This page contains affiliate links. When you purchase through the links provided, we may earn a commission.

+19 | Please play responsibly | T&C's Apply | Commercial Content  | Publishing Principles

Champions League news

Virgil van Dijk Liverpool 2025-26 Champions League

Van Dijk makes history by recording unlikely UCL first

Virgil van Dijk has made history by recording an unlikely Champions League first. The Dutch defender etched his name into the record books when lining up for Liverpool in their European encounter with Qarabag. Despite marshalling the Reds’ back line in that game, Van Dijk made a stunning contribution in the final third of the field as he helped Arne Slot’s side to a crushing 6-0 win.

Arsenal FC v FC Kairat Almaty - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8

PL clubs discover potential UCL last-16 opponents

A total of five Premier League clubs secured automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City all finishing in the top eight while Newcastle United missed out. The Magpies must now navigate a treacherous play-off round alongside giants Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain after a chaotic final matchday.

Marcus Rashford David Beckham

Rashford joins Man Utd legend Beckham in exclusive goal club

Marcus Rashford joined Manchester United legend Sir David Beckham in an exclusive goal club after scoring a stunning Champions League free-kick for Barcelona. The England international forward is continuing to enjoy a productive loan spell with La Liga giants. His latest strike for them allowed the 28-year-old to match a record held by Three Lions icon Beckham.

Champions League league phase W+Ls GFX

Winners & losers of the Champions League league phase

The Champions League league phase drew to a predictably chaotic conclusion on Wednesday, with all of the matchday eight fixtures kicking-off at the same time. The net result was numerous positional changes over the course of 90-plus minutes of madness, though the highlight was undoubtedly Anatoliy Trubin scoring a last-second header to keep Benfica in the competition.

FBL-EUR-C1-BENFICA-REAL MADRID

Social media stunned by 'once in a lifetime' Trubin goal

Fans have been left in disbelief after Anatoliy Trubin scored a sensational 98th-minute header to keep Benfica in the Champions League. The goalkeeper was sent up for a last-gasp free-kick against nine-man Real Madrid by head coach Jose Mourinho and, amazingly, powered a stunning header beyond Thibaut Courtois and into the bottom corner.

Advertisement
YAmal Copenhagen

Thank god for Yamal! Teen steps up as Barca survive scare

Barcelona booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a 4-1 over Copenhagen on Wednesday. While Hansi Flick's side would eventually run out comfortable winners thanks to second-half goals from Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Marcus Rashford, they suffered through a frustrating opening 45 minutes after they went behind to a fourth0minute goal from teenager Viktor Dadason.

SL Benfica v Real Madrid C.F. - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8

📽️ | Benfica keeper scores 98th-MINUTE header to earn UCL play-off

Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a remarkable 98th-minute goal to send Jose Mourinho's side into the Champions League playoffs after beating Real Madrid 4-2. The Portuguese giants were heading out of the competition on goal difference but the keeper's last-gasp effort sparked wild celebrations at Estadio da Luz on Wednesday. The result also meant nine-man Los Blancos face a two-legged playoff in February.

Real Madrid Benfica ratings GFX

Mbappe brace not enough as nine-man Madrid embarrassed

An improbable Anatoliy Trubin header in second-half stoppage time capped off a remarkable 4-2 win for Benfica over a listless Real Madrid on Wednesday. Los Blancos had no answers for the Portuguese side and were thoroughly beaten on the road, meaning Alvaro Arbeloa's side will now face a play-off to secure a place in the Champions League last-16.

PSG vs Newcastle Player Ratings

Willock nets but Barnes blunder costs Newcastle at PSG

Joe Willock's powerful header on the stroke of half-time cancelled out Vitinha's opener as nothing could separate Newcastle and Paris-Saint Germain in a 1-1 draw on Wednesday. The result suited neither side as the Premier League outfit and their French counterparts dropped out of the top eight and into the play-off round in the Champions League.

Kai Havertz Arsenal Kairat Almaty 2025-26

Havertz is back! German stars as Arsenal seal UCL top spot

Kai Havertz marked his first start in almost a year with a goal and an assist as Arsenal made it eight wins from eight in the Champions League with a 3-2 success over Kairat Almaty to seal their spot as league phase winners. Havertz, whose last start came 357 days ago, showed the Gunners exactly what they had been missing when he set up Viktor Gyokeres for an early opener before adding a second himself with a fine run and finish after Jorginho had equalised for the visitors from the penalty spot.

