The presence of six Premier League clubs in the Champions League round of 16 was widely seen as proof of the league’s growing dominance in European football. Yet the first-leg results have quickly dampened that narrative.

Instead of reinforcing English supremacy, the opening matches delivered a sobering reminder that success in Europe is rarely straightforward. Manchester City and Chelsea both suffered heavy defeats, while Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur had already endured disappointing results earlier in the week.

Sobering Champions League matchday for EPL clubs

Even Arsenal, currently leading the Premier League, were pushed to the brink. Mikel Arteta’s side needed a stoppage-time penalty from Kai Havertz to salvage a draw against Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, despite having cruised through the league phase with eight wins from eight matches.

Tottenham’s struggles were particularly stark as they were comfortably beaten by Atletico Madrid. Liverpool also stumbled against Galatasaray, while Newcastle United came agonisingly close to beating Barcelona at St James’ Park before a late penalty denied them a memorable victory.

The Premier League has had a rough time through the first two days of the Champions League knockout round 😬

🤝 Arsenal draw 1-1 after an 89th-minute penalty
❌ Liverpool lose 1-0 to Galatasaray for the second time this season
❌ Manchester City lose 3-0 to UCL rivals Real… pic.twitter.com/Z44RZVBMDg

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 11, 2026

With the second legs still to come, several English teams now face an uphill battle to keep their Champions League hopes alive. Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham must overturn three-goal deficits, a daunting task at this stage of the competition. Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool appear to have the best chance of advancing.

It is worth noting that five of the six Premier League teams played their first legs away from home, which could make the return fixtures slightly more favourable. Still, the early results suggest that English clubs may not have things as easy as the league-stage standings initially indicated.

The revamped Champions League format had seen Premier League teams dominate the table phase, prompting predictions that they could control the knockout rounds as well. But clubs that progressed through the play-offs — including Bodo/Glimt, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Galatasaray — have shown they are more than capable of challenging the English contingent.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who was present at the Bernabeu, believes the talk of English dominance may have been premature.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Robinson said: “We spoke about the England teams and dominance in Europe. Look at how easily they qualified, in the Europa and Conference leagues as well. But in the Champions League, not one English team has won.

“Manchester City were in a better place than Real Madrid. They were injury-ravaged. It looked like an under-23 side with a scattering of experience for Real. But they were clinical and well-coached and hit City on the counter-attack.”

“Unfortunately we couldn’t do it!”

Pep Guardiola reacts after Manchester City’s defeat to Real Madrid 🎙️@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK | @julesbreach pic.twitter.com/25sZ6GrUFU

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 11, 2026

Data analysts have also adjusted their projections following the first-leg results. According to Opta, the chances of all six Premier League clubs reaching the quarter-finals have dropped compared to the probabilities before the round-of-16 matches began.

For now, the idea of Premier League dominance in Europe remains under scrutiny, with the second legs set to determine whether English clubs can restore their standing in the competition.

Even without a host of Galacticos, Real Madrid was far too strong for Manchester City in the latest Champions League clash of these titans.

A 3-0 win at the Bernabeu on Wednesday (March 12, 2026) put Madrid in control of this round-of-16 tie at the halfway mark after a stunning first-half hat trick by Federico Valverde. The Uruguay international took on the responsibility of inspiring the record 15-time champion in the absence of injured stars Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo.

“We are Real Madrid and you should never consider us dead,” Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa told broadcaster Movistar.

The victory could have been even more commanding, but Vinícius Júnior’s casually taken second-half penalty was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain beat Chelsea 5-2 and tiny Bodø/Glimt is also in sight of the quarterfinals after a 3-0 win over Sporting Lisbon.

Arsenal drew 1-1 with Bayer Leverkusen.

Madrid masterclass

By fulltime at a rocking Bernabeu, the only comfort City could cling to was the fact that it could have been so much worse.

When Vinícius stood over the ball on the penalty spot shortly before the hour mark, he looked certain add to the lead. But the Brazil forward skipped in his run-up and hit a weak side-footed effort that Donnarumma pushed away.

It will still take a massive turnaround to see City advance after being outclassed by Madrid.

Valverde’s hat trick featured three outstanding goals. The pick of the lot was his third when he flicked the ball over the head of City defender Marc Guehi before volleying home.

TV cameras caught Bellingham watching in the stadium with his mouth wide open in awe of the move.

City manager Pep Guardiola will likely be worrying that history is set to repeat itself after his team was eliminated at the hands of Madrid in each of the last two seasons.

“Our game was not as bad as this result,” Guardiola said. “I’m not someone to say we are going to turn it round, but we will try.”

PSG takes control against Chelsea

After losing to Chelsea in the final of the Club World Cup last year, PSG got some revenge.

A three-goal advantage after the first leg saw Luis Enrique’s team take a big step toward the last eight.

Chelsea had twice leveled the game, but a mistake by goalkeeper Filip Jørgensen, who gave the ball away on the edge of his box in the 74th minute, allowed Vitinha to lift a shot into the open net.

PSG substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored twice more to leave Chelsea with a mountain to climb back at Stamford Bridge.

“This is our most important moment in the competition,” Luis Enrique said. “We’ll try to play the second leg in the same way as we did today. We’ll try to win the game. That’s the best mentality as if we’re thinking about defending our lead, it could be a big mistake.”

No stopping Bodø/Glimt

Bodø/Glimt’s fairytale run just keeps on going. Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan have been left in the tiny Norwegian club’s wake. Now Sporting Lisbon’s Champions League hopes are hanging by a thread.

Bodø/Glimt — located north of the Arctic Circle and farther north than any team in Champions League history — took full advantage of playing the first leg at home and led 2-0 at halftime through Sondre Fet’s penalty and Ole Blomberg’s goal just before the break.

Kasper Hogh scored in the 71st to put his team on the brink of the next round.

Bodø/Glimt was already the first Norwegian team to the advance to the knockout rounds of the Champions League and could now go even further.

Havertz haunts Leverkusen

Kai Havertz returned to haunt Bayer Leverkusen and seal a late draw for Arsenal.

The Germany international struck an 89th-minute penalty against the team where he started his career and leveled the round-of-16 first leg tie at BayArena.

“I know the stadium well and have taken many penalties from this spot,” said Havertz, who left Leverkusen for Chelsea in a $95 million deal in 2020.

Premier League leading Arsenal fell behind on Robert Andrich’s goal just after halftime. But Malik Tillman fouled Noni Madueke in the box, and Havertz fired low past Janis Blaswich from the spot.

“The time between the penalty whistle and the penalty kick felt like an eternity,” Havertz said. “But in the end, you have to be mentally present in those moments.” Premier League dominance halted After dominating the league phase of this year’s tournament, Premier League teams were brought down to Earth in the round of 16.

All English teams fail to register wins

Man City, Chelsea and Tottenham all fell to heavy defeats, while Liverpool also lost to Galatasaray.

In all, none of England’s six teams in the knockouts won their first leg, with Arsenal and Newcastle both picking up draws.

Arsenal will be favorite to overcome Leverkusen at home and Liverpool only has to overturn a 1-0 deficit in its second leg at Anfield.

But City, Chelsea and Tottenham face big deficits, while Newcastle travels to Camp Nou to play Barcelona.

Published – March 12, 2026 10:44 am IST