Champions League Round of 16 Review: Comeback Drama, Thrashings and Red Cards | OneFootball

Another Round of 16 has come and gone in the UEFA Champions League, and across all sixteen games, we saw a staggering 68 goals, nearly four and a half per game – the largest number seen in the competition in over a decade.

Upsets, massive comebacks, and goal fests galore. Let’s explore the second leg results and how everything went down.

Sporting Rise From Their Ruins

Sporting 5-0 Bodo (5-3)

Goals: Inácio 34’, Goncalves 61’, Suarez 78’ (P), Araujo 92’, Nel 120’+1’ (SPO)Man of the Match: Maxi Araujo (SPO)Flop of the Match: Frederik Andre Bjorkan (BOD)

In what was only the fifth comeback of three goals or more in a Champions League tie since the competition was renamed, Sporting put together a magical, historic, and unforgettable night against Europe’s bogey team, Bodo/Glimt.

The Norwegians were at the end of a run that started with them beating Manchester City 3-1, extended to a win against Atlético, two wins against Inter, and a scintillating 3-0 win against Sporting in Norway. People were starting to question if Bodo had it in them to make a run all the way to the final. They had been compared to 2019 Ajax, and while they failed to beat the crown in the end, they were well on their way to.

Sporting knew the assignment, and from minute one, they kept pelting chances at the Bodo goal. Finally, on 34 minutes, Goncalo Inacio headed home from a corner to give the fans some belief that they could actually, tangibly hold on to.

Bodo’s defence held until the hour mark, after that, where despite having chance after chance, Bodo’s Russian goalkeeper Nikita Haikin was on his way to a legendary night if he and his team held firm. That would not be the case. In the 61st minute, a beautiful ball from Geny Catamo found a breaking away Luis Suarez, who squared it to Pedro Goncalves, and tapped it home. Bodo’s defence was completely unravelled, mainly thanks to Catamo, and Sporting’s dream was just a bit closer.

Bodo would really settle in deep after this, though, and for 15 minutes, it worked. Until the 75th minute, when a cross from Luis Suarez was deflected off the hand of Frederik Andre Bjorkan, where it went to VAR and was controversially given despite valid claims from Bodo/Glimt players. Suarez would take the penalty, score, and take it to extra time.

In the extra period, it wouldn’t take long to see action. Nuno Santos found himself with the ball on the left side of midfield. The substitute would then play it to fellow sub Daniel Braganca, who almost immediately cut it inside to Francisco Trincao. Cutting away from two defenders, the ex-Barcelona talent would lay it off to a rushing Maxi Araujo, who hammered home what is potentially the biggest goal in recent Sporting CP history. 4-0, the comeback was done.

It was the first 3-goal second-leg comeback in the Champions League since Liverpool’s miracle against Barcelona in 2019, and done in some style. In stoppage time of the second half, youngster Rafael Nel would seal the comeback with a fifth, but the damage was already done.

As for final thoughts on Bodo, their Champions League run of 2026 was memorable, and while it won’t go down as being better than Ajax’s 2019 run, which is now the face of fairytale European runs, it certainly can stand beside runs such as Monaco 2017 and Lyon 2020 as one of the best.

Bernardo Sees Red in Failed Comeback

Man City 1-2 Real Madrid (1-5)

Goals: Vini 22 (P), 90’+3’ (RMA), Haaland 41’ (MCI)Man of the Match: Vini Jr. (RMA)Flop of the Match: Bernardo Silva (MCI)

After a first leg thumping at the hands of Fede Valverde, Manchester City fans were expectant of a comeback in the buildup at the Etihad. Manchester City was building up the comeback ahead of the match almost as much as fans were manifesting it in their own heads.

In the first 20 minutes, it was going just as planned. City, like Sporting before them, got chance after chance. It was the team in light blue who dominated the opening phases of this contest. However, as fate would have it, Madrid would get a rare attacking chance 17 minutes in, Brahim Diaz lobbing it to Vini, who took a shot that was blocked by Bernardo Silva and went out for a corner.

