Champions League: Madrid take 2-1 advantage over Atletico, Arsenal defeat record PSV

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• MADRID — Reigning champions Real Madrid overcame Atletico 2-1 in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie to claim the upper hand in the tie.
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• Rodrygo gave Ancelotti’s side the lead after just four minutes and Julian Alvarez drew level in the 32nd minute. In the second half, Brahim made it 2-1 with a wonderful piece of skill.
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• Madrid raced into an early lead in the tie. After just four minutes, Valverde caught Galan by surprise with a precise pass to Rodrygo, who beat the Atletico defender on the run, cut inside from the right wing and fired home a beautifully struck left-footed strike. Two minutes later, Rodrygo again beat Galan for pace and when he entered the area he was pulled down by the defender, Real Madrid reports.

Also read: Dortmund surrender lead as Lille earn draw in Champions League round of 16 first leg

• In the 22nd minute, Vini Jr. had a shot from the edge of the area that Oblak caught, and on the half-hour mark, Rodrygo had a free-kick that almost beat the keeper. On 32', Atletico equalised when Alvarez's angled drive from the edge of the area flew past Courtois. The two sides went into the break with the score at 1-1.
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• After the restart until the 55th minute, when Brahim’s brilliant piece of skill gave the Whites the lead once again. The forward received the ball inside the area and was surrounded by defenders. He shifted his feet before finding a gap through which he struck a precise right-footed effort past Oblak and into the bottom corner of the goal it was 2-1 to Madrid.
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• Atletico countered, and five minutes later they almost equalised with a cross-shot from Griezmann that Courtois did well to keep out.
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• The quarterfinal berth will be decided on March 12 at the Metropolitano.
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• Champions League: Arsenal scores seven goals to hand PSV record defeat in Eindhoven

• THE HAGUE — Arsenal delivered a historic performance on Wednesday (IST), defeating PSV 7-1 in Eindhoven in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie, and became the first team to score seven goals away from home in a knockout stage match of the competition.
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• The result is Gunners' biggest away win in our European Cup and Champions League history, surpassing the famous 5-1 win against Inter Milan at the San Siro in 2003 as well as the drubbing of Sporting Lisbon back in November, which were our previous best efforts on the road in Europe's premier club competition.
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• When it comes to all European competitions, Arsenal's win in the Netherlands sits third on their all-time biggest away wins, with the 7-0 rout of Standard Liege in the 1993/94 UEFA Cup Winner’s Cup still top of the tree, and is indeed the largest win on our travels in any competition
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• The defeat marked PSV's biggest European loss and matched the heaviest defeat in the club's professional history, equaling a 7-1 loss to GVAV in the Eredivisie in 1958.
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• Arsenal had an early goal from Declan Rice disallowed for offside, while PSV's Ismael Saibari struck the crossbar before the visitors broke the deadlock. Dutch international Jurrien Timber opened the scoring in the 18th minute, heading in a cross from Rice at the far post.
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• Seventeen-year-old Ethan Nwaneri doubled Arsenal's lead with a powerful finish following an assist from Myles Lewis-Skelly. Spanish international Mikel Merino capitalized on defensive chaos to make it 3-0 after just 30 minutes.
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• PSV was handed a lifeline three minutes before halftime when referee Jesus Gil Manzano awarded a penalty after Thomas Partey fouled Luuk de Jong. Noa Lang converted the spot-kick, offering PSV a glimmer of hope.
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• However, Arsenal swiftly dashed PSV's hopes in the second half. Martin Odegaard's solo effort made it 4-1, followed by Leandro Trossard adding a fifth. Odegaard scored again before substitute Riccardo Calafiori completed the rout in the 85th minute.
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• The emphatic win all but guarantees Arsenal's progression to the quarterfinals, where they are set to face the winner of the tie between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
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• For reigning Dutch champions PSV, the heavy defeat added to a challenging season, with the club trailing Eredivisie leaders Ajax by eight points and already eliminated from the Dutch Cup.