UEFA Champions League 2024/2025

[Trollheart]

Nations' Progress

We're getting down to the wire now, and it's pretty clear some teams are checking flight times home, but how have the countries been doing in terms of wins, losses and draws after Matchday 7?

Austria
Almost expected now, both Austrian teams lost heavily, Sturm Graz going down 5-0 to Atalanta while Red Bull Salzburg met Real Madrid and also came off the worst on the end of a five-goal score, but I suppose at least they scored one of their own.


Austrian tally (Matchday 7): L2
Austrian tally (so far): W2, L12

Belgium
Belgium's Club Brugge held Juventus to a draw, only their second in the competition.


Belgian tally (Matchday 7): D1
Belgian tally (so far): W3, L3, D1

Croatia
Dinamo Zagreb were on the end of a 3-0 hammering by Arsenal.

Croatian tally (Matchday 7): L1
Croatian tally (so far): W2, D2, L3

Czech Republic
Sparta Prague lost again, this time to Inter Milan.

Czech tally (Matchday 7): L1
Czech tally (so far): W1, D1, L5

England
Liverpool continue to lead the way, even if they did concede a goal for only the second time. Villa lost while Arsenal won and Man City, well, they lost a game they should have won.


English tally (Matchday 7): W2, L2
English tally (so far): W18, L6, D4

France

PSG turned their game against Manchester City around to come out clear winners, Brest lost to Shakhtar Donetsk and Lille went down at the hands of Liverpool.


French tally (Matchday 7): W1, L2
French tally (so far): W11, D3, L7

Germany
A bad night for German football. Both Bayern and Bayer Leverkusen lost, as did Borussia Dortmund. The only German teams to win in fact were Stuttgart and Leipzig.


German tally (Matchday 7): W2,  L3
German tally (so far): W16, D2, L17[/b]

Italy

Almost a clean sweep for Italy, with even Bologna winning their game. Inter and AC Milan both won, and Atalanta hammered Sturm Graz, but Juventus could only draw.

Italian tally (Matchday 7): W3, D1, L1
Italian tally (so far): W17, D8, L10

Monaco

Monaco won their game against Aston Villa.


Monaco tally (Matchday 7): W1
Monaco tally (so far): W4, D1, L2

Netherlands

Both Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven won their games.

Dutch tally (Matchday 7): W2
tally (so far): W7, L4, D3

Portugal

After an incredible and high-scoring match, Benfica were felled by Spanish giants Barcelona, while Sporting lost to Leipzig.

Portuguese tally (Matchday 7): L2
Portuguese tally (so far): W5, L7, D2

Spain

A great night for Spain, three of their teams winning. Barcelona beat Benfica, but really had to work for the victory, while Real walked all over Red Bull Salzburg, and Atletico took down Bayer Leverkusen. The only blot on the copybook was almost-eternally losing Girona.

Spanish tally (Matchday 7): W3, L1
Spanish tally (so far): W16, L12

Switzerland

Young Boys could almost consider their match against Celtic a win, as they were only beaten by one goal.

Swiss tally (Matchday 7): L1
Swiss tally (so far): L7

Scotland

As above, Celtic were lucky to beat perennial losers Young Boys, but they did.

Scottish tally (Matchday 7): W1
Scottish tally (so far): W3, L1, D3

Serbia

Red Star lost as usual, this time to PSV Eindhoven, but they gave it a go.

Serbian tally (Matchday 7): L1
Serbian tally (so far): W1, L6

Slovakia

Slovan Bratislava were beaten by Leipzig.

Slovakian tally (Matchday 7): L1
Slovakian tally (so far): L7

Ukraine

A surprise victory for Ukraine, as Shakhtar beat Brest 2-0.

