{"id":8781,"date":"2025-03-11T07:10:15","date_gmt":"2025-03-11T07:10:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/?p=8781"},"modified":"2025-03-11T08:41:56","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T08:41:56","slug":"champions-league-second-legpreview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/champions-league-second-legpreview","title":{"rendered":"Champions League Round of 16 Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/uefa-champions-league-572\">Champions League<\/a> Round of 16 is upon us, and the stakes couldn\u2019t be higher as Europe\u2019s elite clubs battle for a spot in the quarterfinals. With the first legs already delivering drama, goals, and a few eyebrow-raising scorelines, this stage of the competition is shaping up to be a classic. From a fiery Madrid derby to a blockbuster clash between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/liverpool-108\">Liverpool<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/psg-480\">PSG<\/a>, the narrative threads are rich and unpredictable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/bayern-munich-331\">Bayern Munich<\/a> hold off a resurgent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/bayer-leverkusen-333\">Bayer Leverkusen<\/a>? Will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/benfica-888\">Benfica<\/a> stun <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/fc-barcelona-132\">Barcelona<\/a> in a matchup dripping with attacking potential? The new format has injected fresh chaos into the tournament, and as the Allianz Arena looms on the horizon for the May 31 final, every tie feels like a mini-epic. The first legs played on March 4 and 5, 2025, have set the tone\u2014think <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/arsenal-104\">Arsenal\u2019s<\/a> demolition of PSV and Aston Villa\u2019s statement win in Brugge. Now, with the second legs just days away on March 11 and 12, the tension is palpable. Strap in\u2014this is the Champions League at its unfiltered best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Champions League Round of 16 &#8211; All you need to know<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#tasty-madrid-derby\">Tasty Madrid Derby<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#liverpool-and-psg-will-be-a-thriller\">Liverpool and PSG will be a thriller<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#can-leverkusen-find-a-miracle-against-bayern-munich\">Can Leverkusen find a miracle against Bayern Munich?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#benfica-have-the-chance-to-cause-barcelona-problems\">Benfica have the chance to cause Barcelona problems<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#all-results\">All Champions League Round of 16 First Leg Results:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tasty-madrid-derby\">Tasty Madrid Derby<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Real Madrid seized a 2-1 edge over Atletico Madrid in their Champions League Round of 16 first leg on March 4, and the Bernabeu was electric. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/rodrygo-53912\">Rodrygo<\/a> ignited the night, blasting a left-footed screamer past Jan Oblak just four minutes in\u2014a statement of intent from the holders. Atletico, never ones to roll over, hit back in the 32nd minute when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/julian-alvarez-61973\">Julian Alvarez<\/a> unfurled a gorgeous curler that left Thibaut Courtois grasping air. The dagger came after the break: Brahim Diaz, weaving through defenders like a matador, slotted home in the 55th to clinch it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Atleti fumed over a disallowed goal\u2014VAR ruled Alvarez offside\u2014and now head to the Wanda Metropolitano on March 12 with fire in their veins. Diego Simeone\u2019s crew, who stunned Real 4-2 in La Liga this season, thrive in these grudge matches. Real\u2019s 15-title pedigree looms large, but their spotty form\u2014losses to Barca and Liverpool\u2014offers hope. Expect a bruising, spite-fueled clash where Vinicius Jr.\u2019s flair meets Simeone\u2019s snarl. This one\u2019s far from over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2173617149-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Champions League: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid celebrates with his teammate Kylian Mbappe after scoring his team's third goal during the La Liga match\" class=\"wp-image-8649\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2173617149-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2173617149-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2173617149-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2173617149-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2173617149-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by David S. Bustamante\/Real Madrid via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"liverpool-and-psg-will-be-a-thriller\">Liverpool and PSG will be a thriller<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Liverpool pulled off a heist at the Parc des Princes on March 5, edging PSG 1-0 with a late Harvey Elliott sucker