{"id":8610,"date":"2025-02-21T08:48:31","date_gmt":"2025-02-21T08:48:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/?p=8610"},"modified":"2025-02-21T11:44:47","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T11:44:47","slug":"champions-league-playoff-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/champions-league-playoff-review","title":{"rendered":"Champions League Playoff Round Review and Draw Revealed!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/uefa-champions-league-572\">Champions League<\/a> knockout stage is always a time for drama, and this year&#8217;s Playoff Round was no exception. From heart-stopping finishes to individual brilliance, the games delivered some unforgettable moments. Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 reminded us all of his world-class status with a hat-trick that left Manchester City reeling. At the same time, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/celtic-754\">Celtic<\/a> nearly pulled off one of the most improbable results in recent memory before <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/bayern-munich-331\">Bayern Munich<\/a> snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/psg-480\">Paris Saint-Germain<\/a> continued their dominance with an eye-catching 7-0 demolition of Brest, showcasing their depth and firepower in front of a packed Parc des Princes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/psv-eindhoven-725\">PSV Eindhoven<\/a> emerged victorious in a thrilling extra-time clash with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/juventus-226\">Juventus<\/a>, overturning a first-leg deficit and securing their spot in the last 16. With so many twists and turns, this round has set the stage for what promises to be a captivating remainder of the competition. Whether it was the brilliance of Mbapp\u00e9 or the resilience of underdogs like Celtic and PSV, the Playoff Round was a showcase of why the Champions League is regarded as the pinnacle of European club football. Let\u2019s dive into the key takeaways from this week\u2019s thrilling encounters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">? DON&#8217;T MISS OUT ON THE COMPETITIONS DRAW ?<br \/><br \/>With the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League draws taking place, make sure you have you draw notifications ON to know which teams were drawn together ?<br \/><br \/>Click on the notification bell in the competition&#8217;s\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/sQGWhOBZJm\">pic.twitter.com\/sQGWhOBZJm<\/a><\/p>\r\n\u2014 365Scores (@365Scores) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/365Scores\/status\/1892540463569080613?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 20, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Champions League Latest<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#kylian-mbappe-tears-manchester-city-apart-and-shows-why-hes-still-the-best-player-in-the-world\">Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 tears Manchester City apart and shows why he&#8217;s still the best player in the world<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#celtic-get-their-heart-broken-by-bayern-munich\">Celtic get their heart broken by Bayern Munich<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#psg-batter-brest-in-the-all-french-clash\">PSG batter Brest in the all-French clash<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#psv-sink-juventus\">PSV sink Juventus<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-round-of-16-draw\">The Round of 16 Draw<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"kylian-mbappe-tears-manchester-city-apart-and-shows-why-hes-still-the-best-player-in-the-world\">Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 tears Manchester City apart and shows why he&#8217;s still the best player in the world<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Kylian Mbapp\u00e9\u2019s performance against Manchester City at the Santiago Bernab\u00e9u was nothing short of spectacular, and it\u2019s hard to argue with the notion that he\u2019s still the world\u2019s best player. It\u2019s been a season of adjustments for the French forward since his high-profile move to Real Madrid, but on this night, he showcased all the reasons why Madrid shelled out for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 21st hat-trick of his career was a clinical masterpiece, beginning with an easy lob over Ederson after capitalizing on City\u2019s high defensive line and lack of pressure on the ball. Mbapp\u00e9\u2019s second goal was a display of his composure, twisting around Josko Gvardiol to create space and finish with his right foot. The third was a trademark Mbapp\u00e9 goal, as he glided past Phil Foden with a stepover and slotted it home low with his left foot. His pace, vision, and finishing abilities made City\u2019s defense look amateurish. It was a performance of the highest caliber, reaffirming Mbapp\u00e9\u2019s place at the top of world football, and a night that Madrid fans will remember for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"763\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2200710393-763x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his team's third goal and his hat trick during the UEFA Champions League 2024\/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between Real Madrid C.F. and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on February 19, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. \" class=\"wp-image-8612\" style=\"width:633px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by David Ramos\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"celtic-get-their-heart-broken-by-bayern-munich\">Celtic get their heart broken by Bayern Munich<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In what was surely one of the most dramatic Champions League knockout ties of the season, Celtic were just 47 seconds away from forcing Bayern Munich into extra time, only for Alphonso Davies to break their hearts with a late, last-gasp goal. Celtic, playing away in Munich, defied all odds and led 1-0 in the dying moments of stoppage time after a shock first-leg lead at Celtic Park. Nicolas Kuhn\u2019s header had given them a shock 2-1 advantage in the tie, and the Scottish side had resolutely held Bayern at bay for the majority of the match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bayern, who have made a habit of dispatching teams at the Allianz Arena, looked flat and uninspired for much of the game, failing to break through Celtic\u2019s disciplined defense. Just as it seemed they might hold on for an improbable result, Davies capitalized on a defensive error, sending Bayern through with an emotional winner. The defeat will sting for manager Vincent Kompany and his team, but it was a performance that proved they belong at the highest level, even if the final result wasn\u2019t in their favour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"psg-batter-brest-in-the-all-french-clash\">PSG batter Brest in the all-French