Sports news from RIA Novosti shares the excitement surrounding the commencement of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 for the 2025/26 season. Fortunately, there was plenty for supporters to cheer about! The matches proved to be thrilling, and Tuesday certainly delivered a slate rich in unexpected outcomes.
The Biggest Shocker of the Matchday
…unfolded in Istanbul. Turkish side Galatasaray can be spectacularly good when playing on their home turf. This European campaign saw the national champions sensationally thrash Juventus 5-2 at home, ultimately advancing through the playoff round despite a near-disaster in the return leg in Turin.
Today, Victor Osimhen and his teammates once again delighted the Istanbul faithful, this time overcoming a Liverpool side that is going through a rough patch but remains a formidable opponent. The scoring was opened as early as the seventh minute, thanks to the sharp reaction of Mario Lemina following a corner kick—not enough time remained for the Reds, and for Mohamed Salah, who set a new record for Liverpool appearances in the Champions League, to salvage a draw and enter the return fixture in England on equal footing. Incidentally, goals by Osimhen and the visitors’ captain Virgil van Dijk were disallowed by the referee after VAR review.
Interestingly, Galatasaray defeated Liverpool at home with the exact same scoreline during the group stage of the prestigious tournament this past autumn.
Galatasaray players | © Club Social Media
But Another Favorite Squeaked By
Barcelona fought evenly against Newcastle in England until the 85th minute. Newcastle had already lost 2-1 on their home ground to the Catalans back in September. However, in the final moments, they conceded to Harvey Barnes—it seemed all over… But deep into first-half stoppage time, the Magpies fouled inside their own box, and Lamine Yamal converted the penalty.
A 1-1 draw, given the match’s trajectory, will certainly please the Catalans. It will be somewhat easier for the Blaugrana at home next week, which is more than can be said for the dejected English side.
Barcelona players | © Photo from social media
Bayern Crushed Atalanta Swiftly
That was brutal! Though, what else is expected from the German powerhouse: when they dominate, they take no prisoners and leave no hope. Josip Stanišić, Michael Olise (a brace), Serge Gnabry, Nicolas Jackson, and Jamal Musiala netted six goals away from home (!) against the Bergamo side, turning the return leg in Munich into a mere formality… Oh right, Mario Pašalić scored a consolation goal in added time. But what difference does that make?
Even the absence of their injured captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, and Harry Kane who remained on the bench, couldn’t save Atalanta.
Bayern Munich players | © Photo from social media
No Intrigue in the Other Tie Either
A poor Tottenham side, visibly declining, visited Madrid and conceded four goals… by the 22nd minute! Marcos Llorente, Antoine Griezmann, Julián Álvarez, and Robin Le Normand showed no mercy to the Londoners. The battered Spurs managed to pull one back before the break (Pedro Porro salvaged some pride), and another afterwards (thanks to Dominic Solanke), but in between those goals against the Madrid side, World Champion Álvarez scored his second, crushing the visitors’ hopes for a comeback in London—final score 5-2.
The main anti-hero of the match was Spurs goalkeeper Antonín Kinský, who let in three goals within the first 15 minutes. While the keeper bore no fault for the second goal (a defender slipped), the first and third were clear errors by the Czech player. Such collapses in the Champions League are historic, especially considering this was the first CL encounter for the 22-year-old son of the Euro 2004 bronze medalist Antonín Kinský, who played for Saturn Ramenskoye from 2004 to 2010. Not only a knockout defeat, but a humiliating substitution with his exit to the tunnel area.
A scene from the Champions League match between Atlético and Tottenham | © Foreign Social Media
Safonov and Real Await Home Clashes
Here are the matchups scheduled for Wednesday in the Champions League:
Bayer Leverkusen (Germany) vs. Arsenal (England);
Paris Saint-Germain (France) vs. Chelsea (England);
Real Madrid (Spain) vs. Manchester City (England);
Bodø/Glimt (Norway) vs. Sporting CP (Portugal).
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