Champions League Round of 16 Playoff First-Leg Results: Full Recap

1 week ago 5

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The first legs of the 2025–2026 Champions League playoff round of 16, played in the early hours of February 18–19, 2026, delivered several surprise results and intensified the battle for the remaining eight places in the knockout stage.

The standout performance came as Newcastle United thrashed Qarabag FK 6-1 in Azerbaijan. Anthony Gordon stole the spotlight with four goals in the first half, including two penalties.

Malick Thiaw also found the net, while the hosts responded through Elvin Jafarguliyev before Jacob Murphy added another after the break. The commanding victory gives Newcastle a strong cushion heading into the second leg.

In Greece, Bayer Leverkusen strengthened their bid for progression with a disciplined 2-0 win over Olympiakos. After a tightly contested opening half, Patrik Schick broke the deadlock in the 60th minute following a swift counterattack.

The Czech forward struck again just four minutes later, heading in Alejandro Grimaldo’s corner to hand the Bundesliga side a decisive edge.

One of the biggest shocks came in Norway, where Bodo/Glimt stunned Inter Milan 3-1. Sondre Brunstad Fet opened the scoring for the hosts before Pio Esposito equalized.

However, second-half goals from Jens Petter Hauge and Kasper Hogh secured an impressive victory for the Norwegian champions and left the Italian side with work to do in the second leg.

The most dramatic contest unfolded in Belgium as Club Brugge and Atletico Madrid shared six goals in a pulsating 3-3 draw. Atletico initially surged ahead through a Julian Alvarez penalty and a strike from Ademola Lookman. Brugge responded through Raphael Onyedika and Nicolo Tresoldi to level the match.

Atletico regained the lead via Joel Ordonez’s own goal, but Christos Tzolis struck late to keep the tie evenly poised.

Matches played a day earlier were equally eventful. Galatasaray overwhelmed Juventus 5-2, Borussia Dortmund defeated Atalanta 2-0, Paris Saint-Germain edged AS Monaco 3-2, and Real Madrid secured a narrow 1-0 away win over Benfica.

With several ties still finely balanced, the second legs promise high stakes and further drama as clubs battle for a place in the Champions League round of 16.