Champions League playoffs: shock first legs, must‑win second legs

Newcastle’s 6–1 rout at Qarabağ and Leverkusen’s 2–0 away win at Olympiacos put both ties close to settled [1][2].

The tightest battles: PSG‑Monaco and Brugge‑Atlético

PSG’s 3–2 win at Monaco and Brugge’s 3–3 draw with Atlético keep those ties wide open [1][2].

Second‑leg schedule (ET)

• Tue, Feb. 24: Atlético vs Brugge (12:45 p.m.), Leverkusen vs Olympiacos (3:00 p.m.), Inter vs Bodø/Glimt (3:00 p.m.), Newcastle vs Qarabağ (3:00 p.m.) [1]
• Wed, Feb. 25: Dortmund vs Atalanta (12:45 p.m.), Real Madrid vs Benfica (3:00 p.m.), Galatasaray vs Juventus (3:00 p.m.), PSG vs Monaco (3:00 p.m.) [1]

What to watch in the return legs

• Can Juventus and Inter flip the script, or are upsets locked in? [1][2]
• Can Newcastle and Leverkusen manage the game without chaos? [1][2]
• One‑goal drama: PSG‑Monaco and Brugge‑Atlético could swing on a single moment [1][2]

Bottom line

The playoff format is doing its job — forcing big clubs to earn their place and giving outsiders a real path to the round of 16 [1][2].