The UEFA Champions League playoff round concluded this week, determining the final teams advancing to the Round of 16. The matches on February 18 and 19, 2025, were filled with intense competition and surprising outcomes.
February 18 Highlights:
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AC Milan vs. Feyenoord: The first leg ended 1-0 in favor of Feyenoord. In the return match at San Siro, Santiago Giménez gave Milan an early lead in the first minute. However, Feyenoord’s Santiago Carranza equalized in the 73rd minute, securing a 1-1 draw. With a 2-1 aggregate score, Feyenoord advanced, eliminating the Italian giants.
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Atalanta vs. Club Brugge: Atalanta faced a 2-1 deficit from the first leg. In the home fixture, Club Brugge’s Chemsdine Talbi scored twice (3rd and 27th minutes), and Ferran Jutglà added another in stoppage time of the first half. Despite Ademola Lookman’s goal for Atalanta in the 46th minute, the match ended 3-1 in favor of Club Brugge, resulting in a 5-2 aggregate victory for the Belgian side.
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Bayern Munich vs. Celtic: Bayern entered the second leg with a 2-1 advantage. Celtic’s Nicolas-Gerrit Kühn scored in the 63rd minute, leveling the aggregate. The match seemed destined for extra time until Bayern’s Alphonso Davies netted a crucial equalizer in stoppage time (90+4), ensuring a 1-1 draw and a 3-2 aggregate win for Bayern.
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Benfica vs. AS Monaco: Benfica held a 1-0 lead from the first leg. The return match was a thrilling 3-3 draw. Benfica’s goals came from Kerem Aktürkoğlu (22nd minute), Vangelis Pavlidis (76th-minute penalty), and Orkun Kökçü (84th minute). Monaco responded with goals from Takumi Minamino (32nd minute), Eliesse Ben Seghir (51st minute), and Ilyes Housni (81st minute). Benfica advanced with a 4-3 aggregate score.
February 19 Highlights:
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Borussia Dortmund vs. Sporting CP: Dortmund’s commanding 3-0 first-leg victory set the stage. The second leg ended in a goalless draw, allowing Borussia Dortmund to progress comfortably with a 3-0 aggregate.
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Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) vs. Brest: PSG dominated the first leg with a 3-0 win. In the return match at Parc des Princes, they overwhelmed Brest 7-0. Goals were scored by Bradley Barcola, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Vitinha, Désiré Doué, Nuno Mendes, Gonçalo Ramos, and Senny Mayulu. PSG advanced with a resounding 10-0 aggregate.
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PSV Eindhoven vs. Juventus: Juventus led 2-1 after the first leg. In Eindhoven, Ivan Perišić equalized the aggregate in the 53rd minute. Timothy Weah briefly restored Juventus’s advantage in the 63rd minute, but Ismael Saibari’s 74th-minute goal forced extra time. In the 98th minute, Flamengo secured PSV’s 3-1 victory, resulting in a 4-3 aggregate upset over the Italian side.
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Real Madrid vs. Manchester City: Real Madrid edged a 3-2 win in the first leg. At Santiago Bernabéu, Kylian Mbappé delivered a stellar performance, completing a hat-trick with goals in the 4th, 33rd, and 61st minutes. Manchester City’s Nico González scored a consolation goal in stoppage time. Real Madrid advanced with a 6-3 aggregate, eliminating the English champions.
These results finalize the lineup for the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League, with notable eliminations of prominent Italian clubs and strong performances from teams like PSG and Real Madrid.
