The UEFA Champions League knockout playoff round wrapped up with high drama, featuring 17 goals and three red cards across four matches. Galatasaray advanced past Juventus in extra time, Borussia Dortmund squandered a two-goal lead against Atalanta, and Benfica nearly upset Real Madrid at the Bernabéu before falling 3-1 on aggregate. Bodø/Glimt continued their remarkable run with a 5-2 aggregate victory over Inter, while Atlético Madrid and Newcastle United dominated Club Brugge and FK Qarabag.
Real Madrid’s Unconvincing Benfica Win: Champions or Cracks Showing?
Real Madrid secured a 3-1 aggregate victory over Benfica but lacked conviction. Analysts debate if this gritty style signals champion resilience or impending downfall.
Gab Marcotti highlights Thibaut Courtois’ shutdown performances in goal and Kylian Mbappé’s scoring prowess as key factors. “Real Madrid can win the Champions League because they have a shutdown keeper in Thibaut Courtois and a consummate goal-scorer in Kylian Mbappé,” Marcotti states. He notes the team’s defensive setup relies on star moments, even if unconvincing under coach Álvaro Arbeloa.
Julien Laurens disagrees, arguing the squad’s flawed structure prevents dominance. “I really don’t believe this version of Real Madrid can win the competition this season,” Laurens says, pointing to missing elements despite elite talents like Courtois, Mbappé, and Vinícius Júnior.
Sam Tighe observes Madrid’s poor form hasn’t always cost them wins, thanks to individual quality, but other teams appear superior. Mark Ogden sees midfield vulnerabilities but notes no dominant rival exists, with lethal forwards like Mbappé, Vinícius, and Jude Bellingham capable of decisive strikes.
PSG Edges Monaco 5-4: Can Defending Champs Repeat?
Paris Saint-Germain survived a thriller against Monaco to advance 5-4 on aggregate. Questions swirl about their back-to-back potential.
Laurens doubts a repeat, citing the rarity since the late 1980s—only AC Milan and Real Madrid succeeded. PSG peaked last season but faces injury woes and fatigue from the Club World Cup. “It could all stop [in the last 16], especially if they play the Catalans,” he warns, though fit players like Ousmane Dembélé and Fabián Ruiz could extend their run.
Marcotti remains optimistic, noting fewer losses against non-French sides and added experience. Ogden, fresh from Paris, sensed flat energy at Parc des Princes, predicting struggles against Barcelona or Chelsea. Tighe attributes decline to injuries and goalkeeper changes, praising sustained excellence elsewhere like Pep Guardiola’s teams.
Bodø/Glimt’s Epic Run: How Far Can the Norwegians Go?
Bodø/Glimt, the surprise package, surpassed Norwegian records with wins over Atlético Madrid, Manchester City, and Inter. Their story inspires clubs beyond Europe’s top leagues.
Ogden predicts success against Sporting CP but not City over two legs. Laurens agrees, crediting organization, culture, and intensity despite a slow league phase start. Marcotti calls them unpredictable, thriving on energy, precision, and mental strength amid unique conditions like their plastic pitch.
Tighe spotlights “misfit” stars like Jens Petter Hauge, Patrick Berg, and Kasper Høgh, who rebuilt careers in the Arctic, fueling limitless drive.
Italian Clubs Stumble: Crisis in Serie A?
Juventus fell to Galatasaray, Inter to Bodø/Glimt, Dortmund edged Atalanta, and Napoli missed knockouts. With Italy’s national team in World Cup playoffs, concerns mount.
Laurens laments low intensity, frequent 0-0 draws, and reliance on veterans like Luka Modrić, contrasting 2023 finals. Tighe notes randomness in knockouts but flags weakened traditional powers. Ogden blames talent drain, poor investment, and insularity, with few trophies since Inter’s 2010 UCL win.
Marcotti defends Serie A, matching Premier League finals recently, and urges nuance—Inter dominated Bodø chances, Atalanta beat Bundesliga runners-up despite absences.
Dream Round of 16 Draws Ahead of Friday
Marcotti favors Newcastle vs. Barcelona for stylistic clashes or Bayern’s Jonathan Tah vs. Bayer Leverkusen. Laurens craves blockbusters: Atlético-Liverpool, City-Madrid, PSG-Chelsea/Barcelona, Leverkusen-Bayern.
Ogden echoes heavyweight matchups, intrigued by PSG’s next foe. Tighe seeks cross-nation clashes, avoiding domestics, ideally PSG-Barcelona.
