The Champions League returns on Tuesday night, and the second leg storylines could hardly be more contrasting. Some ties feel all but settled, others remain finely poised, and a couple look destined for drama. Here’s the full picture heading into a crucial evening across Europe — with Opta’s Predictor adding extra spice to what’s at stake.
Atlético Madrid v Club Brugge (Agg: 3-3)
Few would have predicted this tie to be level heading back to Madrid, yet Brugge’s resilience has turned it into one of the round’s most intriguing matchups. Atlético are usually formidable in two-legged ties when they avoid losing the away first leg — they’ve progressed in nine out of 10 such scenarios, including all four under Diego Simeone.
But history also warns them: they’re winless in their last four against the Belgian side, a run only worse against their city rivals Real Madrid in European competition. Catch all the action live on SuperSport.
Brugge, meanwhile, arrive with confidence quietly simmering. They’ve lost just one of their last seven clashes with Spanish opposition and haven’t tasted defeat in four straight Champions League games against LaLiga sides.
Under Ivan Leko, they’ve steadied into a stubborn, disciplined unit, suffering only one defeat in eight Champions League matches this term — and that was against Arsenal, the league phase leaders.
The Belgians’ youthful spark has been their secret weapon, with 10 goals from players aged 21 and under — a tally only three teams have ever beaten in a single Champions League season. Hans Vanaken remains their heartbeat, leading the team in goal contributions, line breaking passes, and possession won.
Atlético, though, have the firepower to tilt a tense tie back their way. Julián Álvarez is in rare form, directly involved in 27 Champions League goals across his last 33 games, and 15 contributions in his last 16 for Atleti alone.
If the hosts find their rhythm — and crucially, rediscover their ability to break lines (only five such passes in the first leg) — they’ll fancy their chances. But this one feels every bit as finely balanced as the aggregate score suggests.
Newcastle United v Qarabag (Agg: 6-1)
Some second legs are about survival; others are about completing the paperwork. Newcastle’s trip back to St James’ Park firmly belongs in the latter category after a resounding 6–1 win in Azerbaijan — a result that leaves Opta’s Predictor giving them a 100 per cent chance of reaching the last 16.
English clubs have long enjoyed a commanding record over Qarabag, winning nine of their 10 meetings, and the Azerbaijani champions have fared even worse on English soil. They’ve lost all five of their away trips to Premier League sides, conceding 19 goals and scoring just once.
For Newcastle, Tuesday night also presents an opportunity to make a little history. A victory would give them six wins in a single Champions League campaign for the first time, and their 11 game scoring streak in the competition shows no sign of slowing.
Anthony Gordon, already with 10 goals in his debut Champions League season, stands on the brink of joining an elite group. Only Haaland and Van Nistelrooy have scored more for an English club in a single UCL edition.
Qarabag, on the other hand, are staring down an unwanted record. They’ve conceded 27 goals in nine Champions League matches this season — one short of the all time high. With no team in European history ever overturning a five goal first leg deficit, this tie is essentially written.
Bayer Leverkusen v Olympiakos (Agg: 2-0)
Leverkusen travel back to Germany with a strong, though not unbreakable, advantage after their 2-0 win in Greece. History suggests their path should be smooth: teams who lose by two or more goals at home in the first leg almost never recover — only twice in 191 attempts has it been done.
Olympiakos won’t go quietly, though. Their away form has suddenly ignited, with back to back victories over Kairat and Ajax, and they’re now chasing a first ever run of three consecutive away wins in the Champions League.
Their aggressive pressing underpinned their campaign — no team has registered more high intensity pressures or forced more high turnovers — and they produced their second highest pressing output of the season in the first leg.
But Leverkusen’s own numbers are compelling. Kasper Hjulmand boasts the best Champions League win per centage of any manager in the club’s history, while Patrik Schick has transformed under him, scoring four times in seven UCL matches — compared to one goal in 27 before Hjulmand arrived.
Aleix García remains pivotal, ranking second only to Vitinha for line breaking passes in the competition.
A comeback is unlikely — but not impossible. Olympiakos need goals, but equally, they need discipline. Without both, Leverkusen should finish the job.
Inter Milan v Bodø/Glimt (Agg: 1-3)
If there’s one tie capable of producing a shock, it’s this one — and Bodø/Glimt have already delivered the first blow. Their 3-1 first leg win in Milan stunned the San Siro and marked only the second time an Italian side has lost to Norwegian opposition in the Champions League.
Norwegian football hasn’t seen a quarter final contender since the late 80s, but Bodø/Glimt now stand on the brink of history. They’re aiming to become the first team outside Europe’s big five leagues to win four straight Champions League matches against elite league opponents since Ajax’s 1971–72 side — who went on to lift the trophy.
Inter face an uphill battle. They’ve only won a Champions League knockout match by two or more goals six times in their history and have never won a knockout game by three goals — the margin they may ultimately need. Christian Chivu’s early surge as manager has faded too, with four defeats in Inter’s last five European games.
Bodø/Glimt’s confidence stems not only from results but from their fluency. Sondre Fet’s opener in the first leg capped a slick 16 pass move — the longest sequence to result in an Inter concession this season — while Jens Petter Hauge sits on five Champions League goals, equalling the Norwegian record.
Both goalkeepers have been in extraordinary form, with Nikita Haikin and Yann Sommer ranking first and third respectively for goals prevented by xG on target. Inter may also celebrate a personal milestone: Alessandro Bastoni is poised to become the first Italian to reach 50 Champions League starts for the Nerazzurri.
The stage is set for Inter to summon something special — or for Bodø/Glimt to complete one of the great modern upsets.