Ukrainian tally (Matchday 6): W1
Ukrainian tally (so far): W2, L4, D1

[Trollheart]

Wins
England (18)
Italy (17)
Germany & Spain (16)
France (11)
Netherlands (7)
Portugal (5)
Monaco (4)
Scotland & Belgium (3)
Ukraine, Austria & Croatia (2)
Serbia & Czech Republic (1)

Losses
Germany (17)
Austria & Spain (12)
Italy (10)
Switzerland, Portugal, France & Slovakia (7)
England (6)
Czech Republic (5)
Netherlands (4)
Croatia & Belgium (3)
Monaco (2)

Draws
Italy (8]
England (4)
France, Netherlands & Scotland (3)
Croatia, Portugal & Germany (2)
Belgium, Monaco, Czech Republic & Ukraine (1)

[Trollheart]

[Trollheart]

Tale of the table:

Liverpool hang on to top spot, confidently winning all 7 of their matches and a cert not only to go through, but surely to win the thing, while Barcelona have managed to take what they would see as their rightful place in 2nd, and remain there this week. Arsenal stay in third, so two English teams definitely through to the next stages, while at 4th we have the first of the Italian teams, one of three currently going through automatically, Inter Milan. In 6th and 7th respectively are AC Milan and Atalanta, so whatever else happens it looks like there'll be a strong Italian presence in the next round.

Just one other Spanish team due to go through as it stands, that's Atletico Madrid, who are in 5th place, and the final automatic qualification place is taken by Bayer Leverkusen in 8th. Just outside that, Aston Villa hope to get into that 8th place after their next match, but if not, then they are at least all but assured of a play-off place. No French teams at all in the first eight, with the closest being Monaco (not technically French) and then Lille and Brest a relatively long way down at 12th and 13th.

German giants have fallen, both Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich holding on to lower places, 14th and 15th, and another titan, this time Spanish, Real Madrid, who have won the league so many times (fifteen) that they must feel they own the Cup, are even lower at 16th. Teams hanging on by the skin of their teeth to even a play-off place include Stuttgart, Sporting, PSG and Benfica, while Manchester's finest at the moment look like they're going home unless they can improve on their final game, currently sitting at 25th. Anyone below them is looking at an early exit.

Matchday 8 is on January 29, and will end this stage of the competition, after which those who have not managed to qualify either for an automatic place or a play-off will be heading home, and we'll be left with the survivors to go through and battle it out.

[Trollheart]

Matchday 8

This, then, is finally it. A lot of teams know their fate, or can be reasonably certain of it by now. Others are hoping for a last-minute stay of execution, as it were, and even those who have no chance to progress will probably want to try to go out on a high. But whatever happens, tonight decides at the very least the 8 teams who go through automatically. The next 16 will have to play each other in play-offs to see if they can take the remaining places. Anyone below that 24th-place cutoff is eliminated after tonight. It is, as they say, for many teams, the moment of not telling too many lies.

Aston Villa v Celtic
(England v Scotland)
Villa Park, Birmingham
Table positions (before match): 9 & 18

A chance for Villa to impress at home and claw their way into those automatic qualifying places. Celtic are looking at a play-off no matter what happens.

It only took Villa 2 minutes to register the first goal, Rogers the man on the scoresheet first, and three minutes later he had taken his and Villa's second to put the home side in a commanding position. Only the post saved Celtic from going three down, Watkins then kept out by a save on the line, otherwise Villa were definitely tripling their lead. Just after the half-hour Celtic pulled one back, then five minutes later Villa's lead evaporated as the Scots scored again to make it 2-2 at the break.

Watkins restored Villa's lead on the hour, lovely pass from Ramsey, and Celtic were almost four down when Schmeichel made a very wayward pass, but the Celtic goal was under siege, and when Villa got a penalty Watkins slipped, and the spot kick was more like a moon kick. A corner nearly resulted in the fourth but kept out, then Celtic came close to levelling for the second time in the match but the ball went the wrong side of the post. Then in the first minute of extra time Rogers got his hat-trick, leaving the result in no doubt.

Other results, however, could be unkind to Villa, who were certainly not in the automatic play-off places yet. 

