After a crazy final matchday, we decided to rank the teams that gained and lost the most from this last round of the regular season.
The winners
FC Barcelona are among the big winners of last night. By beating Copenhagen, the Catalan club managed to escape the playoff zone and move directly into the top 8. All four attackers scored, giving real attacking depth to a much-needed victory for a Barça side that keeps getting back to its best after the humiliation at Stamford Bridge.
We can also highlight Norway’s Bodø/Glimt, who qualified for the first time in their history. They deserve huge credit, having managed to beat Manchester City and draw against Atlético Madrid.
Finally, it is impossible to talk about winners without mentioning Benfica and their unbelievable scenario. Facing Real Madrid, who were trying to secure their place in the top 8, the Lisbon side produced a brave performance. As results elsewhere unfolded and with the score at 3–2 in the 90th minute, Benfica realized—rather late—that they needed to score another goal to ensure their survival. But as their Ukrainian goalkeeper Trubin did not immediately grasp the full stakes, and with the five minutes of stoppage time almost over, two red cards for Real Madrid added extra time. Time that was perfectly used: on the very last free kick, Benfica’s goalkeeper went up and scored deep into stoppage time to qualify his team. An incredible twist of fate that also had consequences elsewhere, notably for a club from southern France wearing sky blue and white.
The loosers
Obviously, the biggest casualty can only be OM. After a dramatic defeat and an extraordinary twist of fate coming from Lisbon, the Marseille club is definitively eliminated from the Champions League. While it is tempting to blame bad luck for this exit, OM also paid for a lack of talent and quality. Unable to win against an Atalanta side in crisis and against a Sporting team they had under control, OM could not realistically expect any outcome other than elimination. After the zero-point campaign in 2013, OM once again embarrasses struggling French football in the Champions League in 2026.
Napoli can also be considered a major disappointment, having failed to capitalize on a match they seemed to have under control. Against an experimental Chelsea side, the Neapolitans did the job in the first half. With the promise of Antonio Vergara and the physical edge of a team ready for battle, Napoli had the cards in hand to qualify for the playoffs. But as usual, Napoli collapsed after taking the lead and are now eliminated from all European competitions.
We can also mention PSG, who drop from the top 8 into the playoff round, and Athletic Club, who are eliminated by Sporting, who themselves qualify for the round of 16.