The transition from the sprawling complexity of the league phase to the sharp, unforgiving edge of the UCL playoffs has immediately elevated the intensity of the competition. On night 2, four matches provided a masterclass in varied footballing narratives: a clinical demolition in Azerbaijan, an Arctic ambush in Norway, a six-goal rollercoaster in Belgium, and a historic milestone in Greece. These fixtures have left the bracket in a state of high volatility, with several of Europe’s established powers now facing the very real prospect of an early exit.
1. Qarabag 1-6 Newcastle United
The most lopsided result of the night unfolded at the Tofig Bahramov Republican Stadium, where Newcastle United essentially settled their tie in a single half of football. Anthony Gordon produced a career-defining performance, netting four goals in the first half alone to silence the home crowd. Gordon opened the scoring as early as the third minute, capitalizing on a surge from Dan Burn. He followed this with two clinical penalties and a composed finish after rounding goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski.
The Magpies’ dominance was not just down to individual brilliance; Eddie Howe’s tactical shift, deploying striker Nick Woltemade in a deeper midfield role, completely destabilized Qarabag’s defensive structure. Malick Thiaw added a fifth for the visitors with a powerful header from a Kieran Trippier cross, while Jacob Murphy saw a second-half effort deflected in to complete the rout. Qarabag found a solitary consolation goal through left-back Elvin Cafarquliyev, but the match ended with internal friction for Newcastle, as Gordon and captain Kieran Trippier had to be separated following a dispute over penalty duties. Despite the sideline drama, Newcastle recorded 11 shots on target in the first half alone, leaving Qarabag with a nearly impossible mountain to climb in the return leg.
2. Bodø/Glimt 3-1 Inter Milan
Inter Milan’s aspirations were perhaps frozen in the sub-zero temperatures of Norway, where Bodø/Glimt secured a stunning 3-1 victory that stands as Inter’s heaviest away knockout defeat in the competition since 2009. The Norwegian champions, accustomed to their synthetic pitch and the biting conditions, took the lead through Sondre Fet, who beat Yann Sommer after a tense opening period. Inter briefly clawed their way back when 20-year-old Francesco Pio Esposito equalized, becoming the club’s second-youngest knockout stage scorer behind Obafemi Martins.
However, the Glimt pressure proved relentless. Jens Petter Hauge continued his remarkable European campaign, scoring his fifth goal of the tournament to restore the lead, a joint record for a player at a Norwegian club in a single Champions League season. Kasper Høgh then added a third to cement the victory, marking Bodø/Glimt’s third consecutive win against “Big Five” opposition following their recent triumphs over Manchester City and Atlético Madrid. Inter struggled to maintain structure after the break, leaving Christian Chivu’s side needing a massive turnaround at the San Siro to avoid a premature departure from the tournament.
3. Club Brugge 3-3 Atlético Madrid
In what was undoubtedly the most entertaining fixture for neutral supporters, Club Brugge and Atlético Madrid played out a frantic 3-3 draw in Bruges. Atlético initially appeared to be in total control, leading 2-0 at the interval thanks to an early Julián Álvarez penalty and a close-range finish from January signing Ademola Lookman. The Spanish side’s veteran poise seemed to have effectively neutralized the Belgian crowd, but the second half saw a total shift in momentum.
Raphael Onyedika sparked the comeback for Brugge just three minutes after the restart, firing home a clinical finish. The Jan Breydel Stadium erupted when Nicolo Tresoldi equalized on the hour mark, turning the game into a desperate end-to-end scramble. Drama reached a fever pitch when Brugge defender Joel Ordóñez inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, gifting Atlético a 3-2 lead against the run of play. Yet, the Belgians refused to yield; in the 89th minute, Onyedika turning provider for Greek winger Christos Tzolis who found space on the left and rifled home a superb equalizer to ensure the tie remained perfectly balanced heading into the second leg in Madrid.
4. Olympiacos 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen achieved a significant piece of club history at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, securing their first-ever away win in a Champions League knockout match. After nine previous attempts resulting in seven losses and two draws, Kasper Hjulmand’s side finally broke their traveling curse with a professional and clinical 2-0 victory.
The match was defined by the ruthlessness of Patrik Schick, who joined Michael Ballack as the only player to score a brace for Bayer in a Champions League knockout game. Schick’s first goal provided the vital breakthrough in a hostile atmosphere, and his second ensured that Leverkusen would return to Germany with a comfortable cushion. Olympiacos struggled to penetrate a disciplined Leverkusen backline, failing to record a goal despite their home advantage. For Leverkusen, the result maintains their impressive consistency in European competition, having reached at least the last 16 in each of their last four participations.
These first-leg results have created a fascinating landscape for the return fixtures. While Newcastle appears to have one foot in the next round, the other three ties remain fraught with tension. Inter and Atlético Madrid, in particular, will need to summon their considerable European experience to overcome the spirited challenges of their “underdog” opponents.
