5️⃣ things we learned during the first night of UCL Round of 16 action

The Champions League Round of 16 began in earnest this evening as the newly formatted competition presses on.

After the playoff round provided shock exits for European giants Manchester City and Juventus, much of the same could be on the cards across the next two weeks of the competition.

Here are five things we learned across first-leg action tonight.

Unsung heroes show why Real are the kings of Europe

Advantage to Real Madrid after their 2-1 win over bitter rivals Atlétido de Madrid in front of home support at the Bernabeu, with both clubs once again showing just how closely contended this tie was always going to be.

But rather than the biggest names like Kylian Mbappé or Vinícius Júnior coming up with the goods, it was a cadre of unsung heroes that proved decisive for Carlo Ancelotti.

A brilliant goal from Rodrygo set Los Blancos off on the night after he bagged the opener, while Brahim Díaz's goal in the second half stood as the match-winner.

Federico Valverde was instrumental, too, as he continues to deputise brilliantly at right-back while also providing the assist for Rodrygo's early strike.

Even when their stars are not firing on all cylinders, Real Madrid still turns up when it matters most, and that is largely due to just how good they are beyond the names that so often eat up the spotlight.

📸 Daniel Kopatsch - 2025 Getty Images

Arsenal still have goals in them

After knocking out Italian juggernaut Juventus in the Champions League playoff round, PSV Eindhoven was billed as a difficult away day for Arsenal given the club's struggles in the final third.

Stripped of key attacking players while currently residing in a bit of a dry spell in front of goal, Mikel Arteta's men were meant to be up against it when it came to Peter Bosz's free-scoring Boeren.

But that is not how the story unfolded at Philips Stadion tonight, with the Gunners emphatically passing the test to the tune of a 7-1 thrashing.

Three goals in the first half set Arsenal up favourably on the night before a further four goals after the break all but guaranteed their passage into the quarterfinals, while also becoming the first side to ever hit PSV for five goals or more on a European night on their home patch.

The longer Arsenal can stay in the European dogfight, the greater the chance they can be a surprise package once their key figures return to action, and hopefully, the goals will not have dried up once again after tonight.

📸 Justin Setterfield - 2025 Getty Images

Alvarez continues to bloom after Atleti move

Few fans could have blamed Argentine striker Julián Alvarez for swapping the blue half of Manchester for the red and white side of Madrid this summer when he arrived at Atlético de Madrid from Manchester City.

With Erling Haaland still reigning supreme as the undisputed monarch in those parts, the chance to have a more influential role at the Metropolitano under compatriot Diego Simeone was too good to pass up. And, so far, it has proved correct.

Though it took him a little while to truly get underway in the Spanish capital, Alvarez has hit his stride in recent weeks, which he capped off with a goal tonight to keep Atleti in the tie after their narrow 2-1 loss in the first-leg.

It was his sixth goal in his last six appearances for Colchoneros, which also included a brace against Valencia and goals against Barcelona, Athletic Club, and Real Madrid again during their previous Madrid derby last month.

Still just 25, there is surely more to come from him, and often, in pivotal moments.

📸 Denis Doyle - 2025 Getty Images

The real Marco Asensio stood up

Aston Villa may be struggling to keep pace with bigger fish in the Premier League tank, but Unai Emery's men are enjoying themselves on the continent as they put one foot in the quarter finals tonight against Club Brugge.

Once again, Marco Asensio got himself on the scoresheet, dispatching a penalty for Villa's third goal which put them out of sight at Jan Breydel Stadium.

The former PSG and Real Madrid man now sits at five goals in seven appearances since arriving on loan from the French capital, settling into life at Villa Park quickly and immediately becoming a key figure for his new side.

Villa may miss out on Champions League football next season, but his massive uptick in form after falling out of favour in Paris should offer the club enough evidence to make his loan a permanent move in the summer. And, with the possibility of facing PSG in the next round should they get past Liverpool, he could exact plenty of revenge along the way.

📸 NICOLAS TUCAT - AFP or licensors

Adeyemi steps up for troubled Dortmund

Another day, another disappointing performance by German giant Borussia Dortmund after their 1-1 draw against Lille at Signal Iduna Park.

With the Ligue 1 outfit well and truly still in the tie and with a chance to book passage into the quarterfinals next week during the return leg at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Die Schwarzgelben head trainer Niko Kovać has a lot of work ahead of him.

But thankfully for the former Croatian international, German international forward Karim Adeyemi was one bright spot across a difficult period in the Ruhr Valley.

Adeyemi found the back of the net once again for Dortmund during their continental campaign and now sits on five goals in the competition after a hat-trick against Celtic and another goal against Sporting CP during group play, the 23-year-old pounced in the first half to bag a critical goal that still holds considerable weight across the tie.

While more may be expected of him overall given his own patchy form this season, tonight's goalscoring effort could offer a springboard for more.

📸 THOMAS COEX - AFP or licensors