matchday 7 has set the stage for a final round of fixtures filled with high-stakes permutations. With teams like Liverpool, Chelsea, and Newcastle United finding form at the right time, the battle for the top eight remains incredibly tight. Conversely, the defeats for Benfica and Villarreal have narrowed the field for the play-off spots. The new format has succeeded in maintaining competitive tension across the entire table, as almost every team enters the final week with something significant to play for.
