Season 6 - Continental Cup - Mid-Season Review

Published: September 25, 2025

Champions League

English clubs dominated at the top end of the Champions League, with the top three and four of the top five spots going to teams from the Premiership at the end of the eight group stage games. Most surprisingly perhaps is that the group league was headed up by Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers, both sides who have struggled for consistent form domestically but been a force to be reckoned with in continental competition. They automatically proceed to the quarter finals alongside both top flight league leaders Manchester United and Juventus.

The nature of the format means that you will lose top sides in the early stage, but one of the surprising strugglers were last season's English title winners Chelsea, who lost 6 of their 8 games and finished bottom. Tottenham Hotspur, domestic champions in Season 4, also saw their campaign end early, while the arrival of Garysean Wilson could not change Real Madrid's continental fortunes. They exited with Season 5's beaten finalists Inter Milan, who were denied a play off spot on goal difference.

There are some tasty play off fixtures to come, and none more so than Manchester City against Paris St Germain, both of whom could be potential winners of this competition. Current holders Atletico Madrid face a tough two legged encounter with Bayern Munich to keep their hopes of retaining their title alive, while Liverpool face Aston Villa, and Fiorentina take on Marseille for the final two spots.

Dave Phillips Trophy

The top end of the DPT group stage was always congested, with only four points separating the top eight sides in the final standings. Three sides ended up on sixteen points, and they were headed by Sporting Lisbon who went from fourth to first on the final matchday. Crystal Palace were eleventh at the midway point, but four consecutive wins propelled them into the automatic qualification zone alongside Burnley, and last season's beaten finalists Roma.

Cardiff City were winless after the first six games, but won the final two including a stunning demolition of Roma to sneak the final play off spot from Southampton. The Bluebirds will now face Barcelona over two legs, after HD King's Catalan giants were denied an automatic spot after a late Crystal Palace goal. Every other play off game features teams against domestic rivals; West Ham face Wolves, Lens will battle AC Milan and Real Sociedad and Rangers go head to head. Leeds United, Bayer Leverkusen and Barnsley all exit the competition

Darren Bradwell Cup

Three sides impressively went unbeaten during the DBC groups; all of Portsmouth, Millwall and Atalanta went through at a canter, whilst it was double delight for Gary Windebank as Benfica also went through in fourth. Shakhtar Donetsk remain without a win in the league, but finished 7th in the group and face a trip to Tyneside for a quarter final shot. Sevilla and Union Berlin also made it through despite being in the EFL1 bottom three - Berlin face Porto, Sevilla travel to Wolfsburg and Brentford versus Lazio makes up the final pairing. Everton, Nottingham Forest, Stoke City and Coventry City all saw their campaigns end.

Football League Trophy

The FLT was another group format that ended with a tight conclusion - but it was Wrexham who led the way, edging out Celtic and Sparta Prague on goal difference. Bristol City could not make it past Lyon for the final automatic quarter final spot, so they will take on Sheffield United for the right to play in the last eight. Napoli had a solitary point after the first four games, but went on to win their remaining four to end up comfortably in the pack and up against Fulham in a play off. West Brom go up against Brighton, and Schalke 04 take on Leicester, with Ajax, Feyenoord, Monaco and Middlesbrough all crashing out.

FFO Vase

Borussia Dortmund are the heavy favourites for this competition, and although they qualified automatically, they were usurped to top spot by the only 100% run of the continental cups which came from Athletic Bilbao. Sunderland followed the two EFL2 sides, while Watford and Stockport County put their league struggles to one side with impressive 4th and 5th finishes. Norwich City were surprise underachievers given their league form, just ahead of a pile up of teams on 9 points. Six teams finished with nine, but only five spots available, and Rennes were the odd team out, departing with PSV Eindhoven, RB Leipzig and Ipswich Town. The play off games are Stockport v Birmingham City, Huddersfield v Real Betis, Norwich v Valencia and RB Salzburg v Bournemouth