Result: Aston Villa 4 - 2 Celtic
Table positions (after match): 8 & 21

Bayer Leverkusen v Sparta Prague
(Germany v Czech Republic)
BayArena, Leverkusen
Table positions (before match): 8 & 29

Already assured of a place in the next round, Bayer Leverkusen should have nothing to fear from the Czechs, who are on their way home no matter what.

The first goal for the Germans came on 12 minutes, Sparta Prague coming close to equalising but the lob was just a little too much to ask. Leverkusen doubled their advantage in the second half to ensure their progress.

Result: Bayer Leverkusen 2 - 0 Sparta Prague
Table positions (after match): 6 & 31

Borussia Dortmund v Shakhtar Donetsk
(Germany v Ukraine)
Westfalenstadion, Dortmund
Table positions (before match): 14 & 27

Dortmund, though stinging from an uncharacteristic defeat at the hands of Bologna last time, are in the play-offs but if other results go their way they could theoretically make it into the automatic qualifiers with a win. Shakhtar are playing for pride only, tickets home already booked after a poor tournament.

The Ukrainians were first on the attack, but no way past the Dortmund keeper, then they were ahead themselves, doubling that lead just before the end of the first half. A terrible mistake let Shakhtar back in, but Dortmund soon restored their two-goal lead, taking the match.

Result: Borussia Dortmund 3 - 1 Shakhtar Donetsk
Table positions (after match): 10 & 27

Young Boys v Red Star Belgrade
(Switzerland v Serbia)
Wankdorf Stadium, Bern
Table positions (before match): 36 & 32

Nothing but pride to play for here, as two of the bottom teams meet each other, both knowing they're already eliminated. Red Star did put five past Stuttgart before, so perhaps Young Boys are just hoping this last match for them will not be another hammering.

It wasn't, but Young Boys still lost, even if it was just to the one goal.

Result: Young Boys 0 - 1 Red Star Belgrade
Table positions (after match): 36 & 29

Barcelona v Atalanta
(Spain v Italy)
Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona
Table positions (before match): 2 & 7

Both teams have qualified already, but there's always room to move up. It seems unlikely Liverpool will slip up at this late stage, but if the unthinkable happened, then Barcelona could take top spot thanks to superior goal difference. Atalanta could leapfrog their Italian cousins in sixth place if AC Milan lose. The result also impinged on Aston Villa's chances of taking an automatic qualification spot after their victory over Celtic.

Things started badly for Villa as Atalanta scored - but was it offside? Yes it was. Villa fans breathed again. And they breathed easier when Barcelona took the first goal two minutes into the second half, a bad decision by the Italian keeper, but then Atalanta were level seven minutes later as the pendulum swung the other way. A corner decided it with 19 minutes left as Barcelona took the lead again, then the Italians were level again ten minutes from time. The result allows Villa to take that precious automatic qualification place and they go through to the knockout round.

Result: Barcelona 2 - 2 Atalanta
Table positions (after match): 2 & 9

[Trollheart]

Bayern Munich v Slovan Bratislava
(Germany v Slovakia)
Allianz Arena, Munich
Table positions (before match): 15 & 35

Although Bayern have not done as well as they should have expected, they are assured of a play-off place, while Slovan will present poor opposition, already slated for elimination, second from bottom.

Early lead for Bayern, to nobody's surprise, though Slovan did their best to get past the keeper, a fine save required, then Kane scored Bayern's second, and it was all over. If it wasn't, then their third settled it, even with Slovan snatching a late goal.

Result: Bayern Munich 3 - 1 Slovan Bratislava
Table positions (after match): 12 & 35

Inter Milan v Monaco
(Italy v Monaco)
San Siro, Milan
Table positions (before match): 4 & 10

Monaco can get into the automatic qualifying places if they win against the Italian giants, who themselves might be able to go third with a win, second if somehow Barcelona don't win against Atalanta. And as that game was a draw, this was their chance. A penalty for Inter though inside two minutes did little for those chances as Monaco fell one behind, and worse was to come as they lost a man to a straight red before half-time. The resultant free could have put Inter two ahead but the keeper did his job, nothing he could do about the shot on 17 minutes though which doubled Inter's lead. A long way back now for Monaco.