However, on further replay, it was seen that Bernardo Silva extended his elbow in order to stop the ball from going on, deliberately using his arm. The referee would be called to the VAR screen, and upon further review, it was given as a penalty and a red card for Bernardo Silva. Vini would score the penalty, making up for his miss in the first leg, and Los Blancos would take a four-goal lead.

From there, the comeback attempt was pretty much over, despite a goal back from Haaland and Jeremy Doku’s best efforts. Man City have looked utterly disappointing in this tie, and despite being favourites against a broken toy Madrid side, got pummelled in a very concerning blow for the Premier League.

Out of all the Premier League’s losses in this round, this one may be the most concerning as to the state of the league. While you may be able to put down Chelsea and Newcastle’s massive losses as predictable, this was 2nd place in the Premier League vs 2nd place in La Liga. And the Premier League got smoked.

Chelsea Impotent in Front of Goal as PSG Silences Blues

Chelsea 0-3 PSG (2-8)

Goals: Kvaratskhelia 6’, Barcola 14’, Mayulu 62’ (PSG)Man of the Match: Matvey Safonov (PSG)Flop of the Match: Joao Pedro (CHE)

While the comeback was never really on the cards, Chelsea at least wanted to make it a competitive game at Stamford Bridge, and keep the game as tight as it was for the first hour in the Parc. However, it wouldn’t go like that. PSG would go up two early, one thanks to a horrendous Mamadou Sarr mistake, and from there it was over.

Chelsea would get many chances in front of goal, be denied many times by Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, Joao Pedro would miss two big chances, and PSG would get a third deep into the second half to make it 8-2 on aggregate.

This result is, once again, another dire statement on the level of the Premier League. Despite Chelsea having the most expensively assembled squad in all of Europe, it’s obvious that they are still nowhere near the level required to compete for European titles consistently. Now, perhaps if famous big game manager Enzo Maresca was still in charge, things may have played out differently, but we’ll never find out.

As for PSG, any doubts about them coming into this tie have surely been wiped away now. This may well be the second coming of that juggernaut team last year, and Europe may need to, once again, watch out. The machine is back.

Arsenal Get their WIN at the Emirates

Arsenal 2-0 Leverkusen (3-1)

Goals: Eze 36, Rice 63’ (ARS)Man of the Match: Declan Rice (ARS)Flop of the Match: Christian Kofane (LEV)

Possibly the most predictable result in history, once Kai Havertz netted a late equaliser from the spot in the first leg, Arsenal got the job done at the Emirates here. Despite aa his no-show in the first leg, Bukayo Saka had an unbelievable night, putting up five key passes and seeing the Arsenal attack run through him on the right.

Arsenal got the job done through two beautiful goals from Ebere Eze and Declan Rice, and as for the former West Ham man, it’s another reason to consider him one of the best midfielders in the world.

All in all, it was just a calm 2-0 victory for the Gunners, and a result that most people wouldn’t have expected much variation from pre-match. Arsenal had the vast majority of attacking chances on the night, and they are the lone English club still in the competition that looks like a true contender to win it.

Blaugrana Silence the Toon with Second Half Onslaught

Barcelona 7-2 Newcastle (8-3)

Goals: Raphinha 6’, 72’, Bernal 18’, Yamal 45’+7’ (P), Fermin 51’, Lewandowski 56’, 61’ (BAR), Elanga 15’, 28’ (NEW)Man of the Match: Raphinha (BAR)Flop of the Match: Malick Thiaw (NEW)

This tie was very much a tale of two legs. Newcastle’s plucky performance at St. James’ Park from the first leg was nowhere to be found at the Camp Nou, and while they could keep up with La Liga side Barcelona’s electric attacking form for 45 minutes, the Catalans would break their spirits with a Lamine Yamal penalty deep into first half stoppage time, followed by three goals in the first 16 minutes of the second half to rub salt in the wounds.

Newcastle, to their credit, were impressive to keep it level as late into the tie as they did, but it’s the same story as we see so many times in these ties; the underdog just runs out of energy, and the favourites run rampant.

This isn’t as much a bane on the Premier League as the Chelsea and Manchester City losses, but it’s still a disappointing collapse for a team that, to that point, had created an incredibly entertaining tie.

