Champions League Round of 16 Delivers Stunning Upsets as Underdogs Advance

The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first legs concluded with jaw-dropping results that have completely reshaped the tournament landscape, as multiple underdogs delivered stunning performances against heavily favored opponents.

The biggest shock came at the San Siro, where AC Milan suffered a crushing 3-0 defeat to Portuguese side Sporting CP. The Lisbon club, making their first Champions League Round of 16 appearance in over a decade, dominated from start to finish with goals from Viktor Gyokeres, Pedro Goncalves, and Morten Hjulmand silencing the home crowd.

Another seismic upset occurred in Germany, where Bayer Leverkusen, last season's Bundesliga champions, fell 2-1 to Belgian champions Club Brugge. The Belgian side's tactical discipline frustrated Leverkusen throughout, with late goals from Ferran Jutgla and Andreas Skov Olsen turning the tie on its head.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid managed only a 1-1 draw at home against Borussia Dortmund, leaving their qualification hopes hanging by a thread. Dortmund's away goal, courtesy of Karim Adeyemi, gives them a crucial advantage heading into the second leg at Signal Iduna Park.

Not all favorites struggled, however. Manchester City demolished RB Leipzig 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium, with Erling Haaland scoring a hat-trick to put the tie to bed. Paris Saint-Germain also impressed with a commanding 3-1 victory over Napoli in France.

These results have opened up the tournament significantly, with several smaller clubs now just 90 minutes away from the quarterfinals. The return legs promise to be electric as favorites fight to overturn deficits while underdogs seek to complete historic upsets. European football fans are in for a treat when the second legs kick off next week.