The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 is officially in motion, and with a series of thrilling games that have set the tone for what is turning out to be an electrifying and highly contested fight in the second leg of the contest. While some teams are still battling for a highly sought-after spot in the quarterfinals, it is clear that some have managed to gain a clear upper hand. While that is the case, let us take a moment to note the turning points that defined and determined the outcomes of the first leg games.
Club Brugge vs. Aston Villa
Aston Villa won a tightly contested match against Club Brugge, racking up an advantage of 2 goals heading into the second leg. Aston Villa opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, and a relentless Brugge equalised soon in front of their home crowd. The match was tied until the 80th minute, with Brugge trying to fend off the strong Aston Villa attack.
Despite the former having 56% of the possession of the ball, an own goal by B.Mechele and a successful penalty conversion by Marco Asensio saw the Villans win the match. It’s interesting to note that Maxim de Cuyper from Club Brugge won the Player of the Match. With one goal scored, 89% accurate passes and 13 total tackles, de Cuyper earned 7.7 Sofascore Rating.
Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid
The Madrid derby was a close encounter, with Real Madrid ending up winning the match with 2 goals over Atletico’s 1. Real’s attack gained momentum as the match progressed, with 13 total shots. Jan Oblak was crucial in the defence for Atletico, with 5 saves in the match. Atletico tried their best to sneak past the defence, but Real denied them any opportunities in the second half.
The left wing link up between F.Mendy and Brahim Diaz and the right wing link up between F.Valverde and Rodrygo gave Madrid two goals, while the only goal for Atletico came in the 32nd minute from Julian Alvarez. Real heads into the next match with an advantage, but Atletico are ready to pack a surprise in the second leg at Wanda Metropolitano.
PSV vs. Arsenal
Arsenal wreaked havoc at Philips Stadion, defeating PSV on their home soil with a staggering 1-7 victory. With six different goal scorers for Arsenal, PSV had no answers for their attacking supremacy. Arsenal managed to score 3 against PSV’s 1 before half time.
The second half only saw more goals for Arsenal, with their captain and POTM Martin Odegaard leading the attack with 2 goals and 1 assist. He ended the match with a high 9.2 Sofascore Rating. Arsenal lead comfortably with 6 goals as they head home for the second leg. PSV has a mountain to climb at the Emirates Stadium, in the second leg to get back into the tie.
Dortmund vs. Lille
Dortmund failed to capitalise on the first leg at home, drawing the match against Lille. While BVB were dominant in the first half with K.Adeyemi scoring a half volley from the corner in the 22nd minute. After a dull first half, Lille fired up their attack in the second half. They dominated in possession and got their merited equaliser in the 68th minute by H.A.Haraldsson.
The game in general was subpar, with most of the play (45%) in the middle, while neither side failed to capitalise on the attack. While Dortmund aims to come back in the second leg, it’s Lille who carry on with a home advantage in the next bout.
Feyenord vs. Inter Milan
Inter was dominant against Feyenoord, winning the match with a comfortable 2-0 scoreline. Feyenoord was attacking in the first half, but Inter dominated the match from the 30 minute mark. They ended the match with 58% possession and scored a goal in each of the halves. Marcus Thuram broke the deadlock in the 38th minute, while L.Martinez scored the other in the 50th minute.
The most interesting fact was that both the keepers were at the top of the game, saving 5 goals each. While T.Wellenreuther saved a penalty and had an 8.0 Sofascore Rating, J.Martinez bagged the POTM award with a 8.3 Sofascore Rating. Inter would be more than happy to lead with an advantage, with the second leg scheduled in Milan.
Bayern vs. Leverkusen
Bayern secured a comfortable 3-0 win over Leverkusen in the All-German knockout tie. Vincent Kompany’s side matched their 2.98 expected goals, nailing 3 against Leverkusen’s none. An early strike in the 9th minute from Harry Kane and a dominant attacking display saw Bayern lead in the first half. The second half spelt more misery for Leverkusen, as Musiala scored one more in the 54th minute and a penalty from Harry Kane.
Joshua Kimmich was awarded the POTM with a 9.1 Sofascore Rating for a fantastic job in the mid-field. Leverkusen enters the second round without N.Mukiele, who was sent off for a second yellow in the 62nd minute. It should be an easy one for Bayern, who are looking to maintain the advantage away from home.
Benfica vs. Barcelona
A 10-man Barcelona managed to deny the hosts a victory at the Estadio da Luz. Despite Pau Cubarsi being sent off in the 22nd minute, Barcelona managed to keep their back door shut. Benfica tried to capitalize on the red card, keeping their momentum and possession up until the last minute. Wojciech Szczęsny was the hero for Barcelona with 8 consistent saves throughout the Benfica attack. He was named the POTM with a 9.5 Sofascore Rating – the best player rating over all the matches in the first leg. Thanks to a diligent strike from Raphinha in the 61st minute, Barcelona came out victorious, with an advantage while heading home for the second leg.
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Liverpool
Liverpool won the match in its final minutes, defeating PSG at the Parc des Princes. PSG dominated the game, with 71% possession of the ball and 27 shots, but Liverpool snatched a late winner in the 87th minute, when Harvey Elliot scored with his first touch of the game. Liverpool Goalie Alisson was phenomenal between the sticks, making 9 saves in the match. He was awarded the Player of the Match – the third keeper in 8 matches – with a Sofascore Rating of 9.4. Liverpool won the match with the slightest margin, a 0-1 scoreline, and heads into the second leg with confidence at Anfield.
Team of the Week based on Sofascore Rating
Sofascore’s Champions League Team of the Week for the Round of 16 first leg is stacked with big performances! Wojciech Szczęsny (9.5) was a wall for Barcelona, pulling off game-winning saves. Joshua Kimmich (9.1) and Martin Ødegaard (9.2) ran the midfield show, with Ødegaard leading Arsenal’s 7-1 demolition of PSV. Harry Kane (8.6) was clinical for Bayern, while Lautaro Martínez (7.9) made his mark for Inter. In defense, Calafiori (8.3), Timber, Araújo, and Marquinhos (all 7.6) kept things locked down in defense.
Looking Ahead
With the first-leg fixtures truly over and done with, the scene is perfectly laid out for what is shaping up to be a crackling and thrilling second leg. In the next round, teams will be keenly eyeing a turn-around of their deficits or on the flip side, protecting their leads. The melodrama surrounding this competition is very much not yet over – so, be ready for fireworks and high-intensity action as the Champions League knockout battle continues to play out with passion and energy!