The UEFA Champions League playoffs kicked off with intense matches featuring leading clubs from Europe. One of the most memorable moments was the incredible comeback of Paris Saint-Germain in their game against Monaco. After conceding two goals from Folarin Balogun, the Parisians managed to turn the tide in the second half, finishing the match with a 3:2 victory. The team's success was secured thanks to goals from Achraf Hakimi and a brace from Désiré Doué, while the red card shown to Alexander Golovin left Monaco with no chance of recovery.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid secured a narrow 1:0 victory over Benfica thanks to a magnificent strike from Vinícius Júnior. This match was memorable not only for the quality of play but also for the numerous disciplinary measures, including the dismissal of Benfica's head coach José Mourinho at the end of the match.
In other matches of the matchday, Borussia Dortmund confidently defeated Atalanta 2:0, while Galatasaray delivered a stunning blow to Juventus, finishing the encounter with a rare score of 5:2 for this stage of the tournament. The participants of the Round of 16 will be determined based on the results of the return matches.
