"Well, the first legs of the UEFA Champions League knockout playoffs are in the books, and we have a lot to review! From Real Madrid narrowly winning at Benfica (led by former Real boss Jose Mourinho), to Bodo/Glimt stunning Internazionale in the Arctic Circle and even holders Paris Saint-Germain rallying from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at fellow Ligue 1 side AS Monaco, we've seen it all. Oh, and how about Galatasaray scoring five against Juventus and Newcastle United hitting six at FK Qarabag?"
"This time last year, Les Parisiens were in the middle of beating Brest 10-0 on aggregate in the Champions League playoffs. They began to hum, striking fear into the watching world in the process. A year on, things feel so different that Ousmane Dembélé recently called out his teammates by suggesting they were putting themselves ahead of the club, rather than the club first (like last season)."
The UEFA Champions League first legs produced several surprise results and high-scoring ties, including Real Madrid edging Benfica and Bodø/Glimt stunning Internazionale. Paris Saint-Germain rallied from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Monaco despite apparent incoherence and injury issues. Galatasaray scored five against Juventus and Newcastle United netted six at FK Qarabag, underscoring unpredictable knockout action. Short turnaround after a deep Club World Cup run has left some squads physically and psychologically strained. Ousmane Dembélé publicly questioned teammates for prioritizing themselves over the club, signaling internal tensions at Paris Saint-Germain.
Read at ESPN.com
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