Eight Teams Secure UEFA Champions League Last 16 Spots After Play-Offs
The final four places in the UEFA Champions League last 16 have been decided following the concluding second-leg playoff matches on Wednesday. Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Atalanta, and Galatasaray joined the four teams who had already qualified earlier in the week, completing the lineup for Friday’s round of 16 draw.
Real Madrid progressed despite a 2-1 defeat at home to Benfica. Rafa Silva gave the visitors an early lead at the Bernabeu, but goals from Aurélien Tchouaméni and Vinícius Júnior ensured a 3-2 aggregate victory for the Spanish champions, who had won the first leg 1-0 in Lisbon.
Paris Saint-Germain navigated a tricky all-French tie against Monaco. After a 3-2 first-leg win, PSG held on for a 2-2 draw at home, securing qualification by a 5-4 aggregate scoreline.
Atalanta required a dramatic finish to overcome Borussia Dortmund. Trailing in the second leg in Bergamo, they were awarded a last-minute penalty which Lazar Samardžić converted to make it 4-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate, sending the Italian side through.
The most thrilling tie saw Galatasaray defeat Juventus after extra time. A 2-1 win in Turin had given the Turkish side a slender lead, but the second leg in Istanbul ended 3-3 after 90 minutes, forcing extra time. Two goals in the additional period sealed a 6-1 victory on the night and a 7-5 aggregate triumph.
They join Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt, Spanish champions Atlético Madrid, German leaders Bayer Leverkusen, and English club Newcastle United—who all secured their places on Tuesday—in the last 16. The draw for the quarter-final pairings will be held on Friday in Nyon, Switzerland, setting the stage for the knockout phase of Europe’s premier club competition. The qualification playoffs, a two-legged knockout round preceding the group stage winners’ automatic advancement, have produced several memorable encounters, culminating in this diverse set of finalists.
