Running analysis from Champions League knockout playoffs

The Champions League is underway again with the knockout playoffs, and we're breaking down all the action. Read our key takeaways from Tuesday's first-leg matches below, and check back in for more analysis after today's games.

👉 Jump to: Benfica-Real Madrid | Monaco-PSG | Dortmund-Atalanta

Yilmaz torments Juve

There were plenty of flowers to go around after Galatasaray used a rousing second-half onslaught to dismantle Juventus 5-2 and all but seal a place in the round of 16. Gabriel Sara, who scored the opening goal and created another, ran the show in midfield; Noa Lang notched a brace; Victor Osimhen put Juve's backline under constant pressure with his relentless running and aerial presence.

But Baris Yilmaz deserves special praise.

The Turkish winger terrorized Andrea Cambiaso and his halftime replacement, Juan Cabal, every time he touched the ball. Cambiaso, booked for an early foul on Yilmaz, was lucky to avoid a second yellow for another infraction involving the 25-year-old and was promptly hooked at the interval. No matter for Yilmaz, who ran circles around Cabal all the same.

He drew two fouls on the Colombian in quick succession, the first of which led to Galatasaray's third goal from the ensuing free-kick. Then he got Cabal sent off in the 67th minute after another piece of tight control and change of direction bamboozled the substitute and ended his disastrous outing in short order. Officially, Yilmaz was only credited with one successful dribble, but he was unstoppable all game.

Juve crumble with 10 men

What a difference a few days can make. Juventus have now been reduced to 10 men in each of their last two matches, but their response to those respective setbacks couldn't have been more different. Luciano Spalletti's team, on the wrong end of a wildly controversial sending off against rivals Inter Milan on Saturday, fought valiantly, defended resolutely, and even managed to create chances in that eventual 3-2 loss in Serie A.

This time around, though, the club capitulated when Cabal was shown red. Galatasaray, spurred on by a vociferous home crowd, attempted to smother Juve all match with their high pressing and intensity, while the Italian side wilted under the weight and incessant nature of that pressure in the second half.

Juve actually went into the interval holding a 2-1 lead. But they fell apart during a dismal second stanza that included unforced errors - Khephren Thuram and Lloyd Kelly gifted Lang his second goal in absurd fashion - and a total absence of the self-belief displayed at the San Siro. Down 3-2 and playing with 10 men, Juve couldn't keep the match close to give themselves a fighting chance going into the second leg next week. Spalletti knows it, too, saying afterward that his team "lacked personality and character."

Barring an epic comeback, Juve's involvement in this season's Champions League is over. They've now conceded a ghastly 13 goals in their last four matches across all competitions. Unless Spalletti can rectify the suddenly porous defense - which will be much more difficult if the injury to star center-back Gleison Bremer proves serious - it may be at least another year before they're back in this tournament.

Vini rises above the hate

Late in the second half, Nicolas Otamendi pointed to tattoos of the World Cup, Copa America, and Finalissima trophies - three international competitions that Vinicius Junior hasn't won - on his chest. In response, Vini laughed off the Argentine defender's wind-up antics.

It was yet another example of admirable restraint, bravery, and even humor during a testing evening for the Brazilian. Vinicius can deliberately antagonize opponents, and his dancing celebration in front of the locals after his wonderful strike clearly riled up Benfica fans. But the way he reported alleged racial abuse from Gianluca Prestianni to the referee before going to the dugout, and therefore away from the heated exchanges that followed, was commendable.

Sadly, abhorrent abuse is something he's familiar with from his experiences playing in Spain. It's obviously not something he (or anyone else) should ever have to deal with.

Vinicius did well to remain disciplined after the game's miserable talking point, battling through missiles thrown from the stands and a fusillade of insults - some presumably more insufferable than those uttered by Otamendi - to emerge as a match-winner. Benfica should face serious disciplinary action following the encounter.

Mourinho fails his players

Benfica rode their luck at times in the first half. Kylian Mbappe missed a huge chance following an excellent Vinicius backheel. The hosts blocked three shots from the 44th minute until the halftime whistle, including Anatoliy Trubin excellently flicking Arda Guler's shot past the post for his fourth save of the opening period.

Following the Jose Mourinho blueprint, Benfica were prepared to do more than frustrate and, occasionally, break against Real Madrid, and a goalless first stanza kept the match within their control.

It soon unraveled. Mourinho's failure to substitute Prestianni after Vinicius said the Argentine winger racially abused him was a huge misstep. Guilty or not, how can anybody, especially someone as young as 20, be expected to have their head in the game after being accused of such rancid behavior? He was largely ineffectual thereafter and even incurred a yellow card when he flopped in the box in response to minimum contact from Aurelien Tchouameni.

Mourinho was subsequently sent off for two quick-fire yellows after Vinicius escaped a caution when he clipped Richard Rios and conceded a foul near the penalty area. The veteran coach's irritation was merited, as it probably should've been a yellow. But to be sent off when the tie remains tight is inexcusable, especially against a team that conceded three at Olympiacos and, of course, four against Benfica during the league phase. He won't be much use in the stands next week.

Monaco's missed opportunity

Folarin Balogun scored twice (great news for USMNT supporters!), Paris Saint-Germain had a penalty kick saved, and Ousmane Dembele was forced out of the match due to an apparent injury all within the opening 28 minutes of Tuesday's first leg in the principality. And the Champions League holders still came away with a 3-2 victory, putting them in great shape to advance to the next round. Monaco boss Sebastien Pocognoli probably still can't believe it.

The hosts, who have been solid at home in this season's tournament, just wasted a glorious opportunity to put the reigning champions in serious danger of being eliminated. Even more confounding for Pocognoli is that Dembele's enforced substitution was actually the catalyst for PSG's comeback instead of being the nail in their coffin.

How often do you say that about a reigning Ballon d'Or winner? Then again, how many other clubs can bring Desire Doue, the star of last season's Champions League final, off the bench to replace one? The 20-year-old was singularly dominant Tuesday, scoring with one of his first touches, playing a role in Achraf Hakimi's equalizer, and netting the match-winning goal. Dembele, hampered by various ailments this season, clearly wasn't 100% despite starting. Doue immediately looked more threatening.

PSG aren't quite as devastating as last season, and, as such, are widely viewed as being a tier below Arsenal and Bayern Munich among the contenders for this year's title. But this result, and the manner in which it arrived, is a good reminder that Luis Enrique has the kind of depth, especially up front, that few others can match. Discount them at your peril.

Ryerson under the radar

Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy deserves praise after rebounding from a difficult winter with six goals in his last four matches, including the opener Tuesday against Atalanta. And Luca Reggiani, the 18-year-old Italian defender, hinted at his huge potential with a mature performance during his first start in senior football, hitting a team-leading five clearances.

But what about Julian Ryerson?

The Norwegian wing-back dizzied Ederson to eke out space before delivering a beautiful cross to Guirassy's head for Dortmund's opener, taking him to 14 assists in all competitions for the team. For comparison, the only player plying his trade in German football who owns more assists than Ryerson this season is Bayern winger Michael Olise (with an extremely impressive tally of 21).

Ryerson, part of Norway's impressive crop of talent, has earned greater recognition outside of Germany.