Champions League Playoffs: Second Leg Roundup

The UEFA Champions League Playoffs are history after eight intense and exciting matches. We now know the eight qualifiers for the round of 16, and we can’t wait to see them fight it out for the Championship title.

Some of the results were expected, such as PSG’s crushing victory over Stade Brest and Real Madrid’s victory over City. However, we witnessed the debacle of Italian soccer in continental tournaments, as Juventus, Atalanta, and Milan were all eliminated from the tournament after losing to PSV, Brugge, and Feyenoord, respectively.

As we can see, the Serie A teams did not face high-caliber opponents, but a sudden drop in performance was revealed at the least expected moment.

Here is a summary of the Second Leg of the playoffs of the 2024/25 edition of the UEFA Champions League.

Champions League Second Leg Results.

Champions League: Playoffs Roundup: Milan vs. Feyenoord

AC Milan deployed an impressive attacking lineup against Feyenoord, with Santiago Gimenez, Pulisic, Joao Felix, and Rafael Leao in charge of scoring the goals needed to overcome their opponents. Santiago, just 40 seconds into the match, made an immediate impact by scoring to level the aggregate score. Despite his former team, he refrained from celebrating and even offered a gesture of apology to the home fans who once revered him.

Under the guidance of Sérgio Conceiçao, Milan strategically neutralized Feyenoord with a formidable attacking lineup and a double pivot of Fofana and Reijnders. However, Feyenoord managed to level the match with a goal from Carranza after Santiago was substituted by Fofana.

This result, combined with Hernandez’s dismissal, led to AC Milan’s elimination from the competition.

Result: Milan 1–1 Feyenoord
Aggregate Score: Milan 1 – 2 Feyenoord

Champions League Playoffs Roundup: Atalanta vs. Brugge

Brugge has risen from the lowest position in the standings (24th) to eighth after defeating Atalanta 3-1.

Atalanta, trying to mount a comeback, faced difficulties and eventually suffered a defeat. Brugge’s early lead and good performance, led by Ferran Jutglà, were too much for Atalanta to overcome.

Despite the Italian side’s best efforts, including a goal from Mateo Retegui, they could not turn the tide. The game took a turn for the worse for Atalanta with multiple missed chances and the sending-off of Rafael Toloi. It was a disappointing end to an eventful match.

Result: Atalanta 1–3 Brugge
Aggregate Score: Atalanta 2-5 Brugge

Champions League Playoffs Roundup: Real Madrid vs. Manchester City

Real Madrid dominated their match against a weak and tired Manchester City. With a solid and focused performance, Madrid was able to easily overcome City, scoring early in the game and maintaining control throughout the match.

Key players such as Bellingham, Rodrigo, and Mbappé made significant contributions to the team’s success. Madrid’s well-organized defense and strong offensive play led to a decisive victory, with Mbappé scoring a hat-trick.

Guardiola’s City looked disoriented and struggled to keep up with Madrid’s pace and creativity. The match ended with Madrid demonstrating their superiority and City failing to mount a meaningful challenge.

Madrid’s performance showed their potential in the Champions League as they advanced to the next stage with confidence and looking to become champions of this continental tournament once again.

Result: Real Madrid 3–1 Manchester City
Aggregate Score: Real Madrid 6 – 3 Manchester City

Champions League Playoffs Roundup: PSV vs. Juventus

PSV secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League by defeating Juventus 3-1 in the second leg to win 4-3 on aggregate.

Despite initially controlling the game, Juventus let PSV grow and eventually succumbed to their opponent’s strong performance. PSV were coming off a draw in their domestic league and had to fight for the win.

Ivan Perisic played a crucial role for PSV, scoring a vital goal and assisting in the team’s comeback. The match went into extra time, where PSV continued their dominance and secured their victory with a well-executed set piece by Flamingo.

Despite Juventus’ efforts to equalize, PSV emerged victorious and advanced to the next stage of the competition.

Result: PSV 3-1 Juventus
Aggregate Score: PSV 4-3 Juventus