Defending champions Real Madrid staged a dramatic comeback, overturning the deficit twice and netting two late goals to clinch a thrilling 3-2 victory over Manchester City in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund took commanding steps toward the round of 16 with convincing wins. Juventus narrowly edged past PSV in the night’s other opening clash. Here’s a recap of all the action.
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Champions League 2024-25 Round of 32 Round-Up
Bellingham’s Late Heroics Seal Dramatic Madrid Comeback
Manchester City 2-3 Real Madrid
Jude Bellingham’s late strike capped off a sensational Madrid comeback, as they overturned the deficit twice to secure a narrow first-leg lead. Erling Haaland’s brace—including a penalty with just over ten minutes left—bookended Kylian Mbappé’s looping effort, seemingly putting City in control.
However, substitute Brahim Díaz pounced on a rebound from an Ederson save to equalize against his former club, before Bellingham slotted home from close range following brilliant work by Vinícius Júnior, sealing victory in a pulsating clash.
Player of the Match: Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)
Dembélé Shines as PSG Dominate All-French Clash
Brest 0-3 Paris Saint-Germain
Ousmane Dembélé continued his red-hot form with a brace, helping Paris Saint-Germain take firm control of their all-French encounter against Brest. Vitinha opened the scoring early, confidently converting a penalty after a handball decision.
Dembélé then doubled the lead with a powerful low strike just before half-time and later tapped in his tenth goal in four matches to cap off a commanding victory for Luis Enrique’s side.
Player of the Match: Vitinha (Paris)
Guirassy Inspires Dortmund to Dominant Win in Lisbon
Sporting CP 0-3 Borussia Dortmund
Serhou Guirassy’s tenth goal of the season set Borussia Dortmund on course for a commanding victory over Sporting CP in Lisbon. The hosts came close before half-time when Maximiliano Araújo struck the crossbar from distance, but Guirassy broke the deadlock on the hour mark with a precise header from Julian Brandt’s cross.
Pascal Gross doubled the lead eight minutes later, turning in Guirassy’s delivery, before Karim Adeyemi rounded off the win with a well-worked counterattack alongside Brandt.
Player of the Match: Serhou Guirassy (Dortmund)
Juventus Edge PSV in Tight First-Leg Battle
Juventus 2-1 PSV Eindhoven
The Bianconeri will head to the Netherlands with a narrow advantage after a gritty victory in Turin. Juventus dominated the first half but only had Weston McKennie’s thunderous strike to show for their efforts.
PSV hit back after the break through Ivan Perišić’s well-taken equalizer, and with the match seemingly headed for a draw, Samuel Mbangula pounced from close range to seal the win for the hosts.
Player of the Match: Federico Gatti (Juventus)
With Tuesday’s thrilling encounters setting the stage, the UEFA Champions League knockout phase continues on Wednesday with more high-stakes clashes. Club Brugge hosts Atalanta in an early kickoff, while Monaco faces Benfica in a battle of attacking flair. Celtic will look to upset German giants Bayern München, and Feyenoord takes on Milan in a showdown between two historic clubs.
FAQs
How did Real Madrid defeat Manchester City in the first leg?
Real Madrid staged a thrilling comeback, twice overturning the deficit before Jude Bellingham’s late winner sealed a 3-2 victory.
Who were the standout performers in PSG’s win over Brest?
Ousmane Dembélé starred with a brace, while Vitinha controlled the midfield and converted an early penalty.
What was the key moment in Borussia Dortmund’s win over Sporting CP?
Serhou Guirassy’s header broke the deadlock, setting up a dominant 3-0 victory in Lisbon.
How did Juventus secure their narrow win against PSV?
Juventus took the lead through Weston McKennie, but after PSV equalized, Samuel Mbangula’s late strike ensured a 2-1 win.
Which UEFA Champions League matches are scheduled for Wednesday?
Club Brugge vs Atalanta, Monaco vs Benfica, Celtic vs Bayern München, and Feyenoord vs Milan are set for the next round of action.
