The first-leg matches of the Champions League Round of 16 have concluded, leaving thrilling results. Among the standout victories were those of Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool. The first-leg clashes of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 delivered intense matchups and provided insights into which teams might advance to the quarter-finals. Notably, Arsenal’s dominant win and the victories of Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool stole the spotlight. Aston Villa with a Strong Chance to Qualify Aston Villa visited Club Brugge and secured a crucial 3-1 away victory in Belgium. The two-goal advantage could prove key in the second leg in England, where Club Brugge will be forced to win by at least two goals to stay in the competition. Arsenal Almost Through to the Quarter-Finals The Gunners left nothing to chance in their away fixture against PSV, demolishing the Dutch side with a 7-1 victory. While PSV is not mathematically eliminated, overcoming a six-goal deficit at the Emirates Stadium seems highly unlikely. Dortmund and LOSC Leave Their Tie Wide Open Borussia Dortmund and LOSC Lille played to the only draw of the Round of 16 so far, finishing 1-1. This result keeps everything open for the return leg in France, where Lille will look to capitalize on home advantage and eliminate last season’s runners-up. Inter Secures a Two-Goal Lead Against Feyenoord Inter Milan also gained a strong advantage for the second leg after securing a 2-0 win over Feyenoord in Rotterdam. The Dutch side now faces a tough challenge to overturn the deficit in Italy. Real Madrid Wins First-Leg Madrid Derby In the much-anticipated Madrid Derby, Real Madrid edged Atlético Madrid with a 2-1 victory. The game featured several scoring opportunities for both sides, but individual brilliance played a decisive role in the final result. Bayern Munich Reasserts Its German Supremacy In an all-German showdown, Bayern Munich dominated Bayer Leverkusen with a 3-0 victory. Despite Leverkusen’s recent rise as a serious contender, this match reminded fans of Bayern’s long-standing dominance in German football. Barcelona Overcomes Red Card to Secure a Win Barcelona faced adversity early in their match at Benfica’s stadium, playing with 10 men from the 22nd minute after Pau Cubarsí’s red card. However, the Blaugrana managed to keep a clean sheet thanks to an outstanding performance from Szczesny and a decisive goal from Raphinha. Liverpool Defeats PSG Despite Minimal Attacks In a match similar to Barcelona’s, Liverpool—leaders of the group stage—faced PSG in Paris. The home side dominated the game, launching 27 shots (10 on target), but Liverpool scored the only goal of the match with their first and only shot on target in the 87th minute. Alisson played a key role in securing the win with a stellar performance in goal. Second-Leg Fixtures Await These 16 teams will return to domestic league action this weekend before the decisive second-leg matches, set for March 11 and 12. Cover photo: X (@ChampionsLeague)
