Real Madrid advanced to the Champions League last 16 by defeating Manchester City 3-1 at the Bernabeu, completing a 6-3 aggregate win, with Kylian Mbappe scoring a hat-trick. City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged Madrid’s superiority following their defeat. Meanwhile, PSG crushed Brest 7-0 to secure their own progression, with seven different players scoring. Next, PSG will face either Liverpool or Barcelona, while PSV Eindhoven eliminated Juventus after a thrilling 4-3 aggregate victory. Borussia Dortmund also progressed with a 3-0 overall win against Sporting Lisbon, setting up a clash with Aston Villa or Lille in the next round.
Real Madrid convincingly defeated Manchester City to secure their place in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday, while Paris Saint-Germain confirmed their progression by overwhelming French rivals Brest. Kylian Mbappe netted twice in the first half and completed his hat-trick at the hour mark at the Santiago Bernabeu, leading the European champions to a 3-1 victory in the return leg of the play-off tie, resulting in a 6-3 aggregate win. “I previously mentioned that I didn’t join Real Madrid to underperform,” Mbappe told Movistar. “Achieving my dream is one aspect, but I aim to excel here, leave a mark, and make history at Real Madrid.”
Carlo Ancelotti’s team will face either city rivals Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen, managed by former Real midfielder Xabi Alonso, in the last 16, with the draw scheduled for Friday.
“The best team triumphed; they deserve to advance, and we do not,” stated City manager Pep Guardiola.
Prior to kick-off in Spain, City faced another setback as Erling Haaland was only deemed fit enough to start on the bench, following two late goals from last week that tilted the balance significantly in favor of Madrid.
Mbappe extended Madrid’s lead with a lob in the fourth minute, slipping between Ruben Dias and John Stones to connect with Raul Asencio’s long ball and deftly lifted the ball over City goalkeeper Ederson.
The France striker concluded a fluid team move with a precise finish for Madrid’s second goal and sealed his hat-trick with a crisp left-footed shot from outside the area.
Nico Gonzalez provided a late consolation for City in stoppage time after Omar Marmoush’s powerful free-kick rebounded off the crossbar.
The only notable disappointment for Madrid was Jude Bellingham receiving a yellow card that will exclude the England midfielder from the first leg of the last 16.
For City, the focus will now shift to securing a berth in next season’s Champions League, following a disappointing domestic campaign for a team that has claimed the last four Premier League titles.
“This has been our worst year… we have been an extraordinary team, but this year, for various reasons, we have lost that consistency,” Guardiola remarked.
PSG crushed Brest 7-0 at the Parc des Princes, with goals from seven different players leading the in-form French champions to a comprehensive 10-0 aggregate win over the two legs.
Bradley Barcola and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia found the net in the first half, dispelling any lingering doubts for the hosts, who showed no mercy as Vitinha, Desire Doue, Nuno Mendes, Goncalo Ramos, and Senny Mayulu also scored.
This marked PSG’s largest winning margin in a European match. After scoring only three times in their first five Champions League matches this season, they have since netted 21 goals in five outings.
“I believe we are demonstrating that winning everything is possible,” Kvaratskhelia told Canal Plus. “We approach every game with the intent to win, as that is our objective and our aspiration. We will invest all our efforts into that.”
Luis Enrique’s side now prepares for a thrilling encounter against either Liverpool or Barcelona, while Brest’s inaugural European campaign ended dismally against a team they have not defeated in 40 years.
“It is quite shameful to exit in this manner. Losing 7-0 is excessive. Yes, Paris is a formidable team, and I hope they succeed, but losing 7-0 is inexcusable,” commented Brest midfielder Pierre Lees-Melou.
PSV Eindhoven eliminated Juventus 4-3 on aggregate following extra time, recovering from a first-leg deficit with a 3-1 victory in the Netherlands.
Timothy Weah equalized Ivan Perisic’s opener for PSV, but the hosts extended the match with a goal from Ismael Saibari.
Defender Ryan Flamingo scored in the 98th minute to propel PSV into the next round at the expense of Thiago Motta’s Juventus, with Arsenal or Inter Milan awaiting the Dutch side next month.
Borussia Dortmund advanced after a goalless draw at home against Portugal’s Sporting Lisbon, sealing a 3-0 overall victory.
The competition’s leading scorer, Serhou Guirassy, missed a second-half penalty, but it proved inconsequential as last season’s runners-up faced little trouble from Sporting.
Dortmund’s reward is a last-16 matchup against Aston Villa or Lille.
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