One of the biggest change of the new format of the Champions League is definitely the introduction of the Playoff round, a two-legged knockout clash between teams placed from 9th to 24th in order to find out who accompanied the Top 8 in the Round of 16!
As soon as the draw for the playoff round was made, all attention turned to one particular pairing. If you’d told a 100 people to write down the eight teams they’d though would secure their spot in the Top 8, probably 90% of them would write down Real Madrid and Manchester City first. However, the turbulence of the two teams’ seasons, plus the unpredictability of the new format left the giants hanging way low down the rank, in 11th and 22nd place respectively. So… starting with the review of that matchup just makes sense.
Real Madrid vs. Manchester City (6-3 Aggregate)
We knew this one had all the makings of an instant classic, and the first leg did not disappoint. It had everything: from the managers trying out some new tactical solutions, to high-octane action that was spiced up by a classic Real Madrid comeback in the closing stages of the game. Manchester City took the lead twice, but the individual mistakes and the lack of security on the ball that followed them throughout the game made them pay for it very late when Jude Bellingham completed the comeback in additional time.
The second leg, even though it wasn’t nearly as competitive and evenly matched, became an instant-classic as well. A classic, however of a different kind – a one-man show. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring after just four minutes and went on to add two more to completely outclass Manchester City’s defence. Citizens only got a consolation goal deep into stoppage time. Theoretically, this isn’t a group stage exit for Manchester City, but it is the first time they fail to reach the Round of 16 in more than 10 years.
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Brest (10-0 Aggregate)
Another powerhouse of European football that found itself way below the league phase ranking was PSG – they had the luck to avoid Europe’s biggest teams and were paired with a team they know all too well. A fellow French side, Stade Brestois.
It was a one-sided affair throughout the 180 minutes, with an aggregate scoreline that just looks brutal. It’s the biggest aggregate win in the UEFA Champions League in the last 15 years, since Bayern München beat Sporting Lisbon 12-1 in the Round of 16 in 2009. The second leg at the Parc des Princes was particularly hard to watch for Brest fans, as Paris scored seven past team – each goal scored by a different player.
Bayern Munich vs. Celtic (3-2 Aggregate)
The playoff round paired up two more Champions League winners, teams that are dominating the proceedings in their domestic championships. When Bayern took a two goal lead in the first leg in Glasgow just after half-time, it looked like the tie was settled. However, carried by their impressive, unbreakable fans, Celtic managed to pull one back and keep the tie very much alive.
Then, in Munich, another shock. Despite Bayern seeing more of the ball and being a constant threat, Brendan Rodgers’ side managed to stop every attempt and then take the lead just after the hour mark thanks to Nicolas Kühn. And as they continued to survive wave after wave of Bayern attacks and it all pointed towards extra-time, Alphonso Davies appeared. He was the quickest to react to the rebound after Schmeichel deflected Goretzka’s point-blank range header and sent the ball into the net and Bayern into the next round.
Club Brugge vs. Atalanta (5-2 Aggregate)
A match-up of two teams that have a lot more in common than just colors. Both teams stacked with young talents, with managers who are looking to play eye-catching, expansive football. It was a match-up that promised excitement, but ended up delivering more then we’d hoped for.
We can agree that Club Brugge knocking Atalanta out is an upset. What might be even more surprising is the way in which they’ve done it, beating them 2-1 at home first just to dismantle them in Bergamo six days later, being 3-0 up at the half. Atalanta pushed for a miracle, got one back, but once Ademola Lookman missed the penalty that could’ve made it 2-3 with half an hour to go, it’s as if the balloon that carried Atalanta’s hopes got punctured and just couldn’t keep them up any more. A big win for the Belgian side who deserves a lot of credit for securing a spot in the Round of 16 for the second time in the last three seasons.
Feyenoord vs. Milan (2-1 Aggregate)
Speaking of Italian teams on the losing end of an upset, we arrive to AC Milan. After Sérgio Conceição joined the team and managed to win the Supercoppa Italiana by beating Juventus and Inter in a space of a few days, it looked, albeit just for a moment, that Milan could be reshaping and growing.
Their winter window reinforcements only supported that narrative, but it would all come crashing down very soon as Feyenoord kicked them out of the Champions League. An early goal in Rotterdam was enough for the Dutch side to secure the advantage for the return leg in Milan. And it couldn’t have started any worse for Feyenoord fans. Not only did Milan undo their advantage in the very first minute, but it was the man they adored for the last couple of seasons that put the ball in the net. Santiago Giménez, the Mexican goalscoring machine, changed alliances to join Milan just a few weeks ago and came back to haunt his former team. I Rossoneri were in complete control and looked good for adding another goal or two, but Theo Hernández and his inexplicable actions left them a man down.
It was enough for Feyenoord to sneak back a leveler and withstand the pressure until the end, making it to the Round of 16.
Benfica vs. Monaco (4-3 Aggregate)
Oooooh, this one was drama at its finest! The first leg was an evenly-matched contest, even though it was Benfica that looked way better towards the end, being a goal and a man up and pushing for the second. Had they got it, it might have spared us the drama in the second leg.
Benfica looked to start strong and make things as secure as possible as soon as possible, taking the lead after just over 20 minutes. Then, however, Monaco took complete control and turned the game on its head, dominating proceedings for the next 40 minutes and leveling the tie at two. Then, we saw a crazy eight minutes that were opened by Pavlidis’ equalizer and followed swiftly by Ilenikhena who made it 2-3 for Monaco. Such a scoreline lasted but a few minutes, with Orkun Kökçü bagging another equalizer for Benfica who then managed to hold their ground and make it through to the next round.
PSV Eindhoven vs. Juventus (4-3 Aggregate)
Imagine two Italian teams crashing out of the Champions League in an upset! Hell, imagine three!
Yep, you read it right. Juventus beat PSV with ease in Turin to kick off their Champions League campaign this season, and many in their camp were probably thinking they should be able to repeat that again. Reality, on the other hand, turned out to be completely different.
Truth to be told, though, they did beat them in Turin again, but they had to travel to Eindhoven for the second leg and that’s where it’s all gone wrong. It was the only tie of the playoff round that needed an extra 30 minutes to come to a close with the result being identical after 90, standing at 2-1 for the home team. It only took PSV 8 minutes of the first extra-time to hand Juve the dagger and sentence the tie in their favor.
A historical season for Dutch football as it’s the first time in almost twenty years that they’ll have two representatives in the Champions League Round of 16. The last two teams to do it were Ajax and PSV in the 2005/06 edition.
Borussia Dortmund vs. Sporting CP (3-0 Aggregate)
A tie that in itself had all the makings of another cracker with two exciting teams looking to rediscover their finest form. It turned out to be probably the most straight-forward one (okay, after PSG-Brest) thanks to Dortmund‘s storm in the last half an hour of the first leg that saw them go 3-0 up.
In Germany, they didn’t let Sporting have a sniff at the goal, dominating proceedings, missing a penalty and keeping another clean sheet to put themselves into the Round of 16 where they’ll either face Aston Villa or Lille. Given their two performances against Sporting, they’ll definitely fancy their chances.
What’s next?
The draw for the Round of 16 is just around the corner, set to take place on Friday, 21st of February. The Round of 16 promises a few mouth-watering encounters between top-level sides, as the paths will cross for Bayern Münich who’ll face either Atlético Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen, while the other, remaining team will face Real Madrid. We don’t know about you guys, but we couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come!”