What Happened
Holders Paris St-Germain secured their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League by defeating 10-man Monaco. The match saw Monaco initially take the lead with a goal from Maghnes Akliouche just before half-time. However, the game shifted when Mamadou Coulibaly was sent off for a second yellow card shortly after the hour mark. PSG equalized through Marquinhos and later sealed their victory with a goal from Kvaratskhelia.
In another match, Real Madrid also advanced by overcoming Benfica at the Bernabeu. Vinicius Jr scored the decisive goal, ensuring a 3-1 aggregate victory. Benfica had taken an early lead, but Real Madrid quickly responded with a goal from Aurelien Tchouameni.
Why It Matters
These results are significant as they confirm the advancement of two of the tournament’s top teams into the knockout stage. PSG will face either Chelsea or Barcelona in the next round, while Real Madrid will look forward to a matchup against Manchester City or another opponent yet to be determined.
What’s Next
The draw for the knockout stage will take place on Friday at 11:00 GMT, streamed live on UEFA.com and other platforms. Teams will be paired based on their league phase positions, and there is potential for exciting matchups, especially with the possibility of facing familiar opponents.