- Real Madrid holds a narrow advantage over Manchester City after a dramatic first-leg comeback in England
- Juventus and PSV Eindhoven remain in a tight contest, with PSV seeking its first Champions League knockout win since 2006/07
- PSG and Borussia Dortmund carry strong first-leg leads into their return fixtures against Brest and Sporting CP, respectively
Key Takeaways:
The second set of Champions League play-off matches takes place tonight, with four teams looking to complete their path to the Round of 16. While two fixtures appear nearly settled, the remaining two encounters remain finely balanced with just a single goal separating the teams.
The most highly anticipated clash of this round features Real Madrid and Manchester City. The first leg in England was an intense five-goal thriller, with Real Madrid securing a late comeback to take a narrow lead. Both teams enter the decisive match with strong ambitions, and tensions remain high, especially with Manchester City fans continuing their banter with Vinícius Júnior over the Ballon d’Or. Pep Guardiola’s squad faces a setback with the confirmed injury absence of Manuel Akanji for the remainder of the season, while Carlo Ancelotti has welcomed back Antonio Rüdiger and Lucas Vázquez, although the latter remains a doubt for the match.
To decide the four remaining spots in the round of 16 👊#UCL pic.twitter.com/Ihkv3eMft5
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 19, 2025
Another evenly poised matchup is Juventus against PSV. The Dutch side narrowly lost the first leg due to a late Juventus goal but remains determined to overturn the deficit at home. However, history does not favor PSV, as the team has not won a Champions League knockout match since the 2006/07 season, when they eliminated Arsenal. Both teams enter the match with squad concerns due to injuries, which could influence their tactical approaches.
Paris Saint-Germain appears to have nearly secured its place in the Round of 16 after a commanding 3-0 victory over Brest in the first leg. PSG has already beaten Brest three times this season, and head coach Luis Enrique has emphasized that he expects full focus from his squad to avoid any surprises. Brest will need an extraordinary performance at Parc des Princes to overturn the deficit.
Borussia Dortmund also holds a commanding advantage after securing a 3-0 victory in Lisbon against Sporting CP. New head coach Niko Kovač, despite beginning his Bundesliga tenure with two defeats, saw his team deliver a strong performance in his first European night. Sporting CP will hope for an early goal to gain momentum and must replicate their first-half attacking display from the first leg to have a chance of turning the tie around.