FBL-EUR-C1-PSV-BAYERN MUNICH

Kane goes from zero to hero as Bayern edge 10-man PSV

Harry Kane went from zero to hero as his late goal ensured Bayern Munich beat PSV Eindhoven 2-1 to end their Champions League league phase campaign on a high. Jamal Musiala gave the visitors the lead in a breathless game at Philips Stadion before Kane's sloppy pass led to Ismael Saibari's long-range stunner. But the England captain righted his previous wrong with the winner to dump 10-man PSV out of the competition.

Joao Pedro Chelsea GFX

Pedro & Palmer combine to seal Chelsea comeback win

Joao Pedro scored two stunning goals as Chelsea beat Napoli 3-2 to seal their progress into the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday. The striker netted one brilliant long-range strike, as well as a cool finish while one-on-one, to add to Enzo Fernandez's early penalty as the Blues won a topsy-turvy encounter against former boss Antonio Conte.

Liverpool Qarabag ratings GFX

Salah scores but Frimpong injury mars big Liverpool win

Liverpool may be struggling in the Premier League but they're a very different side in the Champions League, as they underlined on Wednesday by storming straight into the last 16 of the competition by hammering Qarabag 6-0 at Anfield. With the Reds' defensive injury crisis having worsened in Saturday's shocking defeat at Bournemouth, the last thing head coach Arne Slot needed was Jeremie Frimpong hobbling off with what looked like his third hamstring injury of the season after just two minutes of play on Merseyside.

Tottenham Frankfurt GFX

Kolo Muani & Solanke ease Spurs into UCL last 16

Tottenham put their Premier League struggles to one side again as they beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 on Wednesday, booking their spot in the last 16 of the Champions League. Spurs are in danger of being dragged into a relegation battle domestically but have secured an automatic place in the knockout stages of Europe's premier club competition.

FBL-EUR-C1-LIVERPOOL-QARABAG

More injury woe for Frimpong! Liverpool defender forced off again

Jeremie Frimpong has suffered another setback, as he exited Liverpool's Champions League tie against Qarabag after just four minutes due to injury. The Dutch international appeared to sustain an issue with his groin, and was subsequently replaced by Wataru Endo. Arne Slot's side are already short at the back, thanks to the absences of Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate.

FC Barcelona v Real Oviedo - LaLiga EA Sports

📽️ | Rats spotted at Camp Nou days after stadium leaked

Rats have been spotted at the newly-refurbished Camp Nou, just days after Barcelona's sparkling new stadium sprung leaks during the club's La Liga clash with Real Oviedo. A new viral video has shown rodents frolicking by the side of the new playing surface, just hours before they are scheduled to play Copenhagen in the Champions League.

Antonio Conte McTominay

Conte claims he's 'transformed' McTominay into a 'complete player'

Napoli manager Antonio Conte has claimed that he's "transformed" Scott McTominay into a "complete player" since the Scotland international's switch from Manchester United. The midfielder was named Serie A Player of the Year last season after helping fire Napoli to the Scudetto. He's since been joined at the club by former United team-mate Rasmus Hojlund, who has also come in for praise from his manager.

GFX Leroy Sane Pep Guardiola

Sane reveals extreme impact Guardiola had on him at Man City

Leroy Sane has opened up about his "true homecoming" to the Etihad Stadium, heaping praise on the manager who "reprogrammed" his footballing brain. The Galatasaray winger returns to Manchester on Wednesday night for a high-stakes Champions League clash, admitting that while he remains close friends with his former team-mates, Pep Guardiola’s "relentless" tactical demands are what truly shaped his career.

Frequently asked questions

The PSL was founded in 1996 after the National Soccer League and the National Professional Soccer League agreed to merge into one body.

In July 2024 it was announced that Betway would take over from DSTV as the naming rights sponsor for the league in a deal reported to be worth R900 million over 3 years.

16 teams are licensed to participate in the PSL league.

The Board of governors elects the chairman and the executive committee who are appointed in an election process that takes place every four years.

Mamelodi Sundowns have won the league 14 times, including the last 7 titles in a row.

Kaizer Chiefs scored 73 goals in the 2010-2011 season.

Mamelodi Sundowns earned 73 points while winning the league title in the 2023-24 season.

Collins Mbesuma for Kaizer Chiefs in the 2004-05 season.

Edries Burton made 316 appearances for Santos Cape Town, Cape Town Spurs and AmaZulu.