With one man down though it was always going to be a tough ask for the visitors and they were forced onto the defence. Just after the hour the Italians made it three, and now it was just a case of how many would Monaco be beaten by? In the end, it was just the three, but Monaco will have to settle for a play-off place.

Result: Inter Milan 3 - 0 Monaco
Table positions (after match): 4 & 17

Red Bull Salzburg v Atletico Madrid
(Austria v Spain)
Red Bull Arena, Salzburg
Table positions (before match): 5 & 34

At least Salzburg won't have far to travel after this final match, already out and eliminated before the whistle. Madrid are through automatically, but may want to put on a show. Austrian opposition has proven weak as water in this competition, so the home side may be looking at a long night.

It took the Spanish no more than five minutes to go ahead, and they were two up when the keeper came and missed on 13 minutes, the game surely won already. If not by then, Madrid's third just before the half-time whistle certainly settled it. As I said, might be a long night, and so it was as Atletico took their fourth just past the hour. In the dying moments Salzburg at least got on the scoresheet, not that it does much for them.

Result: Red Bull Salzburg 1 - 4 Atletico Madrid
Table positions (after match): 34 & 5

Girona v Arsenal
(Spain v England)
Montilivi, Girona
Table positions (before match): 31 & 3

Even an unlikely defeat won't stop Arsenal going through automatically, while not even a miracle can save the Spanish side from being on the plane home. That miracle might have been on the cards just before the half-hour as Arsenal made a glaring error to let the Spanish in for the first goal. A penalty six minutes later drew Arsenal level, and they were ahead six minutes after that, to go in two to the good at the break, normal service resumed.

A penalty awarded to them in the second half was saved by the Girona keeper, but 2-1 will do it and Arsenal were through anyway.

Result: Girona 1 - 2 Arsenal
Table positions (after match): 33 & 3

Dinamo Zagreb v AC Milan
(Croatia v Italy)
Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb
Table positions (before match): 26 & 6

The Croatians have a narrow chance of getting into the play-off places, though they need Manchester City to lose or draw against Club Brugge. At any rate, they had to look at a situation that meant they had to win against a Milan team who are already through.

A fatal slip by Milan allowed Dinamo to get on the scoresheet and take a precious lead on 19 minutes, and things got even better for the Croatians as Milan had a man sent off for two yellows in rapid succession - almost immediately one after the other, the Italians reduced to ten men for the second half. Nevertheless, it didn't take them long to equalise and within eight minutes of the restart it was all square. Could Dinamo make the extra man advantage work for them? Yes they could. On the hour the home team were ahead again, and took a shock victory against AC Milan.

Result: Dinamo Zagreb 2 - 1 AC Milan
Table positions (after match): 25 & 13

[Trollheart]

Juventus v Benfica
(Italy v Portugal)
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Table positions (before match): 17 & 21

Juventus are assured of a play-off place, while Benfica should be too, but will be nervously watching the matches played by PSG, Stuttgart and Sporting, who are all level on points with them.

Benfica took the early lead, and pressed their advantage as they took their second to beat the Italian giants.

Result: Juventus 0 - 2 Benfica
Table positions (after match): 20 & 16

Lille v Feyenoord
(France v Netherlands)
Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-D'Asc
Table positions (before match): 12 & 11

Level on points, both are in for a play-off place, though if Lille beat the Dutch they will move up past them in the table.

The French team were ahead with only four minutes played, the ball squeezed in at the far corner, then ten minutes later Feyenoord had levelled the match, but an own goal on 38 minutes gave Lille the advantage again, an advantage they extended in the second half as they took their third. 16 minutes from time it was all over as Lille made it four, but they weren't finished yet and took a fifth two minutes after that, another own goal would  you believe? A sixth resulted with ten minutes to go, a resounding victory for the home side, who take one of the remaining automatic qualification places.

