Four Teams Secure Champions League Last-16 Berths

Champions League Playoff Second Legs Conclude

According to Главком: The second legs of the Champions League playoff round on February 24th determined the first four teams to advance to the tournament's last 16. Atlético Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Bodø/Glimt, and Newcastle United all booked their places in the knockout stage. The Champions League playoff round is the final hurdle for clubs to reach the competition's main group stage.

Match Results and Scorers

• Atlético Madrid vs. Club Brugge

  Atlético secured a commanding 4-1 victory on the night, winning 7-4 on aggregate. The scorers for Atlético were:

  • Alexander Sørloth (23, 76, 87 minutes)
  • Johnny Cardoso (48 minutes)

  Club Brugge's sole goal was scored by Ordóñez in the 36th minute.

• Bayer Leverkusen vs. Olympiacos

  The match ended in a 0-0 draw, with the German side progressing 2-0 on aggregate.

• Inter vs. Bodø/Glimt

  The Norwegian club won the second leg 2-1, sealing a 5-2 aggregate victory. The goal for Inter was scored by:

  • Alessandro Bastoni (76 minutes)

  Scorers for Bodø/Glimt were:

  • Jens Petter Hauge (58 minutes)
  • Evjen (72 minutes)

• Newcastle United vs. Qarabağ

  Newcastle won the match 3-2, completing a dominant 9-3 aggregate win. Goals for Newcastle were scored by:

  • Sandro Tonali (4 minutes)
  • Joelinton (6 minutes)
  • Sven Botman (52 minutes)

  Qarabağ's goals came from:

  • Camilo Durán (51 minutes)
  • Jafarguliyev (57 minutes)

  The match also saw Oleksiy Kashchuk make his first European appearance in three matches, coming on in the 69th minute.

The draw for the next round has set up some tantalizing potential matchups. Atlético Madrid will face either Tottenham or Liverpool, Bayer Leverkusen will meet Bayern Munich or Arsenal, Bodø/Glimt are set to play Manchester City or Sporting CP, and Newcastle United will take on Chelsea or Barcelona. The remaining four playoff second legs will be played on February 25th. The first legs of the last 16 for these qualifiers are scheduled for March 10-11.

These four teams demonstrated convincing form in their decisive second legs, with Atlético and Newcastle, in particular, posting emphatic victories. The upcoming matches promise high tension and intrigue, as none of the favored opponents will make advancement easy. Successfully navigating this final playoff hurdle is a crucial step for any team with ambitions of a deep run in Europe's premier club competition.