Champions League Round of 16: Real Madrid, PSG, and Arsenal Advance

The first legs of the Champions League Round of 16 concluded on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, with significant results for Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Arsenal. Bodø/Glimt also secured a notable victory, continuing their impressive campaign.

Paris Saint-Germain Dominates Chelsea

Holders Paris Saint-Germain achieved a commanding 5-2 victory over Chelsea at home. Substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia proved pivotal, scoring two late goals to give PSG a substantial advantage heading into the second leg in London. Bradley Barcola opened the scoring for PSG, with Malo Gusto briefly leveling the score for Chelsea. Ousmane Dembélé then restored PSG’s lead, followed by goals from Enzo Fernández for Chelsea, Vitinha, and the two decisive strikes from Kvaratskhelia. UEFA reports that Kvaratskhelia was named Player of the Match.

Real Madrid Secures Three-Goal Lead Against Manchester City

Real Madrid defeated Manchester City 3-0, establishing a strong position ahead of the second leg. Federico Valverde was the star of the match, scoring a hat-trick in the first half. He opened the scoring midway through the first half, followed by two more goals before halftime, including a well-taken volley. Vinícius Júnior’s penalty was saved in the second half. Valverde was awarded Player of the Match for his performance. AP News notes that City had previously won 2-1 against Madrid but faces an uphill battle after this defeat, having been eliminated by Madrid in the last two seasons.

Bodø/Glimt Continues Stunning Run

Bodø/Glimt continued their remarkable Champions League campaign with a 3-0 victory over Sporting CP. Sondre Brunstad Fet’s penalty put the hosts ahead, followed by a goal from Ole Didrik Blomberg before halftime. Kasper Høgh added a third goal, bringing his Champions League tally to five in his last five games. UEFA highlights this as a significant result for the Norwegian side.

Arsenal Salvages Draw at Leverkusen

Arsenal secured a 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen at BayArena. Kai Havertz converted a late penalty to equalize after Robert Andrich had given Leverkusen the lead early in the second half. The match was tightly contested, with Gabriel Martinelli hitting the bar earlier in the game. Robert Andrich was named Player of the Match. UEFA reports on the hard-fought draw.

Key Dates for the Champions League Knockout Phase

• Round of 16 Second Legs: March 17/18, 2026
• Quarter-finals: April 7/8 & 14/15, 2026
• Semi-finals: April 28/29 & May 5/6, 2026
• Final: May 30, 2026 (Budapest)