In the first matches of the UEFA Champions League playoffs, true football dramas unfolded involving elite clubs. One of the most memorable moments was Paris Saint-Germain's comeback in the game against Monaco. After finding themselves in a disadvantageous position, trailing 0-2 due to a brace from Folarin Balogun, the Parisians managed to turn the game around in the second half, winning 3-2 thanks to goals from Achraf Hakimi and a brace from Désiré Doué. The outcome of the match was also influenced by the red card given to Alexander Golovin, which deprived Monaco of the chance to salvage the situation.
As for Real Madrid, they secured a narrow victory over Benfica with a score of 1-0, thanks to a magnificent goal from Vinícius Júnior. This match was memorable not only for the outstanding play but also for disciplinary measures, including the red card issued to José Mourinho, the head coach of the Portuguese club, at the end of the match.
In other matches of the matchday, Borussia Dortmund confidently defeated Atalanta 2-0, while Turkey's Galatasaray put on a spectacular performance against Juventus, finishing with a rare final score of 5-2. The determination of the participants for the Round of 16 will take place based on the results of the return matches.
