UEFA Champions League: Salah ends Liverpool goal drought, Diomande scores for surprise package Sporting

Mohamed Salah finally ended a long period without a goal for Liverpool on Wednesday, scoring his first in almost three months as the Reds thrashed Azeri club Qarabag FK 6-0 to finish up the UEFA Champions League main stage. Ivorian defender Ousmane Diomande also scored on Wednesday as he and Geny Catamo’s Sporting CP qualified for the Round of 16.

Egyptian superstar Salah, who has endured a difficult 2025-26 season with the reigning English Premier League champions, curled in from twenty yards out to put the hosts ahead 3-0 at Anfield. A clever set piece saw Dominik Szoboszlai backheel the ball to the veteran forward for the finish.

Despite their domestic struggles, Liverpool finished 3rd on the league phase table which qualifies them directly to the Round of 16. Salah has 6 goals and 5 assists from 23 appearances in all competitions this season and is now focused on his club duties after leading Egypt to a semifinal finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

A surprise member of the top-8 teams, who earn a bye through the Round of 32, is Portuguese champions Sporting CP. Ivorian defender Ousmane Diomande produced a powerful header from Maximiiliano Araujo’s corner kick to cancel out an early concession for the visitors in a dramatic 3-2 victory over Athletic Bilbao.

⏹️ VAMOS SPORTING!!! Acreditámos até ao fim e trazemos a vitória de Bilbao 🚀

⚽️ Diomande, Trincão e Alisson
🔴 2-3 🟢 // #ATHSCP pic.twitter.com/Z1ZlvZKhcw

— Sporting CP (@SportingCP) January 28, 2026

Hosts Bilbao re-took the lead before the half hour mark but a second half comeback put the Portuguese side back ahead. Trincão’s goal leveled the match soon after an hour played and substitute Alisson Santos scored in second half stoppage time for a massive match winner. The late winner was the difference between playing in the Round of 32 and the Round of 16, with the latter achieved for Sporting.

It was a triumphant return to action for Diomande, who has also had a difficult season due to injury and transfer rumors before the season that did not come to fruition. Wednesday’s goal was his first of the season from thirteen appearances.