Barcelona, hitting Newcastle for seven just days after scoring five past Sevilla at the same ground, are hitting their peak attacking form at just the right time. Coming back from the upcoming International break, the club will face a stretch of three matches against Atlético Madrid in ten days, and will need every goal they can get against Diego Simeone’s tough side.

Liverpool Outlast Gala at Anfield

Liverpool 4-0 Galatasaray (4-1)

Goals: Szoboszlai 25’, Ekitike 51’, Gravenberch 53’, Salah 62’ (LIV)Man of the Match: Ugurcan Cakir (GAL)Flop of the Match: Victor Osimhen (GAL)

While the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story of the match, Galatasaray would end up putting up an impressive yet ultimately unsuccessful defence of their one-goal win in Istanbul. The Turkish side’s players went down like flies in the first 20 minutes before Dominik Szoboszlai’s 25th-minute dagger from a corner to level it on aggregate.

Liverpool would keep pounding on the Galatasaray goal, including a saved Mohamed Salah penalty, and finally got their breakthrough early into the second half via Hugo Ekitike. Just a minute later, Ryan Gravenberch doubled the lead, and Mohamed Salah made up for his penalty miss with a beautiful goal to put the tie beyond doubt.

Liverpool ended up with a handy win on aggregate, but it would take them nearly 135 minutes to do so. Once again, like the Newcastle vs Barcelona game, it would be a tough affair for a long time, but in the end, business is done, and Liverpool will go through.

Bayern Do Business in Bavaria

Bayern 4-1 Atalanta (10-2)

Goals: Kane 25’ (P), 54’, Karl 56’, Diaz 70’ (BAY), Samardzic 85’ (ATA)Man of the Match: Harry Kane (BAY)Flop of the Match: Isack Hien (ATA)

In a match that potentially could have seen Bayern Munich forced to start 16-year-old Leonard Prescott in goal, the Bavarians, as predicted, took pretty solid care of business at the Allianz. It was a match more a formality than anything else, and saw Bayern, once again, put ridiculous amounts of goals past their opponent on aggregate.

Starting this match were Harry Kane and Lennart Karl, both of whom rotated for the first leg but were forced to start after a yellow card suspension for Michael Olise. Both attackers got on the scoresheet, and Atalanta never really got going in this one. They got some promising chances at times throughout the 90, but it was always only going to be one team making it through here.

Tudor Bags First Win BUT SPURS UNSUCCESSFUL

Spurs 3-2 Atleti (5-7)

Goals: Kolo Muani 30’, Simons 52’, 90’ (P) (TOT), Alvarez 47’, Hancko 75’ (ATM)Man of the Match: Xavi Simons (TOT)Flop of the Match: Jose Maria Gimenez (ATM)

The final match we’ll cover was one of the more interesting ones. Spurs were looking to maybe not turn around the scoreline so much as make the loss respectable, but when PSG loanee forward Randal Kolo Muani got the scoring going in the 30th minute, a bit of belief started to ring around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs had the majority of chances in the first half, but Diego Simeone’s men started to gain steam around the end of the half, and finally made it work just after the break through Julian Alvarez. After that, it was a rather odd half, but in the end, Atlético, as expected, made it through.

This would have been a wildly entertaining match had Spurs not thrown it away inside 22 minutes at the Wanda Metropolitano, and they in fact actually outscored the Rojiblancos across the tie after that stretch. The win on the night is finally some positive momentum going Igor Tudor’s way, following a weekend draw against Liverpool at Anfield thanks to a late Richarlison equaliser.

While Spurs’ European run is over, they certainly won’t be back in Europe until at least 2027/28 at the earliest.

As for Atlético, it’s another high-scoring aggregate victory, and as La Liga fans will tell you, this isn’t your grandpa’s Atlético Madrid, the same Diego Simeone side that won ties 3-2 or 2-1, and would play the most aggressive defending you’ll ever see in your lifetime.

This team has evolved, with exciting attackers like Julian Alvarez and Ademola Lookman, spritely players like Giuliano Simeone and Matteo Ruggeri out wide, and who can play to and at times overwhelm almost any team in Europe. This is an exciting group of players.

Another fantastic week in the Champions League, as the final 16 are now just eight excellent sides.