The UEFA Champions League knockout phase delivered a night of intense battles, late drama, and surprise victories as underdogs made their mark in the first-leg fixtures.
With the race to the next round heating up, Feyenoord and Club Brugge secured crucial wins, setting the stage for high-stakes reverse fixtures.
At De Kuip, Brazilian forward Igor Paixão was the hero for Feyenoord, netting a decisive first-half goal that stunned AC Milan.
Despite being favorites, the Rossoneri failed to break through a disciplined Dutch defense, falling to a 1-0 defeat.
With the second leg looming, Milan now faces a must-win scenario at the San Siro to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
Meanwhile, in one of the night’s most dramatic moments, Club Brugge snatched victory from the jaws of a draw against Atalanta.
A late penalty deep into stoppage time, awarded after a controversial foul in the box, gave Gustaf Nilsson the chance to seal the win.
The Swedish striker kept his nerve, converting from the spot to hand Brugge a narrow 1-0 advantage heading into the return leg.
Elsewhere, Bayern Munich edged past Celtic with a 2-1 win in Glasgow, while Benfica claimed a vital away victory over AS Monaco, winning 1-0.
The reverse fixtures are set for February 18, where teams will fight for a place in the next round.
Following these matches, a crucial draw on February 21 will determine the matchups for the Round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals under the new Champions League format.
With everything still to play for, European nights promise more twists and turns in the road to glory.
Written by Covenant Everest