Result: Lille 6 - 1 Feyenoord
Table positions (after match): 7 & 19

Manchester City v Club Brugge
(England v Belgium)
The Etithad, Manchester
Table positions (before match): 25 & 20

This is Manchester City's last chance not to go home. If they can beat the Belgians, already qualified for a play-off place, then they can scrape their way into the last 24. If they lose or draw, they're on the plane home. Make or break for Pep's boys at home. Oh, if they lose or draw they're staying home. Well, same thing: they won't be going any further and they certainly won't be defending their title. This is, literally, a must-win game.

The weekend hero was on the attack early, Foden unable to give City the lead, but Gondogan could. Until it was ruled offside. Brugge then went in search of the opener, but no way past Ederson. Back came City, but lost the ball and the Belgians were back down their half and scored in the final minute of extra time to give the Manchester club an even bigger mountain to climb in the second half. Stones missed a perfect opportunity to equalise, but Kovacic was on target eight minutes in to level the game. Could City now go on to win it and ensure at least a play-off place to give themselves hope? If Brugge scored again it would be disaster for the home team, and they almost did, but the shot went wide.

Just after the hour it was two, but for City, through an own goal. Looking good now for Pep Guardiola's team. But they couldn't be complacent. Another goal for Brugge would rob them of the chance to go through. A double attempt on the Belgian goal was kept out as City pushed forward, then with 13 minutes to go they got their third, everything looking rosy now. A scramble in the box in extra time could have given them a fourth, but three will do and City gain a place in the play-offs.

Result: Manchester City 3 - 1 Club Brugge
Table positions (after match): 22 & 24

PSV Eindhoven v Liverpool
(Netherlands v England)
Philips Stadion, Eindhoven
Table positions (before match): 19 & 1

One more match to win and Liverpool will have a perfect record of victories in this first round. PSV are in the play-off places.

Just before the half-hour Liverpool got a penalty and Gakpo duly converted, the league leaders well on their way. Five minutes later though PSV drew level, Liverpool back in front five minutes after that, and five minutes after that the Dutch had equalised again! Four goals inside fifteen minutes! And all square at the break then. Ah, not quite. In the sixth minute of extra time at the end of the half PSV scored their third, to take the lead for the first time and send Liverpool in behind at the break.

The second half, not surprisingly, saw Liverpool come back fighting, but after they lost a man to a red card they were unable to hold PSV and they drop to their first ever defeat in the Champions League this season.

Result: PSV Eindhoven 3 - 2 Liverpool
Table positions (after match): 14 & 1

Sturm Graz v RB Leipzig
(Austria v Germany)
Worthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt
Table positions (before match): 33 & 30

Nothing to play for here; both teams are going home, Leipzig the only German team eliminated after the first round. Sturm Graz will follow their Austrian cousins Red Bull Salzburg out of the competition, no representatives from that country in the Champions League after this.

The Austrian side took a surprise lead, the only goal in the match. Not that it does either team any good: both are eliminated, but at least they can say they went out on something of a high. And like I said, they haven't far to travel home.

Result: Sturm Graz 1 - 0 RB Leipzig
Table positions (after match): 30 & 32

Sporting CP v Bologna
(Portugal v Italy)
Estadio Jose Alvavades, Lisbon
Table positions (before match): 23 & 28

Sporting are just inside the play-offs so will want a win to keep up their hopes of progressing. Even after their shock defeat of Borussia Dortmund last time, a very unlikely win for Bologna will still see them eliminated, with only 5 points so far.

Sporting would surely take their manager back, and the way things are going with Man United, he might be tempted, especially when Bologna took an uncharacteristic lead, but the Portuguese side came back to level and give themselves a chance in the knockout places.

Result: Sporting CP 1 - 1 Bologna
Table positions (after match): 23 & 28

[Trollheart]

Brest v Real Madrid
(France v Spain)
Stade de Roudourou, Gingamp
Table positions (before match): 13 & 16

The French debutantes have done well to secure a play-off place, while Real should really be higher, but are also in the play-offs.

