Champions League Round of 16 First Legs Deliver Stunning Upsets

The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first-leg matches concluded Thursday evening with a series of stunning upsets that have completely reshaped the tournament landscape. Three underdogs secured crucial victories that put them in commanding positions ahead of next week's return fixtures.

The biggest shock came at the Parc des Princes, where RB Salzburg stunned Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 in front of a capacity crowd. Austrian striker Benjamin Sesko scored twice in the second half to overturn PSG's early lead through Kylian Mbappe. The result marks PSG's worst home European defeat since their infamous 6-1 loss to Barcelona in 2017.

"We knew PSG would start strong, but we believed in our game plan," said Salzburg coach Gerhard Struber after the match. "The players showed incredible character and tactical discipline. But this is only the first step - we must remain humble and focused for the return leg."

In London, Chelsea suffered an equally surprising 3-2 defeat to Portuguese side FC Porto at Stamford Bridge. Despite taking a 2-0 lead through goals from Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson, Chelsea collapsed in the final 30 minutes as Porto scored three unanswered goals to steal victory. The defeat extends Chelsea's inconsistent form under manager Graham Potter.

Real Madrid avoided upset by grinding out a 1-0 victory over AC Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Vinicius Junior's 67th-minute strike providing the difference. However, the narrow margin means Milan remains very much alive for the return fixture at San Siro. Liverpool comfortably defeated Atletico Madrid 3-0 at Anfield, with Mohamed Salah scoring twice to put the Reds in firm control of their tie.

The results have sent shockwaves through European football, with betting odds dramatically shifting for the tournament favorites. PSG's odds of winning the competition have lengthened significantly, while Salzburg has emerged as a surprising dark horse candidate.

Historical data suggests that teams winning first-leg matches away from home advance approximately 75 percent of the time in the Round of 16. However, the narrow margins in several of these fixtures mean that return legs scheduled for February 21-22 could still produce dramatic reversals.

UEFA officials reported record television viewership numbers across Europe, with the PSG-Salzburg match drawing the highest audience of any Champions League fixture this season. The competition continues to grow globally, with broadcast partnerships recently expanded to include new markets in Asia and South America.