The Champions League knockout phase is heating up with the second-leg playoffs set to determine which teams will advance to the Round of 16. Between Tuesday, February 18, and Wednesday, February 19, eight decisive fixtures will unfold. Milan faces a tough challenge as they attempt to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Feyenoord at San Siro. The Rossoneri will need an aggressive approach from the start to avoid elimination. "We can turn this around," said coach Sérgio Conceição. "It’s not just about the strikers – the whole team must contribute." Feyenoord’s goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther, however, warned that nothing is decided yet.
Atalanta also finds itself in a comeback situation as they host Club Brugge, looking to recover from a 2-1 loss in Belgium. Gasperini’s side hopes to use home advantage to push through to the next round. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich appears to have a more favorable path, having secured a 2-1 win at Celtic Park. Playing at the Allianz Arena, the German champions aim to seal the deal, but Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers remains confident: "We’ve learned from past mistakes and know what it takes to avoid another disappointment." Similarly, Benfica holds an advantage over Monaco after their 1-0 away victory and will look to close the tie in front of their home fans.
On Wednesday, February 19, Juventus will defend their 2-1 lead against PSV Eindhoven in a crucial away match. "It’s going to be tough," coach Thiago Motta admitted, "but we have the quality to get the result we need." However, all eyes will be on the Santiago Bernabéu, where Real Madrid and Manchester City will battle in what promises to be a thrilling encounter. The Spanish giants edged out a 3-2 victory in the first leg and will now aim to capitalize on their home advantage to knock out Pep Guardiola’s side. According to journalist Tomás Roncero, Real Madrid has the edge due to their experience and City’s recent defensive struggles. Meanwhile, PSG is widely expected to progress against Brest.
UEFA Ranking blow for Italy as fifth Champions League spot fades
19 Feb - 11:07 •
1' min
