English clubs were riding high in Europe heading into this week’s last-16 showdowns, so what has gone wrong after a chastening few days that have seen no team claim a first-leg win?
There were mutterings on the continent of the supposed dangers of the dominance of the Premier League after they saw nine sides progress to the last 16 of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference Leagues, more than anyone else in Europe.
However, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Chelsea all suffered damaging three-goal defeats on the road, Premier League champions Liverpool lost at Galatasaray, while Newcastle United and Arsenal only managed draws with just six goals scored and 16 conceded as no English side recorded a first-leg last-16 win in six European ties for the first time since 2022-23.
Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace do all have the chance to change that stat when they are in action in the Europa and Conference League on Thursday night, while England still remain top of UEFA’s season association coefficients table.
Former Spurs and Man City midfielder Michael Brown said the last two days has been “a massive blow to English football. We’ve had a reality check” on Soccer Special – so why have the cream of the Premier League struggled so much?
It’s a massive blow to English football. We’ve had a reality check.
Michael Brown on Soccer Special
Arsenal sluggish again as Havertz rescues Gunners
Robert Andrich celebrates after scoring against Arsenal
Kai Havertz’s late penalty, converted at the home of his boyhood club, may come to be seen as crucial in Arsenal’s tie with Bayer Leverkusen. The draw puts the Gunners in a strong position to advance from next week’s second leg at the Emirates Stadium.
But the performance preceding the equaliser was another which had Arsenal fans pining for more fluidity and creativity. Mikel Arteta’s side struggled to turn possession into chances, mustering only six shots, by far their lowest total in Europe this season.
Noni Madueke added some much-needed attacking threat from the bench. Arteta was grateful to have him. “To have a player with that ability when you need him, and to step in in the manner that he did, big credit to him,” said the manager. But few others shone.
It might be that the collective sluggishness of their performances simply doesn’t matter. They are after grinding out results at a crucial point in the season, unbeaten in 12 games, alive on four fronts. Defensively, they continue to look a cut above the rest.
Arsenal fans will just hope their side can find a little more fluency and cutting edge, and take some of the stress out of a season which has become a slog rather than a sprint.
Nick Wright
Deja vu for Liverpool as familiar failings strike in Istanbul
Galatasaray’s Mario Lemina, left, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match between Galatasaray and Liverpool, in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Liverpool arrived in Istanbul for their first-leg last-16 showdown as strong favourites to progress to the quarter-finals, with Opta giving Arne Slot’s side an 82.3 per cent chance of making the last eight.
The Premier League champions, who finished third in the league phase, were able to field a near full-strength lineup at the Turk Telekom Arena, but for the second time already this season struggled to impose their game on Galatasaray.
Another familiar failing cost the visitors as Mario Lemina was left unmarked from a corner to head home the early winner and despite 15 attempts at goal, including a disallowed second-half effort, the misfiring Reds left the Turkish capital goalless and empty-handed.
Liverpool are still given a 51.4% chance of making the quarters by Opta, but their lethargy by the banks of the Bosporus shows that just because an English team performed well in the league phase offers no guarantees of success come the knockouts.
Rich Morgan
Newcastle miss huge opportunity as inexperience punished
Lamine Yamal levels for Barcelona from the penalty spot
It’s still all to play for in Barcelona for Newcastle, but Tuesday night will go down in history as a major missed opportunity for Eddie Howe’s side.
The Magpies had more shots, more efforts on targets and a higher xG from open play before Lamine Yamal scored a late penalty that earned Barcelona a fortuitous lifeline.
Despite the level score, when Newcastle travel to Barcelona next week, though, they will be major underdogs and they have themselves to blame.
Howe’s side were taught a harsh lesson. For all their positive play, the moment at which Newcastle should have turned the pursuit for a second into stewardship of their goal advantage was missed.
Instead, Newcastle were frantic in the last minute, hoofing balls forward and failing to compose themselves as they sprinted towards the final whistle.
Dan Burn was told by Howe to go up for a late free-kick opportunity, while second-half sub Anthony Gordon, who may have been better suited to start given the fact that despite illness played 30 minutes, added an unnecessary pace to the game that Newcastle needed to control.
