Barcelona advances to Champions League Round 16!

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January 28, 2026

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International Desk, Jan 28 (EFE).-

Barcelona FC automatically advanced to the Champions League Round of 16 after defeating Copenhagen 4-1 in their final match of the league phase at Camp Nou on Wednesday.

FC Barcelona’s Brazilian forward Raphinha shots the ball from the penalty spot to score the team’s third goal during the Champions League soccer match between Barcelona and FC Copenhagen, in Camp Nou stadium, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, Jan 28, 2026. EFE/Alejandro Garcia

Athletic Club goalkeeper Unai Simon tries to stop the ball in the play that led to Sporting’s third goal during the Champions League match between Athletic Bilbao and Sporting Lisbon, at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, North Spain,Jan 28, 2026. EFE/ Miguel Tona

Meanwhile, the other Spanish teams struggled. Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid lost but advanced to the playoffs, while Villarreal and Athletic Club Bilbao were eliminated.

After a difficult first half, which included an early goal from Copenhagen and a subpar performance, the Blaugrana scored several goals in the second half, securing fifth place.

Bodo Glimt midfielder Sondre Auklend (c) fights for the ball against Atlético Madrid’s American midfielder Johnny Cardoso during the match between Atlético Madrid and Bodo/Glimt on the last day of the regular season of the Champions League at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on Jan 28, 2026. EFE/Juanjo Martín.

Athletic Club Bilbao was eliminated after Sporting secured its place in the Champions Top 8 with a dramatic 3-2 late win.

The Basques started strong, but the Portuguese team closed the match with a win thanks to Alisson Santos’s goal in the 94th minute.

Bodo/Glimt defeated Atlético Madrid 2-1, securing their place in the knockout stage of the competition and leaving the Spanish team in 14th place.

Lisbon (Portugal), 28/01/2026.- Benfica’s Andreas Schjelderup (R) in action against Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz (L) during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid, in Lisbon, Portugal,Jan 28, 2025. EFE/EPA/JOSE SENA GOULAO

Real Madrid also had a rough night, losing 4-2 to Benfica after Anatoliy Trubin scored an improbable header in stoppage time.

Bayer Leverkusen secured their spot in the next stage of the Champions League by defeating already-out Villarreal 3-0.

In other matches, Liverpool crushed FK Qarabag 6-0; Monaco and Juventus tied 0-0; Olympiakos beat Ajax 2-1; PSG and Newcastle tied 1-1; Inter Milan beat Dortmund 2-0; Chelsea won 3-2 over Napoli; Tottenham beat Frankfurt 2-0; Arsenal took Kairat 3-2; Pafos beat Slavia Praha 4-1; Manchester City won 2-0 over Galatasaray; Club Brugge beat Marseille 3-0; Union Saint-Gilloise beat Atalanta 1-0; and Bayern beat PSV 2-1.EFE