clash<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Paris Saint-Germain&#8217;s 7-0 demolition of Brest was a statement of intent, as Christophe Galtier&#8217;s side advanced to the Champions League Round of 16 in emphatic fashion. With a commanding 3-0 lead from the first leg, PSG wasted no time in asserting their dominance at the Parc des Princes, putting Brest to the sword with an onslaught of goals. Bradley Barcola and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia were the early architects of the rout, while the second half saw PSG&#8217;s depth come to the fore, with goals from Vitinha, D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Dou\u00e9, Nuno Mendes, Gon\u00e7alo Ramos, and Senny Mayulu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The young Mayulu\u2019s strike was particularly special, as the 18-year-old became PSG\u2019s youngest-ever scorer in a Champions League knockout game. In what was a record-setting night, PSG became the first team in competition history to have seven different goalscorers in a single match. The victory not only showcased PSG&#8217;s firepower but also highlighted their squad depth, with substitutes making significant contributions. This ruthless performance underlines the club\u2019s European ambitions, and now they await either Liverpool or Barcelona in the next round, making the path to glory even more thrilling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Kylian Mbappe leads the line in our Best XI of the Champions League Playoffs after his hat-track last night!<br \/><br \/>Do you agree with th rest of our picks? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1779wmrt9L\">pic.twitter.com\/1779wmrt9L<\/a><\/p>\r\n\u2014 365Scores (@365Scores) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/365Scores\/status\/1892486437435580787?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 20, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"psv-sink-juventus\">PSV sink Juventus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In a dramatic knockout encounter that kept fans on the edge of their seats, PSV Eindhoven completed a stunning comeback to knock Juventus out of the Champions League with a 4-3 aggregate win after extra time. Juventus entered the Philips Stadion with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg but were quickly put on the back foot as Ivan Perisic\u2019s second-half strike brought the tie level. With Juventus looking to restore their advantage, Timothy Weah&#8217;s equalizer seemed to breathe new life into the Dutch side, but just as quickly, Ismael Saibari gave PSV the lead, leveling the aggregate score at 3-3 and forcing extra time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The drama reached its peak in the 98th minute, when Ryan Flamingo latched onto a defensive mix-up and slotted home the winner. Juventus, who had been favourites going into the tie, found themselves on the wrong side of the result, with the Dutch side showing resilience and composure in the face of adversity. Despite a relatively slow start, PSV found their rhythm when it mattered most, and the victory was a testament to their determination and belief, sending them into the next round with a well-deserved triumph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-round-of-16-draw\">The Round of 16 Draw<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are some seriously tasty fixtures in this Round of 16 Draw. The Madrid Derby. Wow. An all-German clash as Leverkusen take on Bayern Munich. PSG battling Liverpool. This is going to be a Round of 16 to remember!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The road to Munich has been drawn!!?<br><br>Who got the luckiest draw? And who got the toughest? Let the debates begin!\u26bd <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/IcAMX9rzS2\">pic.twitter.com\/IcAMX9rzS2<\/a><\/p>&mdash; 365Scores (@365Scores) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/365Scores\/status\/1892902310176604237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 21, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>By Nicky Helfgott \/ @NickyHelfgott1 on Twitter (X)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep up with all the latest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/uefa-champions-league-572\/stats\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/uefa-champions-league-572\/stats\">Champions League stats<\/a> &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/uefa-champions-league-572\/news\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/uefa-champions-league-572\/news\">latest news<\/a> on the&nbsp;365Scores website and app!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"riddle2-wrapper\" style=\"margin: 0 auto; max-width: 100%; width: 640px;\" data-rid-id=\"NMdAJaHi\" data-auto-scroll=\"true\" data-is-fixed-height-enabled=\"false\" data-bg=\"#fff\" data-fg=\"#00205b\"><script src=\"https:\/\/www.riddle.com\/embed\/build-embedjs\/embedV2.js\"><\/script><iframe title=\"Who's going to win the 24\/25 Champions League?\" src=\"https:\/\/www.riddle.com\/embed\/a\/NMdAJaHi?lazyImages=false&amp;staticHeight=false\"><section data-block=\"SingleChoice\"><h2>Who&#8217;s going to win the 24\/25 Champions League?<\/h2><ul><li>Real Madrid<\/li><li>Manchester City<\/li><li>Barcelona<\/li><li>Arsenal<\/li><li>Bayern Munich<\/li><li>Other (let us know who @365Scores)<\/li><\/ul><\/section><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Champions League knockout stage is always a time for drama, and this year&#8217;s Playoff Round was no exception. From heart-stopping finishes to individual brilliance, the games delivered some unforgettable moments. Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 reminded us all of his world-class status with a hat-trick that left Manchester City reeling. At the same time, Celtic nearly pulled &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":8611,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2509,9],"tags":[179,2745,2908,1126,3203,3205,2445,3204,3199,3107,3148,38,3202,188,15,3200,60,3201,3198,198,59],"class_list":["post-8610","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-champions-league","category-soccer","tag-bayern-munich","tag-brest","tag-celtic","tag-champions-league","tag-champions-league-playoffs","tag-champions-league-round-of-16","tag-european-football","tag-european-knockout","tag-extra-time","tag-football-drama","tag-football-highlights","tag-juventus","tag-juventus-elimination","tag-kylian-mbappe","tag-manchester-city","tag-mbappe-hat-trick","tag-psg","tag-psg-victory","tag-psg-vs-brest","tag-psv-eindhoven","tag-real-madrid"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8610","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8610"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8610\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8611"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8610"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8610"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8610"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}