The second edition of the League Phase in the 2025-26 Champions League season was one of the most dramatic ever showing that the new format is giving a different kind of entertainment the competition has ever seen. While there were a lot of surprises in the inaugural season, it has eclipsed everything this time with some fascinating underdog tales. However, it is not only the minnows that managed to escape the League Phase to qualify for the knockout playoffs but also some top teams in the competition's history failed to get into the Round of 16 directly, including the defending champions. The point gap was extremely close this season which explained the close fight with only table toppers Arsenal managing a clean sweep and securing early qualification. In this article, we look at the teams that few expected to be in the knockout playoffs.
Real Madrid
The record champions Real Madrid were in the knockout playoffs last time but the thing that made them a shocking name among the knockout playoff teams is the club was expected to take a new level after a disappointing final campaign under Carlo Ancelotti with the appointment of club legend Xabi Alonso. His managerial pedigree was noted worldwide after he broke Bayern Munich's dominance to give Bayer Leverkusen their first Bundesliga title in an invincible season bringing excitement to the Spanish capital. However, with two games remaining in the League Phase, the 2010 World Cup winner was sacked owing to poor results and losing control of the dressing room.
Despite losing to Premier League sides Liverpool and Manchester City, Los Blancos still had destiny in their own hands at the time of his sacking and seemed to be on their way to the Round of 16 directly when interim boss and another club legend Alvaro Arbeloa guided the team to a huge 6-1 win against Monaco in the penultimate League Phase game. But reality bite back when they suffered a costly 4-2 defeat to Jose Mourinho's Benfica in dramatic fashion in the final game to spun that opportunity and settle for a knockout playoff spot, finishing just outside the top eight by a point. To make it more challenging, they are drawn to face the Eagles again straight after that frustrating evening over two legs in the next round.
Inter
Finishing fourth in the table and reaching the final of the Champions League for the second time in four years last season, Inter had to settle for a knockout playoff spot after finishing 10th this time. It was a surprise considering the Nerazzurri have maintained their dominance in the Serie A, heading towards another title, under the tutelage of former player Christian Chivu. The Romanian legend took charge following Simeone Inzaghi's step down from his role following the humiliating 5-0 defeat in the showpiece at Munich last year and then joining Asian giants Al Hilal.
Initially, the Italian heavyweights were looking to make another dominant showing in the League Phase with four straight victories to begin the stage, not even conceding in the first three. However, the side wobbled when the schedule became much tougher, losing to Atletico, Liverpool and Arsenal snapping their automatic qualification opportunity. Yet, a crucial victory against Borussia Dortmund in the final League Phase game ensured a place in the knockout playoffs. Nevertheless, Inter will be disappointed to have failed to get much more with the start they had.
Qarabag
One of the top underdog stories in the League Phase this season is of Qarabag, who became the first ever Azerbaijan club to make it to the knockout rounds of the Champions League. They are also the first and only club from the region to go beyond the first stage in all three UEFA competitions. Considering the club had the second lowest value in the Champions League this season, it was a remarkable achievement. Even after getting demolished 6-0 by Liverpool at Anfield in the final League Phase game, their good work early in the stage helped them earn the 22nd spot and into the knockout playoffs with some helping hand from elsewhere.
Regardless, it is a campaign to be the savior for the side that looked the strongest at home. The Horsemen took the most points at their venue including defeating Eintracht Frankfurt, FC Copenhagen and even drawing 2-2 with Chelsea. Their campaign also started with a surprising 3-2 victory against Benfica in Portugal. Qarabag will face a tough challenge in the form of Newcastle United in the knockout playoffs, hoping to cause a surprise, but they have already overachieved this season and will play the tie without any serious pressure to deliver.
Bodo Glimt
However, the most spectacular tale of the season belonged to the Norwegian giant killers Bodo Glimt who became the first Arctic team and the northernmost side to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League in their debut campaign. They are the first Norwegian club to reach the knockouts in 29 years, since Rosenborg did in the 1996/97 season. To be fair, the side nicknamed as 'The Super Team' was building on to this success after making gigantic strides in the other two European competitions. They reached the Europa League semifinal last season and make it to the Conference League knockouts after famously beating Mourinho's Roma 6-1.
So it was evident that the four time Norwegian champions will show their prowess in Europe's premier club competition. That being said, the start was not the prettiest as Bodo collected no wins from the first five games of the League Phase. Even though they drew against Tottenham at home in the second game, three consecutive loss to Galatasaray, Monaco and Juventus derailed the season. But they gave a tough game to Bianconeri in the late 3-2 defeat which gave them inspiration to take on the tough challenges ahead.
Just like that, they found their feat at the right moment to cause two seismic shocks in the League Phase to create a wonderful tale. First they stunned the 2023 Champions League winners Manchester City in a 3-1 victory at home where they scored all three goals within an hour of play before repeating the miracle by defeating La Liga Atletico Madrid 2-1 in Spain in the final League Phase game. Those pair of memorable wins put them 23rd in the 36-team table making them the most unlikely side in the knockout playoffs of the Champions League. They will take on another heavyweight in Inter at the stage, hoping to create more fairytales.
PSG
However, the team everyone least expected to be in the knockout playoffs without directly qualifying in the Round of 16 is the competition holders Paris Saint Germain. The Parisians qualified for the same stage last time but the scenario was very much different that time. Luis Enrique's side scraped through the League Phase last season but then became an unstoppable unit to lift their first Champions League title in history with a record margin of victory in the final. That alongside a mesmerizing treble made the Ligue 1 giants the most feared side in Europe.
Understandably, PSG was hopeful to dominate from the start in the second iteration of the League Phase and initially it looked so as they registered three wins on the spin, crushing Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen with defeating Barcelona in between. Despite the huge victories, the side contained defensive woes which became a factor in the 2-1 loss to Bayern Munich in the fourth game. After playing out another thriller against Spurs, the team failed to incur any more victories in the final three League games falling off from the top eight.
Even with their lethal scoring nature, Enrique's men surprisingly drew 0-0 with Athletic Club, their only goalless draw of the season, before enduring a shocking 2-1 loss to Portuguese champions Sporting CP in Lisbon. That was a huge blow for the team but they still had the chance of direct last-16 qualification in the final League Phase game which they blew apart with a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United. Hence, PSG were forced to finish 11th on the table, two points away from an automatic spot. However, the side has enough pedigree to win the title again and they will hope to show it from the same knockout playoff stage as last time, with fellow French side Monaco their opponents.
