Champions League Dreams Crushed: Complete List of Teams Knocked Out of 2025-26 Competition
The 2025–26 Champions League group stage is approaching its decisive moments, yet despite all teams having at least one remaining fixture, several clubs have already been knocked out of Europe's premier club tournament.
All 36 participating Champions League teams began 2026 with theoretical possibilities of reaching the knockout phase. However, as group stage matches continued after the winter hiatus, certain teams failed to improve their situations and earned the unfortunate distinction of becoming the tournament's first eliminated clubs.
With 24 out of 36 teams progressing beyond the group stage, some clubs have already guaranteed their spots in the forthcoming knockout phase. Rather than battling to avoid elimination, these teams are now targeting a top-eight placement.
Considering the number of teams that qualify, those knocked out in the Champions League's initial round will feel disappointed not to have managed a few results that would have been enough to advance. Being eliminated while matches remain to be played, though, represents an even more disheartening outcome.
Below are the teams that were eliminated from the 2025–26 Champions League during Matchday 7.
Every Team Eliminated From The 2025–26 Champions League
Every Team Eliminated From The 2025–26 Champions League
Although sitting behind only Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga standings, Villarreal have proven to be a significant letdown in this season's Champions League and were knocked out by the equally underperforming Ajax, falling 2–1 in a decisive must-win encounter during Matchday 7.
Marcelino García's squad couldn't transfer their domestic success to European competition, with a 2–2 stalemate against Juventus representing their sole point in the group stage thus far. This constitutes a substantial disappointment from one of La Liga's leading teams, though they weren't the initial team eliminated from the tournament.
Champions League newcomers Kairat Almaty became the opening casualty of the 2025–26 season. The Kazakhstani club will take satisfaction from participating in the competition for their inaugural appearance in club history, but after securing only one point, their elimination was sealed in a 4–1 loss to Club Brugge.
Nevertheless, it marked a historic Champions League debut for the Asian team, who established the competition's longest travel record when they journeyed across three time zones and approximately 4,300 miles (6,900km) to meet Sporting CP in their tournament opener.
Club | Elimination Stage |
|---|---|
Kairat Almaty | Group Stage |
Villarreal | Group Stage |
2025–26 Champions League Table: Group Stage Rankings
2025–26 Champions League Table: Group Stage Rankings
Rank | Team | Points | Matches Played |
|---|---|---|---|
1. | Arsenal | 21 | 7 |
2. | Real Madrid | 15 | 7 |
3. | Bayern Munich | 15 | 6 |
4. | Tottenham Hotspur | 14 | 7 |
5. | Paris Saint-Germain | 13 | 7 |
6. | Sporting CP | 13 | 7 |
7. | Manchester City | 13 | 7 |
8. | Atalanta | 13 | 6 |
9. | Inter Milan | 12 | 7 |
10. | Atlético Madrid | 12 | 6 |
11. | Liverpool | 12 | 6 |
12. | Borussia Dortmund | 11 | 7 |
13. | Newcastle United | 10 | 6 |
14. | Chelsea | 10 | 6 |
15. | Barcelona | 10 | 6 |
16. | Marseille | 9 | 6 |
17. | Juventus | 9 | 6 |
18. | Galatasaray | 9 | 6 |
19. | Bayer Leverkusen | 9 | 7 |
20. | Monaco | 9 | 7 |
21. | PSV Eindhoven | 8 | 6 |
22. | Olympiacos | 8 | 7 |
23. | Napoli | 8 | 7 |
24. | Copenhagen | 8 | 7 |
25. | Qarabağ | 7 | 6 |
26. | Club Brugge | 7 | 7 |
27. | Bodø/Glimt | 6 | 7 |
28. | Benfica | 6 | 6 |
29. | Pafos | 6 | 6 |
30. | Union Saint-Gilloise | 6 | 6 |
31. | Ajax | 6 | 7 |
32. | Athletic Club | 5 | 6 |
33. | Eintracht Frankfurt | 4 | 6 |
34. | Slavia Prague | 3 | 6 |
35. | Villarreal | 1 | 7 |
36. | Kairat Almaty | 1 | 7 |