Champions League Playoffs: First Leg Roundup

The UEFA Champions League Playoffs Phase to define the last eight qualifiers to the Round of 16 of the competition is underway, and the teams fought tooth and nail in the first leg matches this week and here we bring you the Roundup.

Los Blancos claimed an excellent victory at the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City, thanks to a last-minute goal in the final seconds. We also experienced two surprise results: Club Brugge beat Atalanta, and Feyenoord did the same against AC Milan.

As a result, we are sure that the second legs of the series will be full of excitement from start to finish.

Champions League Playoffs: First Leg Roundup Results

Champions League: Playoffs Roundup – Brest vs. PSG

With an away win against Brest, PSG are now all but assured of advancing to the last 16 of this Champions League Playoff. Dembélé, who is the top scorer in the “big leagues” with 11 goals in 2025, showed his excellent farm with two goals for the Parisian team.

PSG controlled the match from the start, and an unexpected handball by Lees-Melou allowed Vitinha to open the scoring from the penalty spot. Despite Brest’s attempts to pull one back, Dembélé extended PSG’s lead just before halftime with a well-taken shot.

Brest tried hard to pull one back in the second half, but PSG’s quality was evident as they held firm. A PSG goal was disallowed by VAR, but Dembélé finally sealed the win with a rebound shot.

PSG’s dominance finally ended Brest’s hopes with a crushing 3-0 scoreline, and the French champions have secured a place in the Round of 16. The second leg is still to come.

Champions League: Playoffs Roundup – Manchester City contra Real Madrid

Real Madrid secured a crucial 3-2 victory over Manchester City, a result that undoubtedly boosts their confidence ahead of the upcoming second leg, which will determine which team advances to the Round of 16 of the Liga de Campeones de la UEFA.

Manchester City took the lead with a brilliant goal from Erling Haaland in the 19th minute, expertly assisted by Josko Gvardiol. Haaland’s goal was initially reviewed for offside but was eventually awarded, sparking controversy among fans who believed it should not have stood.

In the second half, Real Madrid showed a better performance and quickly equalized through Kylian Mbappé in the 60th minute. Haaland then added his second goal of the night through a penalty before Brahim Diaz scored in the 86th minute to secure Real Madrid’s equalizer. In stoppage time, Jude Bellingham’s goal sealed the victory, completing an impressive comeback for the Spanish side.

Champions League: Playoffs Roundup – Brugge vs. Atalanta

Brugge achieved a surprising 2-1 victory over Atalanta in a match full of controversy at the Jan Breydel Stadion.

The winning goal was scored by Nilsson in stoppage time through a highly debated and bizarre penalty decision. The game added to ongoing discussions about refereeing in European soccer, showing how refereeing controversies can overshadow the sport itself. Before Nilsson’s goal, Ferrán Jutglà had already scored for Brugge, continuing his impressive run of six goals this season in Belgium.

The first half was competitive, with chances for both teams. Although Atalanta were the favorites, they struggled with the absence of several key players due to injuries.

Brugge took advantage of Atalanta’s weaknesses, taking the lead through Jutglà after a mistake by Hien, with Talbi converting from the penalty spot in front of a helpless Rui Patrício. Atalanta gradually settled into the game, creating chances through Zappacosta, Posch, and Retegui, with Pasalic equalizing just before halftime.

In the second half, Brugge maintained their momentum, with De Cuyper and De Ketelaere threatening the Atalanta defense. Both teams missed clear chances, with Zappacosta and Samardzic failing to convert for Atalanta.

However, the match took a controversial turn in the 91st minute when Nilsson was awarded a controversial penalty after minimal contact with Hien. The penalty was converted by Nilsson, securing victory for Brugge and setting up a challenging task for Atalanta to overturn the result in the next match in Bergamo.

Champions League: Playoffs Roundup – Celtic vs. Bayern

Bayern Munich claimed a 2-1 away win over Celtic to continue their impressive winning streak.

Despite an early scare when Celtic almost scored, Bayern quickly took control of the game. Olsen scored for Bayern just before halftime, and Kane extended their lead early in the second half. Although Celtic managed to pull one back through Maeda, Bayern eventually held on for the win.

The win marks Bayern’s fifth consecutive victory in all competitions, positioning them favorably to advance to the Champions League round of 16. Despite facing some pressure from Celtic, especially towards the end of the match, Bayern’s dominance and clinical finishing ultimately secured the important away win.