Champions League Round of 16 Produces Stunning Upsets

The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg matches concluded with perhaps the most surprising set of results in the competition's recent history. Two of the tournament favorites, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, both suffered unexpected defeats that have completely reshuffled the odds for European football's premier prize.

Manchester City's 3-1 loss to RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium sent shockwaves through the football world. The German club, led by striker Benjamin Sesko's brilliant hat-trick, outplayed Pep Guardiola's side in every aspect of the game. Sesko's first goal came from a perfectly timed run in the 23rd minute, while his second was a stunning 25-yard strike that left Ederson with no chance.

The most dramatic moment came in Paris, where AC Milan secured a remarkable 2-0 victory over PSG at the Parc des Princes. Rafael Leao opened the scoring with a trademark pace-and-power run down the left flank, before veteran striker Olivier Giroud sealed the victory with a header in stoppage time. The result leaves PSG facing elimination unless they can produce a miraculous comeback at San Siro.

Real Madrid continued their impressive European form with a commanding 4-1 victory over Napoli at the Santiago Bernabéu. Jude Bellingham's double helped Los Blancos take a commanding lead into the second leg, while Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo added spectacular goals to delight the home crowd. Carlo Ancelotti praised his team's intensity, noting this was their best performance of the season.

Bayern Munich also impressed with a solid 2-0 win over Arsenal in London. Harry Kane scored his first Champions League goal against English opposition since joining Bayern, while Jamal Musiala's second-half strike gave the German champions a comfortable advantage heading home. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged his team must improve significantly to have any chance of progression.

The results have completely altered the betting markets, with several bookmakers now installing Real Madrid as the new tournament favorites. The second leg matches, scheduled for early March, promise to deliver even more drama as teams fight for their Champions League lives.