Galatasaray stunned Juventus in extra time, securing a dramatic victory and a place in the Champions League Round of 16, while Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain also advanced on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. The day’s action saw a total of 17 goals and three red cards across four matches, setting the stage for Friday’s draw.
Galatasaray and Juventus battled to a 5-5 aggregate score after 90 minutes, forcing the match into extra time. Despite Juventus registering an impressive 28 shots with an xG of 5.05, Galatasaray found the net twice in extra time to claim a memorable win. The Turkish side will now face either Liverpool or Tottenham in the next round.
Real Madrid defeated Benfica 2-1 on the night, completing a 3-1 aggregate victory. Aurélien Tchouaméni and VinÃcius Júnior scored for Los Blancos, who will face either Sporting CP or Manchester City in the Round of 16. The match was played without Kylian Mbappé due to injury.
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain overcame AS Monaco 5-4 on aggregate in a thrilling all-French affair. Marquinhos and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored crucial goals for PSG, who will take on either Barcelona or Chelsea in the next stage of the competition. Monaco’s Mamadou Coulibaly was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession.
Atalanta completed a remarkable comeback, overturning a 2-0 first-leg deficit to defeat Borussia Dortmund. A 98th-minute penalty kick sealed a 3-2 victory for the Italian side, who will now face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich. Dortmund defender Ramy Bensebaini was shown a second yellow card late in the match, leading to the decisive penalty.
The Champions League Round of 16 pairings are now set as follows:
- Galatasaray vs. Liverpool or Tottenham
- Paris Saint-Germain vs. Barcelona or Chelsea
- Real Madrid vs. Sporting CP or Manchester City
- Atalanta vs. Arsenal or Bayern Munich
- Newcastle United vs. Chelsea or Barcelona
- Atletico Madrid vs. Tottenham or Liverpool
- Bodo/Glimt vs. Manchester City or Sporting CP
- Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bayern Munich or Arsenal
This dramatic round of playoff matches has finalized the field for the knockout stages, promising exciting clashes as Europe’s elite clubs continue their pursuit of Champions League glory.
