- Newcastle United dominated Qarabağ 6-1 in Baku, with Chris Gordon scoring four goals to give the English side a commanding advantage for the second leg
- Galatasaray overturned a deficit to beat Juventus 5-2 in Istanbul, with Gabriel Sara and Lang among the scorers, boosting the Turkish club’s chances to reach the round of 16
- Paris Saint-Germain staged a thrilling comeback to defeat Monaco 3-2, while Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund secured narrow wins in their respective away and home fixtures
The first legs of the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs delivered thrilling matches across Europe, with high-scoring games and major surprises marking the opening encounters.
Newcastle Thrash Qarabağ
In Baku, Newcastle United produced a stunning performance to defeat Qarabağ 6-1. Chris Gordon was the star of the show, scoring four goals (3’, 32-pen’, 34’, 45+1-pen’), while Thiaw (8’) and Murphy (72’) also found the net. Jafarguliyev scored the lone goal for the hosts in the 55th minute. The emphatic win gives Newcastle a commanding advantage heading into the second leg.
Galatasaray Overpower Juventus
In Istanbul, Galatasaray came from behind to shock Juventus 5-2. Gabriel Sara opened the scoring for the home side in the 15th minute, and Lang added goals in the 49th and 75th minutes. Sanchez (60’) and Boey (86’) completed the scoring for the hosts, while Koopmeiners netted twice for Juventus (16’, 32’). The result gives the Turkish side a strong chance to progress to the round of 16.
Other Notable Matches
- Real Madrid 1–0 Benfica (Lisbon): Vinicius Jr. scored the only goal in the 50th minute, giving the Spanish giants a narrow away victory.
- Borussia Dortmund 2–0 Atalanta (Dortmund): Goals from Guirassy (3’) and Beier (42’) gave Dortmund a solid start in the tie.
- Monaco 2–3 Paris Saint-Germain (Monaco): Balogun scored for Monaco (1’, 18’), but PSG’s Doue (29’, 67’) and Hakimi (41’) completed a thrilling comeback.
- Olympiacos vs Bayer Leverkusen and Club Brugge vs Atletico Madrid were scheduled later in the week, with the outcomes pending.
- Bodo/Glimt vs Inter Milan will also determine another spot in the round of 16.
The second legs of the play-offs are set for February 24–25, with all teams seeking to secure a place in the round of 16 alongside clubs that qualified directly from the group stage.
The first legs have already set the stage for an exciting knockout phase, with high stakes, dramatic goals, and unexpected results keeping fans on the edge of their seats.