Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid will both take a lead into their Champions League second legs next week, thanks to dramatic victories away to Monaco and Benfica.
It was PSG’s 3-2 win in the all-French clash in Monaco which provided the most drama as Los Blancos came back from a two goal deficit to edge the first leg. And it was a moment of inspiration from PSG boss Luis Enrique when he hooked Ousmane Dembele on 27 minutes, to replace him with match-winner Desire Doue.
The reigning champions were already 2-0 down at that stage, with the opener coming on just 55 seconds as Monaco turned over possession, broke quickly and Aleksandr Golovin crossed for the unmarked Folarin Balogun to head home. And the former Arsenal man doubled his tally just 15 minutes later when he finished coolly after good work from Maghnes Akliouche.
PSG had a golden chance to halve the deficit on 21 minutes, when Khvicha Kvaratskheia was felled in the penalty area by Wout Faes, but Vitinha’s spot kick was brilliantly saved by Monaco keeper Philipp Kohn.
And at that point Enrique had seen enough.
Dembele, who had been critical of his team-mates following a recent defeat to Rennes, was the man to fall on his sword as he was swapped for the 20 year old Doue, who immediately turned the game around, scoring within two minutes of stepping on to the pitch. And he was instrumental in PSG’s equaliser when his shot was parried by Kohn into the path of Achraf Hakimi who fired home.
Monaco were shell-shocked and things went south for the hosts when Golovin launched a horror challenge on Vitinha and saw red; before Doue rounded off a man-of-the-match performance with a brilliant finish to make it 3-2.
Meanwhile, over in Portugal, Real Madrid beat Jose Mourinho’s Benfica thanks to a moment of brilliance from Vinicius Junior, who scored the only goal of the game shortly after half-time with a curling shot into the far post. The Benfica players were clearly irritated by the Brazilian’s celebratory dance at the corner flag, and they let him know. But Los Blancos were still smiling at the final whistle as they held out for a 1-0 win.
The SBOTOP Champions League 2026 betting odds predict both PSG and Real Madrid will both make the quarter-finals this season, and they both took one step closer on Tuesday night.
Turkish delight as Juventus crumble
Galatasaray will take a three-goal lead to their second leg in Turin next week after launching a sensational fight-back from a half-time deficit against Juventus. Gabriel Sara had given the hosts an early lead before a Teun Koopmeiners’ double put the visitors in charge at the break. Goals from Noa Lang and Davinson Sanchez turned the game on its head again, and then the Old Lady lost a man when half-time substitute Juan Cabal picked up two quick yellow cards.
Galatasaray went for the jugular and a second goal for Lang, followed by a late fifth from Sacha Boey put the hosts firmly in charge. Galatasaray, who finished 20th in the Champions League, pre-knockout phase; now have a great chance to make the last 16.
And to round off Tuesday’s Champions League 2026 results Borussia Dortmund took control of their tie with Atalanta, taking a 2-0 lead to Bergamo thanks to goals from Serhou Guirassy and Max Beier.
On Wednesday, Newcastle United took the limelight with a stunning 6-1 win away to Qarabag as winger Anthony Gordon scored four goals in a devastating first half. Malick Thiaw made it 5-0 by the break and the Magpies were already looking forward to a Round of 16 clash against either Barcelona or Chelsea.
Qarabag did grab a consolation goal when full-back Elvin Cafarquliyev drilled a shot through Nick Pope, though the goal was initially given offside before VAR came to the hosts’ rescue. Jacob Murphy restored Newcastle’s five-goal lead thanks to a deflection and this tie is pretty much over.
But if Newcastle’s efforts were spectacular if not unexpected, there was a real shock in Norway where Bodo Glimt humbled Serie A leaders Inter Milan with a 3-1 first leg victory, thanks to goals from Sondre Fet, Jens Petter Hauge and Kasper Hogh. Elsewhere, Club Brugge fought back from a two-goal deficit to draw 3-3 at home to Atletico Madrid; and there was a comfortable evening for Bayer Leverkusen who won 2-0 away to Olympiacos as Patrik Schick bagged a second-half brace.
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