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The first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 play-offs had it all—dramatic comebacks, tactical battles, and surprising results that left some of Europe’s biggest teams on the edge. Now, with the second leg around the corner, some clubs are in control while others are fighting to keep their campaign alive. Here’s what we learned, and how it all sets up for a decisive round of fixtures.
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Key Takeaways from the First Leg
PSG made a statement with a 3-0 win over Brest, leaving little doubt about their superiority. Ousmane Dembélé was unstoppable, tearing apart Brest’s weak defence. With such a commanding lead, PSG are in complete control.
In Turin, Juventus secured a hard-fought 2-1 away victory over PSV Eindhoven. The Dutch side’s single goal keeps the tie open heading into the second leg in Eindhoven.
In the most important and biggest one of this round, Real Madrid edged Manchester City 3-2 with a late winner at the Etihad. City’s habit of slipping up at crucial moments came back to haunt them yet again.
Borussia Dortmund tore through Sporting CP in Lisbon, sealing a 3-0 win with ruthless finishing and rock-solid defending. The result leaves the Portuguese side with a mountain to climb in the second leg, needing something truly special to turn this around.
One of the surprise results saw Club Brugge claim a 2-1 victory over Atalanta. The Belgian side’s disciplined approach frustrated their Italian opponents, leaving Atalanta with work to do.
Celtic put in a spirited performance, but Bayern Munich’s superior quality saw them claim a 2-1 win. Harry Kane and Michael delivered when it mattered most, putting the Bundesliga giants in a good position.
Feyenoord have really surprised so far this season and on another night of champions, they did that again, they secured a narrow but significant 1-0 home win over AC Milan. The Italian side struggled to create chances, setting up a crucial second leg at the San Siro.
In Monaco, Benfica edged Monaco with a 1-0 away win. Monaco must be sharper in the return leg to turn things around.
What to Expect in the Second Legs
Brest have a mountain to climb if they’re to overturn a 3-0 deficit against PSG—a task that looks almost impossible with the Parisians expected to control the game from start to finish.
Juventus will need to dig deep and stay compact to protect their slim 2-1 advantage, while PSV must be sharp in front of goal and set the tempo early if they want a real shot at going through.
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Meanwhile, Manchester City head to the Bernabéu trailing 3-2, and they’ll need to come out swinging. Guardiola’s team may have faltered a lot this season, but they still remain that team with quality, and with the quality on both sides, this one is still up for grabs.
Sporting CP need a miracle to overturn a 3-0 deficit, and how that will happen would be mysterious. Borussia Dortmund are in full control and will likely play a disciplined game to see out the tie.
Atalanta must respond swiftly and improve after their 2-1 loss to Club Brugge, but the Belgians will be willing to frustrate the Italians and hold their lead.
Bayern Munich have the advantage but cannot afford complacency against a Celtic side that showed fight in the first leg.
A one-goal deficit is manageable, but Milan must break down a disciplined Feyenoord side. Their attack needs to deliver. While for Feyenoord, they have to stay resilient.
Monaco must be more clinical after their 1-0 defeat, while Benfica will look to control the tempo and manage their narrow lead. It is highly open ended.
With several ties finely poised, the second legs promise drama. Can the teams who have hugely faltered in the first leg against all odds overturn it? Can the giants show why they are one? An exciting 2nd leg awaits and you can bet on all the action right here at Bet9ja!