In many ways, Malick Thiaw’s clumsy challenge on Dani Olmo symbolised Newcastle’s erratic behaviour towards the end of play. Rather than standing up his man, the eagerness to ‘get rid’ overcame Thiaw who gave away the penalty.
There was much positive to take from Newcastle’s display, but a home advantage against last season’s semifinalists wasn’t fully taken advantage of.
Will Bitibiri
Yet another calamitous night for Spurs
Igor Tudor looks on as his Tottenham team are beaten by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League
Where do you start with Tottenham?
The 5-2 defeat at Atletico Madrid was shambolic, to say the least, with defender Micky van de Ven saying his side were in a “doomsday scenario” after conceding three goals in 17 minutes before goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who was brought in to replace Guglielmo Vicario, was substituted.
“Everything that could go wrong went wrong,” Van de Ven told Dutch broadcaster Ziggo Sport. “For 15 minutes we just conceded goals that you really can’t do anything about.”
The game was done and dusted inside those calamitous 17 minutes and it was a fourth straight defeat for interim boss Igor Tudor, whose position is now under intense scrutiny despite only being appointed on February 14.
So, where do Spurs go from here after losing a sixth straight game in all competitions for the first time in the club’s history?
While Tudor looks set to take charge against Liverpool at the weekend, it remains to be seen whether he will still be in charge for the return leg against Atletico next week in north London.
With any hopes of Champions League progress in ruins, focus will now and should ultimately turn to avoiding an unthinkable relegation from the Premier League.
Oli Yew
Pep’s attacking gamble backfires in Madrid
Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde celebrates after scoring his third goal against Manchester City in the Champions League
It’s not the first time Pep Guardiola has gambled tactically in a big game, and this one went horribly wrong in the Bernabeu for Man City.
Going into the game, the Premier League side were heavy favourites against Real side missing several players, including top scorer Kylian Mbappe and England midfielder Jude Bellingham.
Did that play into Guardiola’s thinking with his ambitious attacking line-up? Did he think he could win this tie in the first leg with a team featuring Erling Haaland, Antoine Semenyo, Jeremy Doku and Savinho?
What followed was a disaster for City as Real Madrid picked them apart with ease, Federico Valverde the beneficiary as his stunning first-half hat-trick put Guardiola’s men on the brink of Champions League elimination.
“Man City didn’t have the answers to Real Madrid,” former Man City midfielder Michael Brown said on Soccer Special. “Pep will be asked questions as to why he went so adventurous.
“With Real Madrid missing so many players, did he just think he would go for it because it was their best opportunity? But to come away with a defeat like that, it was a disappointing night for City, and they now have a massive task to turn the tie around.”
Just four teams from 51 have qualified for the next round of a Champions League knockout game when losing the first leg by three or more goals. It’s not just a massive task, it’s a monumental task for City to turn the tie around, especially against the 15-time Champions League winners.
Oli Yew
Rosenior goalkeeper tinkering costs Chelsea
Vitinha capitalised on Filip’s Jorgensen’s mistake to put PSG 3-2 up against Chelsea
Gambling with your goalkeeper has enough proof of concept now across the last few seasons to conclude it may be worth more risk than it’s worth.
A goalkeeping stable competing, unsure who is No 1, has proved to have implications on confidence.
Rosenior is the latest to test the limits of the theory and at Paris Saint-Germain, the Champions of Europe, his decision backfired, resulting in a 5-2 drubbing.
In a midweek where goalkeeper changes were already under scrutiny, Filip Jorgensen came in for Robert Sanchez in what was one of Chelsea’s more important games of the season. After impressing against Aston Villa last week, however, the decision raised fewer eyebrows, especially given Sanchez’s form.
However, holding your nerve on the big stage is a real talent that takes time to cultivate. Jorgensen’s howler cost Chelsea. His lax pass out of the back resulted in PSG taking a 3-2 lead.
All last season’s treble winners needed was an inch and they took a mile, creating a mountain for Rosenior’s side to climb in the second leg.
Will Bitibiri