punch. The 21-year-old sub, on for just 47 seconds, rifled home in the 87th minute\u2014his first touch\u2014after Darwin Nunez teed him up from Alisson Becker\u2019s long ball. PSG had dominated, firing 27 shots to Liverpool\u2019s two, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/alisson-10896\">Alisson\u2019s<\/a> nine-save masterclass\u2014labeled the \u201cperformance of his life\u201d\u2014kept them at bay. Vitinha hit the bar, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia saw a stunner ruled out for offside, yet Liverpool\u2019s resilience shone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, Anfield beckons on March 11, and it\u2019s primed to explode. Slot\u2019s Reds, unbeaten in seven of eight league-phase games, wield a ferocious press, but PSG\u2019s pace\u2014Barcola, Demb\u00e9l\u00e9\u2014could punish any slip. Elliott\u2019s heroics (three goals in four Champions League games this season) give Liverpool a slender lead, yet Luis Enrique\u2019s side, reeling from a 22-game unbeaten run snapped, will fancy their chances. The first leg\u2019s chaos (70% PSG possession, 1.8 xG to 0.3) promises a nervy, end-to-end sequel. This tie\u2019s a live wire\u2014expect a classic.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2168117645-1-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Cold Baller - Champions League isn't ready\" class=\"wp-image-8707\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2168117645-1-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2168117645-1-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2168117645-1-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2168117645-1-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2168117645-1-1-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Aurelien Meunier &#8211; PSG\/PSG via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"can-leverkusen-find-a-miracle-against-bayern-munich\">Can Leverkusen find a miracle against Bayern Munich?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Bayern Munich hammered Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 on March 5, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/harry-kane-1669\">Harry Kane\u2019s<\/a> early header (9th) and late penalty (75th) bookending <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/jamal-musiala-78061\">Jamal Musiala\u2019s<\/a> tap-in (54th) after a Matej Kovar howler. Nordi Mukiele\u2019s 62nd-minute red card left Leverkusen reeling, ending their six-game unbeaten streak against Bayern (W3 D3)\u2014a run that included a 3-0 Bundesliga thrashing last February. The Allianz Arena rout was a gut punch, but the BayArena return on March 11 offers a lifeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before last week, Leverkusen owned Bayern: Xabi Alonso\u2019s crew hadn\u2019t lost to them since 2022, blending grit with flair\u2014think that 3-0 masterclass where Florian Wirtz and Victor Boniface ran riot. Down 3-0, it\u2019s steep, but not impossible\u2014four teams have flipped such deficits in Champions League history (Liverpool \u201919, Barca \u201917). Wirtz, silenced in Munich, can spark chaos, and Boniface\u2019s physicality could bully Bayern\u2019s backline. Alonso\u2019s knack for late miracles\u201451 unbeaten games last season\u2014fuels belief. Bayern\u2019s misses (Palhinha fluffed a sitter) left the door ajar. If Leverkusen ignite their home crowd and strike early, this tie could yet flip. It\u2019s a long shot, but Alonso\u2019s magic isn\u2019t done.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"690\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/GettyImages-2011202295-690x1024.jpg\" alt=\"ROME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 14: Harry Kane of FC Bayern M\u00fcnchen gestures during the UEFA Champions League 2023\/24 round of 16 first leg match between SS Lazio and FC Bayern M\u00fcnchen at Stadio Olimpico on February 14, 2024 in Rome, Italy.\" class=\"wp-image-4999\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/GettyImages-2011202295-690x1024.jpg 690w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/GettyImages-2011202295-202x300.jpg 202w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/GettyImages-2011202295-768x1140.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/GettyImages-2011202295-1035x1536.jpg 1035w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/GettyImages-2011202295-scaled.jpg 1380w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Silvia Lore\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"benfica-have-the-chance-to-cause-barcelona-problems\">Benfica have the chance to cause Barcelona problems<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Barcelona clung to a 1-0 win at Benfica on March 5, thanks to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/raphinha-39789\">Raphinha\u2019s<\/a> 61st-minute screamer\u2014a low, deflected rocket off Antonio Silva\u2019s errant pass. Down to 10 men after Pau Cubarsi\u2019s 22nd-minute red for felling Vangelis Pavlidis, Hansi Flick\u2019s side leaned on Wojciech Szczesny\u2019s eight-save heroics to survive. Now, the Camp Nou return on March 11 crackles with stakes. Benfica\u2019s league-phase epic\u2014a 