Only a great save from a free saved the Spanish from going behind, then Real could have scored themselves but the Brest keeper just as good as theirs. Just before the half-hour though Real were ahead, their second coming in the second half but ruled offside. Just before the hour they did double their lead, no offside this time, and their third with 12 minutes to go sealed it.

Result: Brest 0 - 3 Real Madrid
Table positions (after match): 18 & 11

VfB Stuttgart v Paris Saint-Germain
(Germany v France)
MHPArena, Stuttgart
Table positions (before match): 24 & 22

Tight at the bottom of the play-offs, with both these teams plus Sporting and Benfica all level on points. PSG's amazing comeback against Manchester City last matchday shows they can turn it on when needed, whereas Stuttgart did put five past Young Boys, but then, who hasn't? More to the point, Stuttgart were beaten 5-1 by Red Star Belgrade, and Sporting put Man City to the sword 5-0, so could be a tough match.

A badly given-away corner on six minutes allowed PSG in to take the lead, only a great save then keeping Stuttgart out. The French thought they had doubled their lead but ruled offside. Tight, though, and when VAR checked it they decided it was in fact good, so 2-0 to PSG after 20 minutes. A quite incredible save then kept the ball from going over the line for the visitors' third, only an inch or so in it, but the whole of the ball must cross blah blah. It didn't matter though as just past the half-hour mark it was three, and the fourth came just before the hour, the French team victorious with 30 minutes yet to go.

Stuttgart came back late, their only goal an own goal 13 minutes from time, but not enough to save the Germans as PSG take the play-off place.

Result: VfB Stuttgart 1 - 4 Paris Saint-Germain
Table positions (after match): 26 & 15

[Trollheart]

Final standings:

Through automatically to the next round (In order)
Liverpool
Barcelona
Arsenal
Inter Milan
Atletico Madrid
Bayer Leverkusen
Lille
Aston Villa

Qualify for a Play-off place (In order)
Atalanta
Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid
Bayern Munich
AC Milan
Paris Saint-Germain
PSV Eindhoven
Benfica
Monaco
Brest
Feyenoord
Juventus
Celtic
Manchester City
Sporting CP
Club Brugge

Eliminated (In order)
Dinamo Zagreb
VfB Stuttgart
Shakhtar Donetsk
Bologna
Red Star Belgrade
Sturm Graz
Sparta Prague
RB Leipzig
Girona
Red Bull Salzburg
Slovan Bratislava
Young Boys

[Trollheart]

The final table then.


The draw for the play-offs takes place tomorrow morning, so I'll be back with the results of that before we wrap up.

[Trollheart]

... and here they are.

Brest v Paris Saint-Germain - winner will play Liverpool or Barcelona
Juventus v PSV Eindhoven - winner will play Lille or Aston Villa
Manchester City v Real Madrid - winner will play Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen
Sporting CP v Borussia Dortmund - winner will play Arsenal or Milan
Club Brugge v Atalanta - winner will play Lille or Aston Villa
Monaco v Benfica -  winner will play Liverpool or Barcelona
Celtic v Bayern Munich - winner will play Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen
Feyenoord v AC Milan - winner will play Arsenal or Milan

Games will be played on February 11/12  and February 18/19. Final draw for the Round of 16 will be on February 21. The games in the Round of 16 will then be held March 4/5 and March 11/12.

[jimmy jazz]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

AAAAAAAAAAA

Suck on that. HALA MADRID 🇪🇸

[Trollheart]

It's last chance saloon for the 16 teams who didn't make it through to the next round automatically. They each face each other now over two legs, the first of which were played this week.

Table positions count for nothing now. Having ended up 9th  - 24th, progression for each of them now depends on their performance against other teams in the same position. It's no longer a case of trying to scale the table. All that's forgotten now. Now, it's all about survival.


