The first leg of the Champions League round of 16 did not disappoint in Spanish football. Real Madrid secured a valuable victory in the Madrid derby, defeating Atlético de Madrid 2-1 under the lights of the Santiago Bernabéu, leaving everything open for the return leg at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano next Wednesday at 9:00 PM. Meanwhile, Barcelona claimed a crucial advantage in their visit to Lisbon, where they defeated Benfica 0-1. The second leg will be played at Montjuïc next Tuesday at 6:45 PM.
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Real Madrid-Atlético summary
The match started with great intensity, with both teams looking to create danger from the first minute. Just four minutes in, Rodrygo opened the scoring with a spectacular goal after dribbling past Javi Galán and sending a precise shot from the edge of the box that left Oblak with no chance. The assist came from Fede Valverde. Following Madrid’s early strike, the game leveled out, with both sides playing cautiously in attack.
Around the 30-minute mark, Julián Álvarez surprised everyone with a stunning goal from a tight angle, placing the ball into the top corner and equalizing the match, reaffirming his excellent form. This goal gave Atlético a boost before heading into halftime.
In the second half, Atlético started stronger, controlling possession. Real Madrid struggled to break through the visitors’ high pressing, but football can be unpredictable. Brahim, after a brilliant dribble into the box and a couple of feints, managed to score, restoring Madrid’s lead with 30 minutes left to play.
From that moment on, Atlético opted for caution, avoiding unnecessary risks ahead of the second leg. Simeone chose to maintain the scoreline and rely on home advantage for the return match. In the final stretch, Real Madrid controlled possession, particularly after Luka Modric came on, but failed to extend their lead. With the 2-1 final score, the tie remains open, setting the stage for a high-intensity clash at the Metropolitano.
Benfica-Barcelona summary
The Estádio da Luz hosted Barcelona’s debut in the Champions League knockout stage for the 24/25 season. Benfica started strongly, breaking through Barcelona’s high press and creating early chances. However, Hansi Flick’s side gradually settled into the game, dominating possession and pinning the Portuguese team back.
On a counterattack, Pavlidis broke free from the Barcelona defense and was brought down by Cubarsí as the last man, resulting in a straight red card. This expulsion changed the course of the match, forcing Flick to adjust his strategy. Araujo replaced Dani Olmo to reinforce the defense.
Benfica had several clear chances but was repeatedly denied by an outstanding Szczęsny, who kept his team in the game. The second half followed a similar pattern, with Benfica attacking and Barcelona defending resolutely. However, in the 60th minute, the home side paid the price for their missed opportunities. Raphinha capitalized on a mistake by Antonio Silva during a buildup play and fired a low shot from outside the box, putting Barcelona ahead.
This goal was a huge relief for the Catalans, who, despite playing with ten men, secured a crucial advantage. Benfica intensified their pressure in the final 30 minutes, but Szczęsny proved unbeatable, earning the MVP honors. With this result, Barcelona returns home with a favorable scoreline and one foot in the quarterfinals.
Rest of the Champions League first-leg matches
The first leg of the Champions League round of 16 brought few surprises. The most unexpected result was Borussia Dortmund’s 1-1 home draw against Lille, with the French side emerging as one of the tournament’s revelations.
In a high-profile clash, Liverpool edged PSG 0-1, demonstrating resilience despite being outplayed for large stretches of the game. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich all but sealed their qualification by thrashing Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in a dominant performance.
Inter Milan, another strong title contender, delivered a commanding 0-2 victory over Feyenoord, putting themselves in a strong position ahead of the return leg at San Siro. However, the most shocking result of the round was Arsenal’s emphatic 1-7 demolition of PSV. Lastly, Aston Villa secured an important 1-3 win over Club Brugge, positioning themselves well for the second leg.
With the first leg concluded, the stage is set for a thrilling set of return matches, with Atlético vs. Real Madrid as the most anticipated clash in the battle to advance to the next round of the Champions League.
