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Nine UEFA Champions League moments you might have missed this week - featuring Kai Havertz, Kylian Mbappe and Marcus Rashford
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Published 29/01/2026 at 11:19 GMT
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A round-up of things you might have missed on Matchday 8 of the UEFA Champions League, including a Puskas Award contender, Kai Havertz's long-awaited Arsenal return and Antonio Vergara channelling Diego Maradona in Napoli's encounter against Chelsea in a tremendous final Matchday of the League Phase. You can watch the Champions League on TNT Sports and discovery+.
'The big guy is capable' - Mourinho on dramatic goal from Benfica goalkeeper
Video credit: TNT Sports
Havertz comeback goal
While Arsenal’s shiny new signing Viktor Gyokeres endured another frustrating night, scoring early against Kairat before squandering several chances, Kai Havertz impressed on his first start in almost a year.
The Germany international, returning after a series of injuries, scored and set up both Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli before being withdrawn at half-time - underlining a quality that could prove crucial if Arsenal are to secure their first Premier League title since 2004.
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Havertz marks first start in almost a year with 'really clinical' finish
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Napoli 'Maradona' equaliser
Napoli’s 23-year-old midfielder Antonio Vergara netted his first Champions League goal - one that carries echoes of the great Diego Maradona.
Antonio Conte’s men were trailing Chelsea 1-0 when Vergara collected a loose ball, galloped toward goal before beating Wesley Fofana with a pirouette and firing into the bottom corner.Â
At that moment, Napoli, who needed a win to avoid Champions League elimination, would have believed Maradona was smiling down on the stadium that bears his name.
But it wasn’t to be, as Chelsea went on to win 3-2.
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Watch: Vergara scores against Chelsea after SUBLIME Maradona turn
Video credit: TNT Sports
Leverkusen gift in Villarreal 'horror show'
Bayer Leverkusen headed into their final league phase encounter sitting 20th and needing victory against already-eliminated Villarreal to secure a seeded spot in the play-offs.Â
And within minutes, they were provided a gift, as Villarreal goalkeeper Arnau Tenas had his clearance charged down by Malik Tillman, with the ball rebounding off the American and into the net.
It was a slapstick way of kicking off Leverkusen’s 3-0 victory.
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Leverkusen handed gift after Villarreal 'HORROR show'
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Mbappe record
Kylian Mbappe netted twice at the Estadio da Luz on Wednesday, but couldn't prevent his Real Madrid side from losing 4-2 and dropping to ninth in the Champions League standings.Â
The Frenchman’s brace brings his tally to 12 goals in seven Champions League games this term.
It’s a return over seven games that has only been bettered by Cristiano Ronaldo for Real Madrid in 2013/14 (13) and Robert Lewandowski for Bayern Munich in 2019/20 (13).
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Mbappe grabs 'deadly Champions League dozen' to make another record
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Pedro rocket
Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro were key to Chelsea's victory over Napoli, with the latter demonstrating the type of virtuoso brilliance that had Blues fans purring during last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.
With Napoli leading, Palmer’s flick found Pedro, who levelled proceedings by rifling an outrageous shot past Alex Meret from some 25 yards. It was one of the goals of the night.
Palmer would later release Pedro for his second, with the Brazilian finishing emphatically to give Chelsea the lead.
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'What a way to equalise!' - Pedro beauty drags Chelsea level at Napoli
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Fifth goalkeeper to score a Champions League goal
There are few greater sights in football - nay, life - than seeing a goalkeeper score.
It’s one of football's unicorn moments - rare, unexpected, but truly magical. And, as everyone on the planet has surely seen by now, Benfica’s Anatoly Trubin provided such a moment versus Real Madrid.
But what you may have missed is that in scoring, Trubin became the fifth goalkeeper to net a Champions League goal, after Jorg Butt (3), Sinan Bolat, Vincent Enyeama and Ivan Provedel (1 each).
And there was something that even Trubin himself missed: that Benfica needed to score in the dying embers of stoppage-time.
With the score at 3-2, the goalkeeper told TNT Sports he "didn't know, completely, at all" that his side required another goal against Madrid to secure their play-off spot.
He said: "When we receive the free-kick, I understand because everybody on the pitch, bench, started to shout at me, point at me!"
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Watch: Benfica GK scores DRAMATIC header against Real to send Mourinho wild
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Rashford joins Beckham in rare free kick company
Marcus Rashford produced a standout moment as Barcelona secured a spot in the Champions League last 16 with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Copenhagen.Â
With the goalkeeper anticipating a cross to his far post, Rashford bent a strike over the wall and into the bottom corner.Â
It was the England international's fifth Champions League goal of the campaign and one which places him in esteemed company.
Indeed, he became one of only two English players to score a direct free kick for two different teams in the Champions League (Manchester United and Barcelona), after David Beckham (Manchester United and Real Madrid).
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Mac Allister brothers both named player of the match
It was a good evening for the Mac Allister family as both Alexis and Kevin were named Man of the Match on the same evening in their respective Champions League games.Â
Alexis Mac Allister starred and scored in Liverpool’s emphatic 6-0 victory over Qarabag, while his brother Kevin Mac Allister (not that one) delivered a commanding defensive display for Union Saint-Gilloise as the Belgian outfit edged past Atalanta 1-0.
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Mac Allister rounds keeper as Liverpool score FIVE against Qarabag
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Dragomir screamer
Vlad Dragomir netted a Puskas Award contender in Pafos’ 4–1 victory over Slavia Prague - a strike worthy of Alan Partridge’s famous "foot like a traction engine" commentary.
From 30 yards, Dragomir unleashed a ferocious left-footed effort that whipped over the Slavia goalkeeper and into the top corner.
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'Look at that!' - Dragomir arrows 'spectacular' stunner into top corner for Pafos
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