Celtic v Bayern Munich
(Scotland v Germany)

It might not be so surprising to see the Scottish team struggling to progress - their results have been far from stellar in the first round - but Bayern must be kicking themselves that they're fighting for a play-off place. One of the biggest, if not the biggest German clubs, they used to be referred to as the "German Man United" (at a time when United were the epitome of English football). How the mighty have fallen! Now they faced Celtic away in a must-win fixture, in an arena where the Scots have yet to be beaten in this competition.

Celtic set their stall out early, as early as you could do, scoring after 26 seconds. Except it was ruled offside, then Kane unable to get past Schmeichel, the game scoreless almost to the break, before Bayern took a last-gasp lead in the final minute of the first half to put themselves ahead. The Germans pressed their advantage early in the second half, and had their second through Harry Kane four minutes in, Celtic looking dead and gone now, their only defeat at Celtic Park looming.

They had a chance to get back in it though when a penalty check sent the ref to the monitor, but for once the man on the field did not agree with VAR, a rare occurrence, and one Celtic could have done without. When the Bayern keeper came out and misjudged the flight of the ball they were in, but shot wide across the face of goal. With ten minutes of the tie left Celtic pulled one back to give themselves hope, then in the first of seven injury time minutes they went close to drawing, but the ball rapped off the post, so Celtic fall to their first defeat at home since December 2023 and have it all to do in the second leg. Advantage Germany.


Result: Celtic 1 - 2 Bayern Munich

Manchester City v Real Madrid
(England v Spain)

If Pep wanted to avoid the ignominy of being the only manager of an English team in the competition to be sent home early, his men would have to come good against multi-winners Real Madrid, who themselves should have been through on their reputation and were not about to go easy on City.  Nor did they, as they put the English team under pressure from the off, Mbappe flying at them but unable to get past Ederson. It was however City who grabbed the first goal, and who else but Haaland, barely 20 minutes on the clock. But was it offside? No, not this time; City one to the good.

Real came back almost immediately, but off the bar, so advantage City at the break. Haaland had a chance to double their lead in the second but his shot too cracked off the crossbar. Back came Real, and from a free on the hour they drew level through Mbappe. They almost went ahead soon after, but the City keeper able to keep the ball out, then a penalty for the home side looked like it would enable them to wrap up the game, ten minutes from time. Haaland did not disappoint, scoring City's second and surely sealing the victory for them, until Ederson gave the ball away with four minutes to go, allowing Real to equalise. Worse was to come for City when the Spanish side took it in the second minute of extra time to give themselves a huge advantage when they meet the ex-champions back in Madrid. Mixed feelings for English fans as it was Jude Bellingham, their Euros hero, who got the winning goal.

Result: Manchester City 2 - 3 Real Madrid

Feyenoord v AC Milan
(Netherlands v Italy)

Three minutes on the clock at the hosts were ahead, the keeper at fault as he let the ball squirm through his hands on a rainy night in Holland. They could have been two ahead before halftime but the ball hopped off the bar, though Milan didn't seem to be offering much of a threat, new signing from Chelsea Joao Felix in the thick of it but unable to score. The Italians began to play better in the second half, but Feyenoord held on for the win.

Result: Feyenoord 1 - 0 AC Milan

Brest v Paris Saint-Germain
(France v France)

The first time in the Champions League this year that two teams from the same country faced each other, debutantes Brest were determined to continue their impressive journey and make it to the Round of 16, while PSG, after having come good in their last game against Manchester City, have not exactly shone in the tournament so far.

A penalty awarded to PSG seemed to put paid to Brest's hopes of progressing, then their second goal gave them very much the advantage, this supremacy confirmed  as they scored a third, to run out 3-0 winners. Perhaps a case of the old hands taking the kids to school?

Result: Brest 0 - 3 Paris Saint-Germain

[Trollheart]

Monaco v Benfica
(Monaco v Portugal)

Both teams had their chances early on, but neither able to make the breakthrough before the break, but the second half was only three minutes old before Benfica took the lead. Things deteriorated for the home side when a second yellow saw them reduced to ten, Benfica almost scoring a second, but holding on to the 1-0 lead to win the game.

