The curtain has fallen on the first round of the Champions League group stage, following exciting and entertaining matches that were world-class competition, as is usual in the competition.
This round may have witnessed few surprises, as big clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, and Manchester City achieved victories, albeit with difficulty, while other giants such as Serie A champions Napoli and Club World Cup champions Chelsea fell.
Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain opened their title defense with a resounding 4-0 win over Atalanta, while Eintracht Frankfurt remains the highest-scoring team in this round with a 5-1 victory over Galatasaray.
It is worth noting that the top eight teams will qualify directly for the Round of 16, while the teams placed ninth to 24th will compete in a two-leg playoff for a place in the Round of 16. The teams placed 25th to 36th will be eliminated from European competition altogether.
Quickly check out the 2025-26 Champions League standings after the first round.
The 2025-26 Champions League standings after the first round
