The first-leg playoff matches in the Champions League saw Bayern Munich, Feyenoord, and Benfica claim crucial victories. While Bayern edged past Celtic, Feyenoord stunned AC Milan, and Benfica overcame Monaco in a hard-fought battle.
Bayern Munich Claims 2-1 Away Win Against Celtic
Bayern Munich took a big step toward the Round of 16 with a 2-1 victory over Celtic in Glasgow. Michael Olise opened the scoring just before halftime in the 45th minute, giving the German side the lead.
Harry Kane doubled Bayern’s advantage in the 49th minute, strengthening their grip on the match. Celtic fought back and appealed for a penalty in the 56th minute, but VAR ruled against them. Daizen Maeda finally pulled one back in the 78th minute, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.
Celtic now needs a two-goal victory in the second leg to keep their Champions League hopes alive, while Bayern is in a commanding position.
| Statistic | Home (Celtic) | Away (Bayern) |
|---|---|---|
| Possession % | 43.1% | 56.9% |
| Total Shots | 9 | 10 |
| On Target | 2 | 5 |
| Blocked | 4 | 2 |
| Passing % | 87.7% | 91.1% |
| Corners | 7 | 7 |
| Offsides | 1 | 4 |
| Saves | 3 | 1 |
| Fouls Won | 3 | 4 |
| Yellow Cards | 0 | 0 |
Early Strike Gives Feyenoord a 1-0 Win Over AC Milan
Feyenoord grabbed a vital home victory against AC Milan, winning 1-0 thanks to an early goal from Igor Paixão. The Dutch side took the lead in just the third minute and defended resolutely for the rest of the match.
Milan pushed for an equalizer but struggled to break through Feyenoord’s defensive setup. They will now look to turn things around at home in the second leg.
| Statistic | Feyenoord | AC Milan |
|---|---|---|
| Possession % | 50% | 50% |
| Total Attempts | 11 | 12 |
| Attacks | 32 | 50 |
| Corners Taken | 5 | 6 |
| Passing Accuracy % | 79% | 85% |
| Offsides | 4 | 5 |
| Saves | 0 | 6 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 1 |
Benfica Seals 1-0 Victory Over Monaco in Tight Contest
Benfica secured a narrow 1-0 win over Monaco in a closely contested first-leg encounter. The decisive moment came in the 48th minute when Pavlidis found the net, giving the Portuguese side the lead.
Monaco’s challenge became even harder when Al-Musrati received his second yellow card in the 52nd minute, reducing them to 10 men. Despite being a man down, Monaco put up a fight but couldn’t find an equalizer.
With the second leg approaching, Benfica will look to finish the job away from home, while Monaco aims for a comeback to stay in the tournament.
| Statistic | Home (Monaco) | Away (Benfica) |
|---|---|---|
| Possession % | 45% | 55% |
| Total Attempts | 6 | 23 |
| Attacks | 32 | 59 |
| Corners Taken | 2 | 7 |
| Passing Accuracy % | 75% | 83% |
| Offsides | 0 | 3 |
| Saves | 5 | 3 |
| Yellow Cards | 4 | 2 |
| Red Cards | 1 | 0 |
The return-leg matches will take place next week, where teams will battle for a spot in the Champions League Round of 16.
