Seven goal thrashing helps Arsenal complete competition first; own goal puts Aston Villa ahead in first leg
Arsenal and Real Madrid have stormed one step closer to cementing their spot in the finals in a thrilling opening leg of the Champions League round of 16.
Mikela Arteta's men got off a shaky start and Jurrien Timber scored against the run of play with a header at the far post, just after PSV hit the woodwork.
The London team never looked back after that and led 3-0 at the half-hour mark as PSV defenders struggled to gain possession of the ball.
READ MORE: 'Disgusting': Wife takes aim at NRL's relocation decision
READ MORE: Aussies knocked out of Trophy hunt amid India controversy
READ MORE: Vegas hero's contract admission will have rivals circling
Seventeen-year-old Ethan Nwaneri doubled the lead in the 21st after his teammates combined well in the area to set him up.
Mikel Merino then made the most of the confusion in the box to make it 3-0 after PSV repeatedly failed to clear the ball.
Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal FC celebrates after scoring his teams seventh goal. Getty
A silly foul from Thomas Partey on Luuk de Jong in the box gave PSV some hope before halftime and Noa Lang converted. But PSV crumbled once back from the locker room.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard scored twice, with Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori adding more lustre to the win.
The result marked the first time in history of the competition that a team had scored seven goals against their opposition in the knockout phase.
It was also the second time the Gunners had ever scored seven goals in the competition.
Watch every match of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, streaming ad free, live and on demand on Stan Sport
Rodrygo of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his team's first goal. DeFodi Images via Getty Images
A superb goal from Brahim Diaz helped Real Madrid maintain its dominance of the Madrid derby on Europe's biggest stage with a 2-1 victory over bitter rival Atletico.
A tense encounter in the Spanish capital was decided by a moment of individual brilliance.
Diaz scored the winner for Real Madrid after squeezing past a couple of Atletico players and curling a low strike into the far corner in the 55th minute.
Diego Simeone's team could not change the script after losing its finals to Madrid in 2014 and 2016.
They were also eliminated in their previous two match-ups in the knockout rounds - played in the 2015 quarter-finals and 2017 semi-finals.
Playing at home at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, Real Madrid took the lead on its first chance through a great goal from Rodrygo.
After being picked up down the flank he cut inside the box, was too fast for defenders and beautifully curled the ball into the back of the net.
Atletico patiently waited for an opportunity and it came in the 32nd minute as Julian Alvarez found the back of the net with a spectacular strike.
The forward collected the ball down the left, cut inside the box and curled the ball past Thibaut Courtois for his seventh goal in the tournament this season.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa shook off their poor away form, with assistance from a rival own goal, to defeat Club Brugge 3-1.
A turning point came in the 82nd minute when Club Brugge defender Brandon Mechele beat his own goalkeeper with the teams tied 1-1.
Mechele slid to stop a cross from Morgan Rogers, only to deflect into the back of the net.
Before that, the Belgian side had looked solid, enjoyed most of the possession and created the best chances in the second half.
Looking demoralised, the hosts then conceded a late penalty that was converted by substitute Marco Asensio.
Villa had suffered two away defeats in the group phase of the tournament, including one at Club Brugge. In the Premier League, the team has lost seven of 13 away matches.
