By Emmanuel Olagunju
The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 delivered thrilling action on Wednesday night as some of the clubs recorded convincing victories , giving them advantage ahead of the second leg .
At the Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid produced a commanding performance to defeat Manchester City 3–0. Federico Valverde was the star of the night, scoring a sensational hat-trick to put the Spanish giants firmly in control ahead of the second leg.
In Paris, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) overwhelmed Chelsea in an entertaining encounter that ended 5–2 in favour of the French champions. PSG’s attacking trio proved too much for the English side, who now face a difficult task in the return leg.
Meanwhile, Arsenal managed to secure a 1–1 draw away to Bayer Leverkusen in Germany. The Premier League side needed a late penalty converted by Kai Havertz to cancel out Leverkusen’s earlier goal, leaving the tie finely balanced before the second leg in London.
In Norway, Bodø/Glimt stunned Portuguese club Sporting CP with an impressive 3–0 victory, one of the biggest surprises of the round.
With the first-leg matches completed, attention now turns to the return fixtures where teams will battle for places in the Champions League quarter-finals. The results have already set up several high-stakes encounters as Europe’s elite clubs continue their quest for continental glory.
