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

A night for the ages: This 5-5 draw has only happened five times before

What on earth was that insane night in the UEFA Champions League? I'm still sitting 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 this comes along and knocks you for six. I'm talking, of course, about that crazy 5-5 draw. Yes, you read that right. FIVE apiece. In the Champions League. In what was supposed to be a midweek round defined by tactics and control, two teams threw caution to the wind and served up a spectacle that has only happened five times before in the history of Europe's elite competition. Five times! That's rarer than a defender scoring from 30 yards.

I won't even dwell on the defensive lines, which seemed to have popped out for a coffee that night. Let's talk about the sheer will to win, the relentless back-and-forth. A proper treat for any neutral fan. If this didn't get your heart racing, you might want to check your pulse. They ran, they fought, and in the end, a share of the spoils felt like a victory for the beautiful game itself.

Bodø/Glimt and the art of losing a game you'd almost won

Speaking of madness: You know that feeling when you've nearly scaled the mountain, only to slip on the final few metres? That must be exactly how the Bodø/Glimt lads are feeling. Against Sporting Lisbon, they had it all under control. For 34 minutes, they consistently played the hosts off the park. 34 minutes! In that time, they showed the European mainland exactly why Norwegian football is enjoying such a renaissance. But then, well, then came the collapse. Sporting, that classic never-say-die team, smelled blood and went for the jugular. They clawed their way back – and in the end, it was a comeback that does the Portuguese side proud, but one that will undoubtedly linger long in Norway. It's that brutal efficiency that sets the UEFA Champions League apart from other competitions. One moment's lapse in concentration, and the game is turned on its head.

London calling: The Arsenal vs Leverkusen showdown

And then there's that one particular tie I'm personally buzzing about: Arsenal versus Bayer. The entire football world is glued to London. Who's going to sniff a spot in the quarter-finals? The Gunners, young, hungry, and with that home advantage that often acts as a twelfth man at the Emirates. On the other side, Leverkusen, who've shown time and again this season that they can mix it with the big boys. This is going to be a nail-biter right up to the last minute, mark my words. It's winner takes all, it's about pride, it's about advancing in Europe's premier competition. Take it from me: things are going to get very real. This is one of those nights you set an alarm for or book time off work.

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

If you think the world of the Champions League revolves solely around the big men's teams, you're missing half the story. Even though the spotlight is naturally on the UEFA Champions League 2025/26, which is already casting its shadow ahead, there's so much more to discover. Over in Asia, giants are battling for supremacy in the AFC Champions League – tactically often very different, but no less 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 learn a thing or two from. Full stadiums, gripping contests, genuine heroes. And if you want to see football in its rawest form, look to Africa: The CAF Champions League is a pure firework display of emotion, pace, and sheer joy for the game. No messing about there; they battle for every ball like it's the last orange on the market stall.

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 the red-hot tie in London – the UEFA Champions League remains the stage for the greatest stories. And I'm already dying 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's going to be loud, it's going to be emotional, and it's going to 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 eventually being pegged back.
• London Calling: Arsenal v Leverkusen – a finely balanced tie with the outcome wide open.
• Global Phenomenon: The 'Champions' concept thrives beyond Europe, in Asia (AFC) and Africa (CAF).