Result: Monaco 0 - 1 Benfica


Club Brugge v Atalanta
(Belgium v Italy)

Belgium's only hope of getting through to the Round of 16 lay with Club Brugge, who came up against one of the in-form Italian teams, Atalanta, who just barely missed out on automatic qualification, finishing 9th in the table and pipped to the last place by Aston Villa. It was the Belgians who scored first though, the first quarter-hour of the match having just passed, lazy play on the part of Atalanta letting the home side in. They were back on terms though before the end of the half, all square at the break.

Both teams had a chance to grab the winner but both failed until a very dodgy penalty for Club Brugge gave them the victory, and the advantage for the return visit.

Result: Club Brugge 2 - 1 Atalanta


Juventus  v PSV Eindhoven
(Italy v Netherlands)

The other Italian team left in the play-off places played the other Dutch team, this time on Italian soil, and just after the half-hour an American scored to put Juventus in the driving seat. They almost went two up before the break but straight at the keeper. Just after the hour they had cause to rue that miss as PSV equalised, despite suspicions of handball. Not to be beaten at home, Juventus went on the attack and retook the lead eight minutes from full time.

Result: Juventus 2 - 1 PSV Eindhoven


Sporting CP v Borussia Dortmund
(Portugal v Germany)

Another titan of German football, Dortmund must wonder was ist los? How can they be fighting for a play-off place? Well, like Atalanta they just missed out on an automatic qualification place, but with 3 losses in 8 matches this is where they find themselves, while Sporting seem to have lost that winning feeling when they lost their manager to Manchester United. The Portuguese made the early running but off the post, then Dortmund shot just wide to keep it scoreless at halftime. On the stroke of sixty minutes the Germans were ahead, and they doubled that lead eight minutes later to give themselves a great chance going into their home match. Even better when they scored a third near the end and surely gives them the best chance of going forward.

Result: Sporting CP 0 - 3 Borussia Dortmund

[Trollheart]

So of the 16 remaining teams, who's in the best shape for the second leg?

Celtic go to Munich needing 2 goals without reply to get through, so they're clearly not the favourites. Bayern likely to make it through, unless the Scots put on the performance of their lives, and Bayern have an off day. At home. In front of their fans. With a Champions League Round of 16 place up for grabs. Unlikely, to say the least.

Prediction: Celtic out.

Manchester City are in a similar position, travelling to Madrid to take on the giants of Spanish football, but they must be kicking themselves. Having been (again) ahead and in control they let a 2-0 lead slip, not just to a draw, but to defeat, and now have to beat Real at their fortress to have any chance of getting through.

Prediction: Man City out.

Feyenoord are in a strong position going to the San Siro, though there is only one goal in it, and Milan at home will be harder to beat than they were away. Hard to call this one, though you would fancy the Italians might make it.

Prediction: Feyenoord out.

Brest, despite their valiant effort, have little to no chance of overturning the 3-goal lead PSG have on them, and at home their fellow Frenchmen are going to be hard to beat. It looks like their maiden voyage will end in the Stade de Paris.

Prediction: Brest out (ooer!)

Monaco will do well to beat Benfica in Lisbon, and while there's only a goal in it, we are talking a team that has beaten some pretty major-league opposition.

Prediction: Monaco out.

Club Brugge definitely have the advantage when they travel to Italy next week, with a 2-goal lead that Atalanta may find hard to overturn. But Brugge have not played terribly well whereas Atalanta have really impressed.

Prediction: Club Brugge out.

Juventus should feel confident of taking on PSV on their home turf, especially with a two goal advantage over the Dutch team.

Prediction: PSV out

Sporting have floundered since Amorim left for English shores, and with a three-goal lead you would have to expect Borussia Dortmund to win.

Prediction: Sporting out.