Champions League: The night of pure madness that made history – and what it means for 2025/26

A night to remember: This 5-5 has only happened five times before

What on earth was that night in the UEFA Champions League? I'm still sat here with goosebumps and an empty beer bottle in front of the telly, trying to process what I've just witnessed. You think you've seen it all in football, and then a game like that comes along and completely knocks you sideways. I'm talking, of course, about that absolutely mad 5-5 draw. Yes, you read that right. FIVE goals each. In the Champions League. In what was supposed to be a midweek round dictated by tactics and control, two teams threw caution to the wind and served up a spectacle that's only happened five times in the history of the competition. Five times! That's rarer than a defender scoring from 30 yards.

I'm not even going to dwell on the defences, who looked like they'd rather have been off for a cup of tea. This was about an unrelenting will to win, that incredible ebb and flow. A proper treat for any neutral. If this didn't get your heart racing, you must have been watching with your eyes closed. They chased, they fought, and in the end, a share of the spoils felt like a victory for the beautiful game itself.

Bodø/Glimt and the fine art of letting a game slip

Speaking of madness: You know that feeling when you've almost conquered the mountain, only to slip on the final stretch? That must be exactly how the Bodø/Glimt lads are feeling. Away at Sporting Lisbon, they had everything under control. For 34 minutes, they ran rings around the hosts, passing the ball through their legs time and again. 34 minutes! In that time, they showed the rest of Europe exactly why Norwegian football is enjoying such a renaissance. But then, well, the wheels came off. Sporting, that typical never-say-die team, smelled blood and pounced ruthlessly. They clawed their way back – and in the end, it was a comeback that does the Portuguese proud, but one that will haunt Norwegian fans for a while. It's that brutal efficiency that sets the UEFA Champions League apart from other tournaments. One moment of lapse in concentration, and the game is turned on its head.

London calling: The Arsenal v Leverkusen showdown

And then there's that one particular tie I'm personally buzzing about: Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen. The entire football world will have their eyes on London. Who's going to book their spot in the quarter-finals? The Gunners, young, hungry, and with that home advantage that so often acts as a twelfth man at the Emirates. On the other side, 'die Werkself', who've shown time and again this season they can mix it with the big boys. This one's going to be a nail-biter right up to the final whistle, I'm telling you. It's all to play for, it's about pride, it's about a place in the next round of Europe's elite competition. I can guarantee you: it's going to be tasty. It's one of those nights you set an alarm for or book the day off work.

Beyond the bubble: More than just the men's competition

If you think the world of the Champions League revolves solely around the big men's teams, you're missing half the story. While the focus naturally falls on the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 season, which is already casting its shadow, there's so much more to discover. Over in Asia, the giants are battling for supremacy in the AFC Champions League – tactically often a different beast, but just as passionate. And then, of course, there's the UEFA Women's Champions League, which has seen a boom in recent years that we men could certainly learn a thing or two from. Packed stadiums, gripping matches, genuine heroines. And if you want to see football in its rawest form, look to Africa: The CAF Champions League is an absolute fireworks display of emotion, pace, and pure joy for the game. No messing about there; it's a battle, like fighting for the last orange at the market.

I tell you what: this week has shown us again why we love this sport so much. Whether it's that historic 5-5, Sporting's comeback, or that fiery clash in London – the UEFA Champions League remains the stage for the greatest stories. And I, for one, can't wait to see what tales the next round and the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 season have in store for us. One thing's for sure: it'll be loud, it'll be emotional, and it'll be bloody good football.

• Historic 5-5: Only the fifth time this scoreline has been seen in Champions League history.
• Bodø/Glimt: Led for 34 minutes against Sporting before being pegged back.
• London Calling: Arsenal v Leverkusen – a finely balanced tie with the outcome wide open.
• Global Phenomenon: The elite club competition thrives not just in Europe, but also in Asia (AFC) and Africa (CAF).