5-4 loss to Barca in January, with Pavlidis\u2019 hat-trick and Raphinha\u2019s stoppage-time dagger\u2014proves they can trade blows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Down 1-0, they\u2019ll unleash Rafa Silva\u2019s pace and Di Maria\u2019s guile against Barca\u2019s high line, which creaked in Lisbon. Barcelona, second in the league phase, wielded Lewandowski (18 goals this season) and Yamal\u2019s wizardry, but that red-card chaos exposed frailty\u2014Benfica\u2019s 26 shots to Barca\u2019s two tell the tale. Flick\u2019s 85% Champions League win rate meets a Lisbon giant averaging three goals per home game. A one-goal lead feels flimsy when Benfica\u2019s attack hums and Barca\u2019s defense wobbles. This isn\u2019t a procession\u2014it\u2019s a tightrope walk, primed for a goal-fest or a shock. The Barcelona faithful will roar, but Benfica smell blood.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"775\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GettyImages-2194570224-1024x775.jpg\" alt=\"TOPSHOT - Barcelona's Brazilian forward #11 Raphinha fights for the ball with Benfica's Portuguese midfielder #61 Florentino Luis during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between SL Benfica and FC Barcelona at Luz stadium in Lisbon on January 21, 2025. \" class=\"wp-image-8750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GettyImages-2194570224-1024x775.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GettyImages-2194570224-300x227.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GettyImages-2194570224-768x581.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GettyImages-2194570224-1536x1162.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GettyImages-2194570224-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA \/ AFP) (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"all-results\">All Champions League Round of 16 First Leg Results:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa<br>Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Lille<br>PSV 1-7 Arsenal<br>Real Madrid 2-1 Atletico Madrid<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PSG 0-1 Liverpool<br>Bayern Munich 3-0 Leverkusen<br>Benfica 0-1 Barcelona<br>Feyenoord 0-2 Inter Milan<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>By Nicky Helfgott \/ @NickyHelfgott1 on Twitter (X)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep up with all the latest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/uefa-champions-league-572\/stats\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/uefa-champions-league-572\/stats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Champions League stats<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/where-to-watch\">where to watch<\/a> &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/uefa-champions-league-572\/news\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/uefa-champions-league-572\/news\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">latest news<\/a> on the&nbsp;365Scores website and app!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"riddle2-wrapper\" data-rid-id=\"NMdAJaHi\" data-auto-scroll=\"true\" data-is-fixed-height-enabled=\"false\" data-bg=\"#fff\" data-fg=\"#00205b\" style=\"margin:0 auto; max-width:100%; width:640px;\" ><script src=\"https:\/\/www.riddle.com\/embed\/build-embedjs\/embedV2.js\"><\/script><iframe title=\"Who&#039;s going to win the 24\/25 Champions League?\" src=\"https:\/\/www.riddle.com\/embed\/a\/NMdAJaHi?lazyImages=false&#038;staticHeight=false\" allow=\"autoplay\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin\"><section data-block=\"SingleChoice\"><h2>Who&#039;s going to win the 24\/25 Champions League?<\/h2><ul><li>Real Madrid<\/li><li>Liverpool<\/li><li>Barcelona<\/li><li>Arsenal<\/li><li>Bayern Munich<\/li><li>Other (let us know who @365Scores)<\/li><\/ul><\/section><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Champions League Round of 16 is upon us, and the stakes couldn\u2019t be higher as Europe\u2019s elite clubs battle for a spot in the quarterfinals. With the first legs already delivering drama, goals, and a few eyebrow-raising scorelines, this stage of the competition is shaping up to be a classic. From a fiery Madrid &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":8782,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,2509],"tags":[2590,66,1095,1316,179,67,1859,1126,309,3070,188,14,3237,719,60,314,59,1302,3258,1907],"class_list":["post-8781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-soccer","category-champions-league","tag-anfield","tag-atletico-madrid","tag-barcelona","tag-bayer-leverkusen","tag-bayern-munich","tag-benfica","tag-brahim-diaz","tag-champions-league","tag-harry-kane","tag-harvey-elliott","tag-kylian-mbappe","tag-liverpool","tag-madrid-derby","tag-mohamed-salah","tag-psg","tag-raphinha","tag-real-madrid","tag-rodrygo","tag-round-of-16","tag-xabi-alonso"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8781","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8781"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8781\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8782"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}