Champions League action saw Real Madrid eliminate Manchester City, while Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, and PSV Eindhoven also secured their spots in the round of 16 on Wednesday.
Here are three key observations from the day’s thrilling matches.
Manchester City’s woes persist in Madrid
Champions League hopes for Manchester City were high, despite their recent challenges in both domestic and European competitions. Fans believed their team could bounce back from a narrow 3-2 loss in the first leg against Real Madrid.
Under the guidance of manager Pep Guardiola, the team is still considered one of the top squads globally, and anything seemed possible in this knockout format.
However, the absence of star forward Erling Haaland due to injury and the early exit of center back John Stones cast a shadow over their chances. These setbacks proved too significant for the Sky Blues to overcome. Kylian Mbappé struck early, scoring within the first four minutes, and later completed a hat trick, leading the holders to a 3-0 victory and eliminating the 2023 champions for the second consecutive year.
PSV pulls off a stunning upset against Juventus
In a remarkable turn of events, two Italian powerhouses were sent packing from the Champions League within just two days, thanks to impressive performances from Dutch clubs.
After Feyenoord eliminated AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven rose to the occasion, overcoming a 2-1 deficit from the first leg against Juventus. They secured a 3-1 victory at home, advancing 4-3 on aggregate.
Juventus seemed poised to advance when a stunning second-half goal from U.S. international Weston McKennie put them ahead on aggregate. Yet PSV, featuring American Ricky Ledezma at right back, equalized through Ismael Saibari with just under 15 minutes to play. An extra-time goal from central defender Ryan Flamingo sealed the deal for PSV, who faced injuries to key players like Sergiño Dest and Malik Tillman. They now look forward to a matchup against either Arsenal or Inter Milan in the next round.
Dortmund secures advancement, PSG shines brightly
Paris Saint-Germain’s second leg against Brest was a formality, as they entered the match with a commanding 3-0 lead. The rematch at Parc des Princes was expected to be straightforward.
PSG wasted no time extending their advantage, with Bradley Barcola scoring within the first 20 minutes, setting off a goal fest. Seven different players found the net, and PSG maintained a clean sheet, advancing with an astonishing 10-0 aggregate score.
The highlight came when 18-year-old talent Senny Mayulu capped off the rout in the 86th minute. Meanwhile, in Germany, Borussia Dortmund played it safe, holding Sporting Lisbon to a scoreless draw and comfortably advancing with a 3-0 aggregate score. U.S. forward Gio Reyna made a brief appearance off the bench in the second half.
