Mbappe Shines as Champions League Returns with Thrilling Round-of-16 Matches

The UEFA Champions League made a spectacular return with a series of intense round-of-16 matches. Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Leipzig, while Manchester City dominated Copenhagen with a 3-1 win on the road. Lazio pulled off a stunning upset by defeating Bayern Munich 1-0, and PSG displayed their dominance with a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad in Paris.

PSG’s match against Real Sociedad marked only the second time they faced no shots on target in a Champions League knockout stage game. Similarly, Bayern Munich failed to record a shot on goal, a rare occurrence for the powerhouse team.

Notably, Magnus Mattsson’s goal for Copenhagen against Man City was a historic moment, being the first knockout stage goal scored by a Danish club in the Champions League.

Dayot Upamecano‘s red card on Valentine's Day added an interesting twist to the matches, making him only the third player to receive a red card in the Champions League on that romantic day.

Kylian Mbappe stole the spotlight with an exemplary performance, scoring his eighth goal against Spanish opponents and setting multiple records, including being the first player to score at least one goal in 10 consecutive home matches in the UCL.

Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva continued their impressive performances in the knockout stages, with both players scoring their last 10 UCL goals in knockout matches. Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel‘s struggles as Bayern coach have come to light, with his 10 defeats matching predecessor Julian Nagelsmann‘s tally in half the number of matches.

Kylian Mbappe’s exceptional form this season has seen him directly involved in 38 goals in 30 appearances, solidifying his position as a standout player in Europe’s big five leagues. With 44 Champions League goals before turning 25, Mbappe now trails behind only Lionel Messi in the age group, who holds the record with 59 goals.