After eight rounds of the Champions League league phase, where tension often mirrors the swing of momentum in a Bangla Cricket Live thriller, several European heavyweights found themselves heading into the playoff round. Defending champions Paris Saint Germain, last season’s runners-up Inter Milan, the self-proclaimed kings of Europe Real Madrid, and Italian giants Juventus were all forced into extra knockout battles. Napoli, the reigning Serie A champions, failed even to secure a playoff spot, becoming one of the tournament’s biggest surprises.
The playoff round delivered even greater drama. Serie A leaders Inter Milan were stunned by Norwegian side Bodø Glimt, suffering defeat in both legs. Juventus endured a brutal 2-5 away loss to Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray, then fought back with a 3-0 home victory to force extra time, only to concede twice and fall 5-7 on aggregate. Fortunately for Italy, Atalanta overturned Borussia Dortmund 4-1 at home, preventing a complete wipeout before the round of sixteen.
Real Madrid stumbled in the final league match, losing 2-4 away to Benfica and slipping out of the top eight, which meant another playoff appearance for the second consecutive season. Fate paired them with Benfica again. A narrow 1-0 away win in the first leg was followed by a 2-1 comeback victory at the Bernabéu after conceding first, completing a double triumph. Benfica were weakened by a suspension to Prestianni over alleged racist conduct and head coach José Mourinho was also banned, circumstances that may have altered the dynamic. Even so, Madrid showed resilience under pressure, something seasoned observers might compare to regaining control during a Bangla Cricket Live contest after conceding early blows.
Paris Saint Germain faced Monaco in an all-French clash, a familiar script from the previous season. A 3-2 away win in the first leg and a 2-2 draw at home ensured steady progression. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappé tops the current Champions League scoring chart with 13 goals, just four shy of Cristiano Ronaldo’s single-season record. Yet when measured against the Portuguese icon’s historic influence, the comparison still feels distant.
In the decisive league phase match against Benfica, Madrid needed only a draw to secure direct qualification, holding a superior goal difference over Barcelona, but fell short despite Mbappé scoring twice. In the first playoff leg he squandered three clear chances, and Madrid relied on Vinícius to seal a 1-0 win. The return leg saw Mbappé sidelined by injury, yet Madrid rallied for a 2-1 comeback and advanced.
During seven years in Paris, Mbappé’s best European finish was runner-up in 2019-20, a campaign largely driven by Neymar. In his final season, without Lionel Messi or Neymar, PSG were eliminated by Borussia Dortmund in the semifinals after back-to-back 1-0 defeats. Ironically, the season after his departure, Paris finally reached the summit of European football for the first time in club history. Now, without Mbappé, PSG continue to move forward in the knockout rounds, proving once again that in competitions filled with twists worthy of a Bangla Cricket Live epic, collective strength often outweighs individual brilliance.