Barcelona close to Champions League knockout stage qualification

January 22, 2026 / 7:47 AM

Sharjah 24 – AFP: Barcelona took a major step toward the Champions League knockout stage after a dramatic 4-2 win over Slavia Prague in the penultimate round of the group stage. The victory lifted the Catalan side to 13 points, keeping them firmly in the race for the top eight automatic qualification places.

Match highlights

Slavia Prague struck first, but Barcelona responded through Fermín López, who scored twice. Slavia’s second goal came via an own goal, before substitutes Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski wrapped up the win for Barcelona in the second half.

Liverpool boost qualification hopes as Salah returns

Liverpool also edged closer to direct qualification with a convincing 3-0 victory over Marseille, featuring Mohamed Salah in the starting lineup. The result moved Liverpool up to 15 points in fourth place, while Marseille’s chances of advancing directly were all but ended.

Newcastle claim comfortable win

Newcastle United recorded an emphatic 3-0 win over PSV Eindhoven, with goals from Yoane Wissa, Anthony Gordon, and Harvey Barnes, strengthening their position in the European competition.