The Champions League has reached a critical juncture as the new Swiss League phase moves into its seventh round of matches. With eighteen fixtures scheduled across this midweek, the landscape of European football is shifting rapidly.
This unique format, where 36 clubs each participate in eight matches four at home and four away is designed to keep the competition fierce until the very last kick. Unlike the old group stages, every goal and every point now contributes to a single, massive league table that determines who moves toward glory and who exits early.
The rules for progression are straightforward but leave little room for error. The clubs that finish in the top eight positions at the end of the eight rounds earn a direct ticket to the round of 16.
Meanwhile, the teams finishing between 9th and 24th must endure a two-legged play-off to decide who fills the remaining eight spots in the knockout stages. For those finishing 25th or lower, the European journey ends entirely.
Tuesday night provided plenty of drama and several results that have completely reshuffled the standings. Real Madrid showed their dominance with a crushing 6-1 victory over Monaco, while Arsenal secured a massive statement win on the road, beating Inter Milan 3-1.
One of the biggest shocks of the evening came from Norway, where Bodo/Glimt stunned Manchester City with a 3-1 win. In North London, Tottenham Hotspur kept their hopes alive with a solid 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund.
Other results saw Club Brugge win comfortably at Kairat, while Sporting Lisbon edged out PSG in a tight 2-1 contest. These outcomes have created a fascinating scenario for the teams playing on Wednesday.
| Match Result (Tuesday, Jan 20) | Score |
| Kairat vs. Club Brugge | 1–4 |
| Bodo/Glimt vs. Manchester City | 3–1 |
| Copenhagen vs. Napoli | 1–1 |
| Inter Milan vs. Arsenal | 1–3 |
| Olympiakos vs. Bayer Leverkusen | 2–0 |
| Real Madrid vs. Monaco | 6–1 |
| Sporting Lisbon vs. PSG | 2–1 |
| Tottenham vs. Borussia Dortmund | 2–0 |
| Villarreal vs. Ajax | 1–2 |
As we woke up on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the focus shifted to the remaining nine games. High-profile clashes include Liverpool traveling to Marseille and Barcelona facing Slavia Prague. However, for many fans in England, the spotlight is firmly on St. James’ Park, where Newcastle United hosts the Dutch leaders, PSV Eindhoven.
For Eddie Howe and his Newcastle squad, the math is becoming very exciting. The results from Tuesday night have opened a massive door for the Magpies.
Currently sitting on ten points from six matches, Newcastle is already in a strong position, likely having done enough to at least secure a play-off spot. However, the ambition on Tyneside is to skip the play-offs entirely and land in that elusive top eight.
A victory tonight against PSV would be transformative. A simple win would see Newcastle leapfrog major European powers like Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, and Manchester City in the standings. If they manage a dominant performance and win by four or more goals, they could even climb above PSG.
Depending on how other results fall specifically if Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, or Atalanta slip up Newcastle could find themselves as high as fifth in the entire Champions League table by the end of the night.
The long-term outlook is equally promising. If Newcastle can secure three points tonight and follow it up with a positive result against PSG in Paris next week, an automatic qualifying spot for the round of 16 is almost a certainty.
Even a single point tonight would effectively guarantee that they finish no lower than 24th, ensuring their European adventure continues into the spring.
The pressure is high, but the rewards are massive. As the famous Champions League anthem rings out tonight, Newcastle United knows they are not just playing for a win; they are playing for a place among the undisputed elite of European football. With the home crowd behind them, the opportunity to climb into the top five is within their grasp.
