European football’s elite clubs solidified their positions in the UEFA Champions League during Wednesday’s pivotal matchday, with several powerhouses securing passage to the knockout rounds. Liverpool delivered a commanding performance in Marseille, cruising to a 3-0 victory that extended their unbeaten streak to 13 matches across all competitions since their surprising November defeat to PSV Eindhoven.
The breakthrough came courtesy of Dominik Szoboszlai’s ingenious first-half free-kick, which the Hungarian midfielder expertly slotted beneath the defensive wall. ‘I completed my homework and learned that if nobody lies down, I can strike it under the wall,’ Szoboszlai explained post-match. The victory was sealed with an own goal from Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli and a late finish from substitute Cody Gakpo, positioning Liverpool to clinch their last-16 spot against Qarabag next week.
In Munich, Harry Kane’s brace propelled Bayern to a 2-0 triumph over Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise, guaranteeing the German giants top-eight qualification with one match remaining. Kane’s header and penalty conversion brought his remarkable tally to seven goals in seven Champions League appearances this season, though his hat-trick opportunity was denied by the woodwork. Despite Kim Min-jae’s second-half dismissal, Bayern maintained control, with Kane noting: ‘We scored at decisive moments and demonstrated composure even with ten players.’
Elsewhere, Newcastle United dominated PSV with a 3-0 victory at St James’ Park, while Chelsea edged Cypriot opponents Pafos 1-0 in new coach Liam Rosenior’s European debut. Barcelona mounted a impressive comeback against Slavia Prague, overcoming an early deficit to win 4-2 through Fermin Lopez’s double and decisive contributions from Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski.
The matchday concluded with dramatic finishes across Europe: Juventus continued their resurgence with a 2-0 win over Benfica, Atalanta suffered a damaging 3-2 home defeat to Athletic Bilbao, and Azerbaijani surprise package Qarabag kept their playoff hopes alive with a dramatic 3-2 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt. The group stage will reach its climax next Wednesday with all final matches played simultaneously.