Champions League review: Brugge rise as Italians and Americans stumble

The Guardian

20-02-2025

Feyenoord
These are high times for Dutch football, though the country's traditional power, Ajax, can only watch from the Europa League as Feyenoord and PSV downed Italian giants. At the San Siro, Feyenoord were able to ride out their former star Santiago Giménez scoring an opening-minute goal and performing a non-celebration celebration. Pascal Bosschaart continues as Feyenoord's caretaker manager but whatever happens, he'll always have Milan, and this tactical triumph. Eighteen-year-old Zépiqueno Redmond led the attack and was replaced by Julián Carranza, who would score the crucial equaliser. It ended 1-1 on the night and Feyenoord went through 2-1 on aggregate; they will face either Inter or Arsenal when Friday's draw is made.
Club Brugge
If Belgium's golden generation of emigres is fading, the resurgence of the country's club game has been most welcome. The 1978 European Cup finalists have a proud history and fervent support. But they are the smallest team left in the draw, although they are fully deserving of their place after beating the reigning Europa League champions, Atalanta. Bergamo was supposed to be where Brugge's dream died. Simon Mignolet, once of Liverpool, saved a penalty but the Belgians' were already 5-2 up in the tie. Brugge's first win in Italy since 2003 was achieved thanks to a mix of veterans and players who may help form the next Belgian generation of stars. Swiss midfielder Ardon Jashari was outstanding too.
Benfica
Another big name from the competition's days as the European Cup, Benfica rode out the storm against a dangerous, determined Monaco. Vangelis Pavlidis notched his seventh goal in the competition this season from the penalty spot having set up Kerem Aktürkoğlu for the opening goal. With the tie level, Orkun Kökçü's control and finish came to the rescue, as he charged in from midfield to score the winner in a tie that ended 4-3 on aggregate. He twanged a hamstring, too in the process of celebrating. Bruno Lage's team have the toughest possible draw in the next round – either Barcelona or Liverpool await – but in Pavlidis and their attacking play, they can be a threat to both teams.
Manchester City
'Nothing is eternal,' said Pep Guardiola, though he had perhaps forgotten Real Madrid's stranglehold on this competition, and their continuing ability to wound him. 'We have been extraordinarily extraordinary in the past, but not any more,' he continued but in such a sound defeat, one preluded by City's manager claiming his team had just a '1%' chance of progressing, there must be disappointment. If this is the end of the cycle, then the Abu Dhabi-Catalan partnership yielded just one Champions League title, when many more were possible. This was a meek surrender unrecognisable from much of City's Guardiola era. Now he must decide whether he gets to lead the club's next cycle.
Milan
A disastrous week for Serie A. Inter are the last men standing after Milan, Atalanta and Juventus crashed out to teams from far less wealthy leagues. Theo Hernández's red card for two bookable offences, the second a speculative dive that was correctly ruled as simulation, turned Milan's tie with Feyenoord in the Dutch team's favour. After Giménez scored early, Milan's four-man attack faded, with Rafael Leão and João Félix giving enigmatic performances and Christian Pulisic well short of his usual drive. Sérgio Conceição threw everything at the Rotterdam team, taking off both Pulisic and Yunus Musah in search of an answer, but Milan's attacking was substandard. 'It's a big defeat for me,' said the Milan coach. 'I am responsible for this defeat. We should have been better on a mental level.'
Juventus
If this week was bad for Serie A, a real battering to their coefficient chance of having five participants in next season's group stage, it was almost as bad for the US contingent. Celtic's Cameron Carter-Vickers joined the throng after Bayern Munich's last-minute equaliser settled the tie in the Germans' favour. Timothy Weah was on the scoresheet for Juventus in Eindhoven, his goal thumped from the edge of the box, but PSV struck back quickly and eventually progressed thanks to a winner from Ryan Flamingo. Weah and Weston McKennie exited. PSV's Richy Ledezma, with just one cap for the USMNT, could celebrate, while his teammates and compatriots, Sergiño Dest, Ricardo Pepi and Malik Tillman, all absent through injury.
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Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid
Who doubted that Mbappé could succeed at Real? Those who did perhaps forgot the depth of his talent and self-belief. Sure, Manchester City's defence could hardly have been more accommodating, but he grabbed the occasion with both hands. Credit Carlo Ancelotti, ever the arch strategist, who has found a way to assimilate Mbappé and still get full use of Rodrygo and Vinícius Júnior. How? An old-style 4-4-2, with Jude Bellingham off the left. 'I wanted to define an era, to make history at Real Madrid,' Mbappé said afterwards, and the first target is winning the Champions League.
Julián Carranza, Feyenoord
Carranza was tasked with succeeding Giménez at De Kuip. A bout of illness meant he was not fit enough to start the second leg at San Siro, but he eventually had his say as a substitute. Once of Inter Miami and Philadelphia Union, he was bought with the knowledge that Giménez would be sold. His first ever Champions League goal knocked out Giménez's new club – a decent start, then, towards replacing the Mexican. Following a beauty of a cross from the on-loan Wolves defender Hugo Bueno, Carranza's goal was right out of the Giménez playbook.
Chemsdine Talbi, Club Brugge
The 19-year-old grabbed two goals to end Atalanta's hopes, becoming the youngest Belgian to score in the Champions League knockouts. Though, being a dual national, he may still declare for Morocco, who host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2026. If elite-clubs already know all about Talbi, his command of the tie with Atalanta will have only raised interest. He's confident, too. 'I am not surprised how well we played,' he said. 'We know what we can do.' Lille or Aston Villa will get the chance in the next round to see his talents at close hand.