UEFA Champions League — Juventus and Bilbao win, Atletico draw; Frankfurt was eliminated

Juventus secured a Champions League play-off place on Wednesday with a 2-0 home win over Benfica, their third successive victory, thanks to second-half goals from Khephren Thuram and Weston McKennie.

The win lifted Juventus to 15th in the standings with 12 points, while Benfica are 29th with six points. The top eight advance to the last sixteen, after which the next sixteen enter the play-offs.

After an even opening half, the hosts found the net ten minutes after half-time, with Thuram pushing his way into the area and making space to drive a shot into the bottom corner.

Juventus doubled their lead nine minutes later when McKennie played a neat one-two with Jonathan David before sending the ball past keeper Anatoliy Trubin.

Benfica was given a lifeline with a penalty nine minutes before the end, but Vangelis Pavlidis slipped just before the kick and sent his effort wide.

Juventus are away to AS Monaco on the final matchday of the league stage next Wednesday, with Jose Mourinho’s Benfica needing a win to have any chance of staying in the competition when they host Real Madrid.

Atletico Madrid kept the draw; Qarabag wins

Galatasaray earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday as Marcos Llorente’s own goal canceled out Giuliano Simeone’s early header.

The result puts Atletico in eighth place in the standings with 13 points, keeping them in contention for a top eight finish and direct qualification for the round of ‌16.

Galatasaray, currently 16th with 10 points, remains in the hunt for a knockout place in the play-offs.

Qarabag’s Bahlul Mustafazade scored a late winner to keep his side’s hopes of a Champions League play-off place alive in a 3-2 home win against Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday.

Frankfurt, on the other hand, is outside the competition.

Both teams will face Premier League opposition on the final matchday of the league stage next Wednesday, with Qarabag heading to Liverpool and Frankfurt hosting Tottenham Hotspur.

Bilbao gives Atalanta a brilliant comeback

Athletic Bilbao staged an excellent second-half comeback to beat Atalanta 3-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday, giving the Spanish side renewed hope of progressing to the qualifying round of the play-offs.

Atalanta dominated the first half and opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Gianluca Scamacca connected with a curling cross from Nicola Zalewski, who headed firmly past goalkeeper Unai Simon.

Bilbao grew into the match after the break and showed more composure in possession. The equalizer was created in the 58th minute when Gorka Guruzeta struck cleanly from the center of the penalty area.

Ernesto Valverde’s side turned the match on its head in the 70th minute when substitute Nico Serrano, who had come on for Unai Gomez two minutes earlier, immediately contributed with a well-taken goal after a Robert Navarro setup.

The momentum was all with the visiting side, who added a third just four minutes later when Navarro slotted the ball past Marco Carnesecchi.

However, Atalanta managed to get one back in the final minutes when Nikola Krstovic scored a goal from close range from a beautiful cross from Charles De Ketelaere.

The loss means Atalanta needs a win against Union Saint-Gilloise in the final group match next Wednesday to secure automatic qualification. Athletic Bilbao play at home against Sporting and need another win to keep the Champions League alive.

Published on January 22, 2026