Kylian Mbappé grabbed the spotlight on the final night of the knockout phase play-offs, netting a brilliant hat-trick to send Real Madrid into the UEFA Champions League round of 16 at Manchester City’s cost.

Elsewhere, Paris cruised through comfortably, Borussia Dortmund wrapped up their tie against Sporting CP, and PSV secured a late victory over Juventus.We recaps all the action.

UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Play-offs Round-up

Mbappé’s Masterclass Fires Real Madrid Into Champions League Last 16

Real Madrid 3-1 Man City (Agg: 6-3)

Kylian Mbappé’s third UEFA Champions League hat-trick secured the defending champions’ place in the last 16 with flair.

The French star opened the scoring in the fourth minute, brilliantly lobbing the goalkeeper after meeting Raúl Asencio’s long pass.

He dazzled again just after the half-hour mark with a skillful finish before completing his treble with a precise low curler in the 61st minute.

Manchester City’s Nico González pulled one back in added time after Omar Marmoush hit the post. Notably, Erling Haaland, who netted twice in the first leg, remained on the bench for City.

Player of the Match: Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)

Flamingo’s Extra-Time Heroics Send PSV Through in Thrilling Champions League Tie

PSV 3-1 Juventus, aet (Agg: 4-3)

Ryan Flamingo’s extra-time strike secured PSV their first Champions League knockout stage victory since 2007.

The game sprang to life after the break when Noa Lang’s diagonal pass found Ivan Perišić, who finished off a swift counterattack to level the aggregate score.

Juventus responded ten minutes later as Timothy Weah unleashed a powerful shot to regain their lead, only for Ismael Saibari to equalize from close range, forcing extra time.

In the decisive moment, Flamingo capitalized on Michele Di Gregorio’s clearance, slotting home to seal a dramatic win for PSV.

Player of the Match: Noa Lang (PSV)

Paris Cruise Past Brest with Record-Breaking Champions League Victory

Paris 7-0 Brest (Agg: 10-0)

Paris secured a commanding win over Ligue 1 rivals Brest, sealing the second-largest aggregate triumph in UEFA Champions League history. Remarkably, they became the first team to have seven different goal scorers in a single match.

Bradley Barcola opened the scoring, followed by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s maiden European goal before halftime. Vitinha’s superb strike kickstarted a flurry of four goals in just 18 minutes, with Désiré Doué, Nuno Mendes, and Gonçalo Ramos all finding the net. Substitute Senny Mayulu capped off the rout late on, underscoring Paris’ dominant display.

Player of the Match: Vitinha (Paris)

Dortmund Secure Last-16 Spot with Composed Display Against Sporting

B. Dortmund 0-0 Sporting CP (Agg: 3-0) 

Borussia Dortmund booked their place in the Champions League last 16 with a disciplined home performance, limiting Sporting’s chances as the visitors sought to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit.

Marcel Sabitzer came closest in the first half, forcing a full-stretch save from Rui Silva. Dortmund maintained control after the break, but Silva’s heroics continued as he denied Serhou Guirassy’s 59th-minute penalty. Giovanni Reyna was later denied by the woodwork, ensuring the match ended goalless despite Dortmund’s dominance.

Player of the Match: Rui Silva (Sporting CP)

Davies’ Last-Gasp Winner Sends Bayern Past Celtic in Dramatic Finish

Bayern München 1-1 Celtic (agg: 3-2) 

Alphonso Davies struck in the fourth minute of stoppage time to send Bayern through, dashing Celtic’s hopes of forcing extra time after a resilient display.

Despite missing four first-half opportunities, Nicolas Kühn capitalized on a mistake from Minjae Kim to give the Scottish champions the lead just after the hour mark. Celtic held firm as the clock ticked down, but Bayern’s pressure paid off late when Davies bundled in the winner after Kasper Schmeichel had denied Leon Goretzka moments earlier.

Player of the Match: Kasper Schmeichel (Celtic)

Talbi’s Early Brace Powers Brugge into Champions League Last 16

Atalanta 1-3 Club Brugge (Agg: 2-5)

Chemsdine Talbi’s quickfire double within the opening 27 minutes set Club Brugge on course for a stylish progression to the last 16.

Atalanta’s Davide Zappacosta struck the post after the 19-year-old’s brace, but Ferran Jutglà extended Brugge’s lead with a stunning long-range effort, giving the visitors a 3-0 advantage at halftime.

Ademola Lookman responded moments after coming on at the break, with Zappacosta hitting the woodwork again before Simon Mignolet saved a Lookman penalty. Atalanta’s night worsened when captain Rafael Tolói received a late red card.

Player of the Match: Ardon Jashari (Club Brugge)

Kökçü’s Late Winner Sends Benfica Into Champions League Last 16

Benfica 3-3 Monaco (Agg: 4-3) 

Orkun Kökçü’s late strike sealed Benfica’s place in the last 16 after a thrilling encounter in Lisbon.

Kerem Aktürkoğlu’s powerful finish midway through the first half put the hosts ahead, but Monaco responded with goals from Takumi Minamino and Eliesse Ben Seghir on either side of halftime to level the tie.

Vangelis Pavlidis calmly converted a penalty to restore Benfica’s aggregate lead, only for substitute George Ilenikhena to equalize within a minute of coming on. With extra time approaching, Kökçü guided in Álvaro Carreras’ cross with just over ten minutes left to clinch the win.

Player of the Match: Orkun Kökçü (Benfica)

Feyenoord Reach Champions League Last 16 for First Time with Hard-Fought Draw

Milan 1-1 Feyenoord (agg: 1-2)

Feyenoord advanced to the Champions League round of 16 for the first time, securing the aggregate result they needed with a determined display at San Siro.

The visitors were stunned just 37 seconds in when former striker Santiago Giménez bundled home to level the tie. However, Milan’s hopes took a hit early in the second half as Theo Hernández received a second yellow card, reducing the hosts to ten men.

Feyenoord capitalized on the advantage when substitute Julián Carranza powered in a header from Hugo Bueno’s pinpoint cross, sealing a historic aggregate victory for the Eredivisie club.

Player of the Match: Dávid Hancko (Feyenoord)

What’s Next? Round of 16 Draw Details

The draw for the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League round of 16, along with the quarter-final and semi-final pairings, will be held at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland, on Friday, 21 February at 12:00 CET (4:30 PM IST).

The top eight teams from the league phase secured automatic qualification, while they are joined by the eight winners from the newly introduced two-legged knockout phase play-offs. UEFA will analyze potential matchups and revisit past encounters between the clubs involved.

Notably, teams may be drawn against opponents they faced in the inaugural league phase or from the same national association, adding to the anticipation of the knockout stage.

Read More: Real Madrid vs Man City: How This ‘Rivalry’ Became Europe’s Most Iconic Contest

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