MILAN — The impact of a player’s dismissal can often be profound, and AC Milan found this out the hard way when Theo Hernandez received his second yellow card for diving. This incident proved crucial, as it enabled Feyenoord to advance to the Champions League last 16 after holding Milan to a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their playoff match. The tie ended with Feyenoord winning 2-1 on aggregate, leaving the former European champions heartbroken.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich, Club Brugge, and Benfica secured their places in the knockout stage by eliminating Celtic, Atalanta, and Monaco, respectively. Feyenoord started the game strong, with Santiago Giménez netting one of the fastest goals in the competition’s history against his former team within the first minute of play.
After Giménez brought Milan back on level terms, they appeared to be in control, but Hernandez’s 51st-minute expulsion changed the dynamics entirely. Up to that point, Feyenoord had emerged victorious in the first leg, winning 1-0. Once Hernandez received a second yellow card from referee Szymon Marciniak for a dive, Milan’s defense faltered. His first yellow card was issued for retaliating against a Feyenoord player after a foul involving teammate João Félix.
As the game progressed, Hugo Bueno’s cross found Julián Carranza, who headed in Feyenoord’s equalizer at the 73rd minute, securing their advancement in the competition. “We’re really disappointed. Our start was strong, and we scored immediately. For a while, it seemed Feyenoord posed no real challenge,” reflected Giménez on the turning point of the match. “It was unfortunate for Theo; it can happen to anyone in soccer. We deeply respect him and will fully support him.”
Post-match, Feyenoord’s Givairo Read was also sent off following a confrontation after the final whistle. The Dutch team now awaits to find out whether they will face Inter Milan or Arsenal in the next round.
In another matchup, Bayern Munich relied on Alphonso Davies to come through in dramatic fashion. The player made a significant impact by scoring in the fourth minute of stoppage time to secure a 1-1 draw against Celtic. This last-minute goal followed a slew of missed opportunities. After Leon Goretzka’s initial attempt was saved, Davies pounced on the rebound, preventing the need for extra time and ensuring Bayern won 3-2 on aggregate.
Bayern’s next challenge will likely pit them against either Bundesliga rival Bayer Leverkusen or Atlético Madrid.
Atalanta, despite dominating their match against Club Brugge with 29 shots compared to Brugge’s seven, were ultimately ousted from the competition. The visitors schooled Gian Piero Gasperini’s team in efficiency, with the 19-year-old Chemsdine Talbi scoring twice. Ademola Lookman gave Atalanta a glimmer of hope with a goal shortly after halftime, but his missed penalty in the 61st minute dashed their dreams of a comeback. Club Brugge won 3-1 in Bergamo, thus eliminating Atalanta with a 5-2 aggregate score.
Lastly, Benfica managed to edge past Monaco with a thrilling 3-3 draw in Lisbon, allowing the Portuguese side to move forward with a 4-3 aggregate victory. As the thrilling playoff rounds conclude, the last 16 draw is scheduled for Friday.
