The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 stage kicked off on March 10 and 11, with each Premier League side failing to clinch a victory in their respective ties.
Results round-up
Tuesday’s fixtures saw Newcastle share the spoils with Barcelona in a clash that ended 1-1 at St James’ Park.
Atletico Madrid’s 5-2 victory added further misery on a struggling Tottenham Hotspur side, with manager Igor Tudor now under immense pressure.
Galatasaray turned over Liverpool yet again this season with a 1-0 victory, after the Reds lost by the same scoreline earlier in the campaign.
On Wednesday, Manchester City found themselves on the end of a crushing 3-0 away defeat at the hands of Real Madrid, with Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea also crumbling to a 5-2 loss at the Parc des Princes against PSG.
Late Lamine Yamal penalty saves Barcelona
Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal scored a 96th-minute penalty to help his side to a draw away at Newcastle.
The hosts were inches away from victory when Harvey Barnes secured a 1-0 lead late, but it wasn’t to be for Eddie Howe’s men.
“I thought we were outstanding, a really, really good performance,” Howe told Amazon Prime, quoted on Sky Sports.
“We kept the intensity up. The moment at the end takes that in a negative light but one of our best performances.”
Regarding the draw, he continued saying: “It is my job to try and pick them up. We have unfortunately had to do that a few times this season but our strength of character should never be in doubt.
“We will be ready by the time the next game comes round. We believe in ourselves and our capability and we have shown that today.”
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Tudor’s howler decision costs Spurs
Despite only making two starts in the Carabao Cup this season, Spurs manager Tudor decided to start rookie goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky over regular number-one Guglielmo Vicario in a gruelling away fixture at Atletico Madrid.
Kinsky was subbed off inside 17 minutes for Vicario after two shocking errors leading to goals.
Questions over Tudor’s management have only accentuated in the aftermath of the thrashing.
“Before the game it was the right choice,” Tudor said on Kinsky’s selection.
“Where we are with pressure on Vicario, Toni is a very good goalkeeper. After this it is easy to say it was not the right decision.
“I was speaking with Toni after. He is a bright guy, good goalkeeper and unfortunately it happened in this big game, these big mistakes.
“The start of the game was too much for us. In this moment when we are fragile, when we are weak.”
Spurs’ horror season in all competitions continues.
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The Reds’ struggles against Galatasaray lingers
Midfielder Mario Lemina’s seventh-minute strike was enough to seal victory for Galatasaray for the second time this season.
However, with the second leg at Anfield, Arne Slot will hope his side can overturn a 1-0 deficit.
“It’s bad deja vu, you could say,” Slot told UEFA.
“The score is the same as the match three months ago. But we played a game where we could have scored much more.
“We created many chances; we missed many. We were really good in the first 15 minutes. But we couldn’t find the goal.”
“Now we have a match against Galatasaray at our home stadium. We have fantastic fans who always give us strength,” Slot continued.
“They will show this at Anfield, our home ground, and will be a driving force for us.”
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Valverde destroys Man City
With a 100% conversion rate from shots taken to goals scored, midfielder Federico Valverde’s hat-trick has Pep Guardiola’s side struggling for consistency in the latter stages of the season – and on the brink of the Champions League’s exit door.
Despite missing Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo, a star first-half performance by Valverde leaves City in need of a miracle heading into their second-leg encounter at the Etihad.
“It is a bad result, we cannot deny it,” Guardiola said.
“The first goal was not well defended and after that the quality they had with Valverde and the other players, it was a difficult result.
On his side’s chances in the second leg, Guardiola said: “Now, not much but I’m not a guy to say we’re not going to try.
“Now it is most difficult (moment) to live but our mindset is we will look (at) what to do better, try to be more active in the final third and we will try.”
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Late capitulation outdoes Chelsea fightback v PSG
Blues midfielder Enzo Fernández was able to level proceedings in the 57th minute, but a lack of focus and composure resulted in an incredible stamp of authority by the Parisians.
Led by wide-man Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG’s late surge proved too much for Rosenior’s men to handle.
“We didn’t react well to a setback,” Rosenior told TNT Sports.
“At 3-2 we are in the tie. Then Kvaratskhelia scores an unbelievable strike and that happens. At this level, there are quality players on both sides.
“The fifth goal is after a flashpoint. We don’t keep our heads in that moment, we don’t keep our cool.
“They break our press and score a fifth goal. It makes it very difficult to come back from but it’s not impossible.”
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More goalkeeping errors
Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen’s mistake for Vitinha’s 74th-minute goal has also come under the microscope, as the goal was one that set PSG’s dominance in motion.
“You have risks playing every way you play,” the Chelsea boss said on Jorgensen’s mistake.
“You can kick long and it goes straight back into your net. You can build. That’s the risk that we take. I take responsibility. I’m accountable for that.”
The second legs continue from March 17-18, with the Premier League teams left with a massive uphill battle to advance to the quarter-finals.
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Nicole Powell 
SportJustSport writers