Published: March 18, 2026 at 12:57 pm
Real Madrid and Paris St Germain (PSG) comfortably saw off English opponents Manchester City and Chelsea, while Arsenal battled past Leverkusen and Sporting CP mounted a memorable comeback against Bodø/Glimt as the first four teams through to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals were confirmed.
Sporting CP overcome first leg deficit
Scintillating Sporting became just the fifth team in Champions League history to overcome a first-leg deficit of three goals or more as they struck twice in extra time to complete a memorable comeback against Bodø/Glimt. Sporting CP defeated Bodø/Glimt 5-0 (aggregate 5-3)
Trailing 3-0 after last week’s first leg in Norway, the hosts made the breakthrough when Gonçalo Inácio rose to head in a corner. They kept the pressure on in the second half and got their reward when Pedro Gonçalves finished off a brilliant team move before Luis Suárez converted a penalty with 12 minutes remaining.
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In extra-time Maximiliano Araújo quickly fired in to spark delirium and Rafael Nel slammed in a late fifth as Sporting reached the quarter-finals for the first time since the 1982/83 European Cup.
“True champions rise to the occasion. This team’s resilience is unshakeable and boundless. Their resilience and ambition know no bounds, and they proved it today. The team knew exactly what they had to do; the energy was there, and every single player played a vital role. They were completely in sync,” said Sporting manager Rui Borges
“With the fans’ support, I also felt it was going to be a different night. Even if we’d only won 2-0, I’d be standing here feeling incredibly proud of everything. More than any strategy, it has a lot to do with belief, with the determination and intensity we put into the game,” he added.
Francisco Trincão of Sporting CP was adjudged Player of the Match.
Arsenal down Leverkusen
A thunderous effort from Eberechi Eze was the catalyst as Arsenal claimed a quarterfinal spot at Leverkusen’s expense with a 2-0 win on the night. Arsenal defeated 2-0 Leverkusen (aggregate 3-1)
Mikel Arteta’s side dominated much of the first half and the visitors relied on their goalkeeper Janis Blaswich to make a series of good saves from the likes of Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard.
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Eze’s explosive strike on the turn shortly before the break after a smart one-touch passing move finally put the hosts in front, however, and England midfielder Rice stroked in a smooth second to give the Premier League club a deserved 3-1 aggregate success.
Arsenal’s Declan Rice was named the Player of the Match.
PSG fire past Chelsea
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola and Senny Mayulu struck as Paris St Germain cruised through with victory in London. PSG won 3-0 (aggregate 8-2)
Kvaratskhelia, whose late double sealed a 5-2 first-leg win, held off Mamadou Sarr to fire in from inside the box after six minutes. Barcola had scored the opening goal of the tie six days earlier, and the winger added to his tally by curling in clinically to complete a rapid break by the visitors in the 15th minute.
Half-time substitute Mayulu followed suit 17 minutes after the restart with a superb finish for the holders, who will meet Liverpool or Galatasaray in the quarterfinals.
PSG’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was the Player of the Match.
Real Madrid knock out Man City
Los Blancos knocked Manchester City out of the competition for the third campaign running following Vinícius Júnior’s double. Real won 2-1 (aggregate 5-1).
The hosts attempted to overturn the first-leg deficit from the off, but it was the Brazilian international who struck first, coolly converting his spot kick after a Bernardo Silva handball, for which the City captain was dismissed.
The ten men drew level just before the break via Erling Haaland’s close-range effort, but Pep Guardiola’s side could not muster an unlikely comeback, the visiting No7 pouncing in added time by steering in Aurélien Tchouaméni’s inviting delivery.
Vinícius Júnior of Real Madrid was named the Player of the Match.
