Manchester City, FC Barcelona, Brøndby IF, FC Twente, Bayern Munich, VfL Wolfsburg, Slavia Praha, Fortuna Hjørring, FC Rosengård, FC Zürich, BIIK Kazygurt, Olympique Lyon, WFK Rossiyanka, Paris Saint-Germain, Brescia CF and Eskilstuna United make up the last 16 in this season's UEFA Women's Champions League.

Zvezda Perm [Russia] (0) 0-4 (6) Manchester City [England]

Even though Zvezda started strongly it was Man City who were celebrating early on, picking up from last week’s late goal they added to their aggregated score when Jennifer Beattie rifled on in on the volley at a corner. It wasn’t long before Lucy Bronze doubled her haul for the tie, connecting with Iryna Zvarich’s parry at a subsequent corner, to fire the ball past the helpless 'keeper and into the roof of the net.

Deadly from set pieces, City made it three after the break as Beattie netted her second of the game, when a worked corner routine failed to come off, the ball was sent back to Kosovare Asllani for the Swedish international to swing a cross in which Beattie met in mid-air to head past a diving Zvarich. Izzy Christiansen wrapped up the scoring with a tap-in from five yards, knocking Jill Scott’s flat cross into the waiting net. A tough day at the office for the hosts who had a number of half-chances but couldn’t find a suitable finish as City cruised past them and into the next round.

Barcelona [Spain] (5) 2-1 (1) ZFK Minsk [Belarus]

Carrying a strong 3-0 aggregate score into the second-leg, Barcelona knew that a strong home showing should be enough to get them through. Once again this month they began to dominate their Belarussian opposition but it was the visitors who took the lead on the night with their only shot on target throughout the 90.

Emueje Ogbiagbevha fired Minsk ahead five minutes after the restart but even with the goal the visitors never looked like they’d be able to overcome the score and Yulia Borisenko conceded a penalty it was early doors for the visitors. Having recovered from a bout of tonsillitis earlier in the week Jenni Hermoso was on hand to bury the spot kick and seal Barcelona’s spot in the next round before strike-partner Andressa Alves wrapped up the match with neat finish into the unguarded away goal.

Brøndby IF [Denmark] (4) 2-2 (2)​ FSK St. Pölten-Spratzern [Austria]

After a muted first-half with both sides refusing numerous chances to take the advantage, Fanni Vágó gave her side the edge after pouncing on a loose ball and speeding into the box with it before firing it low past Katrine Abel. But the lead only lasted five minute before Simone Boye tied the two sides up once more, knocking Theresa Nielsen’s floated cross in at the back post.

The away team regained their lead late in the game as Vágó picked up a loose ball in midfield before stealing it away towards the box, this time laying it off for Viktoria Pinther to lob Abel and keep their last 16 hopes alive. However it was the hosts who scored the fourth and final goal of the game, in identical fashion to their first, Nielsen’s cross met on the far side of the box by Nicoline Sørensen to volley just inside of the post.

AC Sparta Praha [Czech Republic] (1) 1-3 (5) FC Twente [Netherlands]

Knowing they would be in for a stern test at the Generali Arena, Twente were given a boost in the first-half when Adéla Odehnalová put the ball past Ivana Čejpová after the keeper had done well to keep Lineth Beerensteyn out. Suddenly needing at least four, Sparta upped the pressure and Andrea Stašková levelled up the scores just six minutes later, but for the most part remained cancelled out by the away side.

As time ticked down Sparta seemed less and less likely to secure the win they needed, their task made even harder when they were reduced to ten after Markéta Ringelová’s 75th minute dismissal. Capitalising on the numerical advantage Twente made it 2-1 with less than ten minutes to go after Renate Jansen hooked Beerensteyn’s cross beyond Čejpová. With just seconds left of regular time, there was still time for Jill Roord to grab [another] late goal, the match capped off with the young attacker’s goal from range. 

FC Bayern Munich [Germany] (10) 4-1 (1) Hibernian [Scotland]

Having already sealed their spot in the round of 16 – baring a miracle – Munich were in no mood to phone it in, although Thomas Wörle had rotated his squad the XI on the pitch were keen to put on a show for their home fans. 18 year-old Anna Gerhardt opened the scoring six minutes into the match, her angled shot from the top of the D had just enough on it to bobble in front of Jenna Fife and bounce into the net. Even with the hosts well on top it took almost half an hour for the hosts to add a second in a frantic six minutes that saw three goals as Hibs added a page to their history.

Following a flowing move, Lisa Evans showed that she could cause heartbreak in Scotland all the way from Germany as she let fly from the edge of the box, even with a firm hand to it there was nothing Fife could do about the goal-bound effort. Five minutes later Gerhardt was celebrating her second of the game, after wriggling away from the defence she cut her shot into the far corner, the ball skimming off of the inside of the post to settle in the far corner of the net.

Out but not down, Hibs pulled one back almost immediately, Abigail Harrison’s 20-yard half-volley enough to give the traveling fans something to cheer as she goes down in history as the first player to score for Hibs in the competition. It was a strong contest until the last and substitute Vivianne Miedema wrapped up the scoring (for the hosts to hit double digits on aggregate) just three minutes after coming on, stretching her legs to chase after a loose ball before poking it past an advancing Fife.

Anna Gerhardt will be hoping that her fine performance will be enough to warrant more apps for Bayern
Anna Gerhardt will be hoping that her fine performance will be enough to warrant more apps for Bayern

VfL Wolfsburg [Germany] (4) 1-1 (1) Chelsea [England]

The story in Northern Germany was a far different one however as Wolfsburg never really got going the game, Chelsea dominated throughout but a lack of killer blow in the final third was once more their undoing. The visitors were rewarded for their dominance late in the first-half when Eni Aluko pounced on a terrible back-pass from Isabel Kerschowski, with no hesitation the pacey attacker fired the ball low past an outstretched Almuth Schult and into the far corner.

Although showing some degree on improvement after the break Wolfsburg continued to labour in the tie, interested in only just doing enough to keep Chelsea out and a late and unexpected equaliser from Sara Bjork Gunnarsdóttir put the tie far beyond the visitor’s reach. A much improved performance from the Blues in a strange game, once more Wolfsburg progress at the cost of the London team.

SK Slavia Praha [Czech Republic] (4) 3-2 (3) Apollon Limassol [Cyprus]

After a close game in Cyprus both teams knew they had no room for error, and the visitors took advantage of some nervous defending to take an early lead and commanding lead, American international Sam Witteman notching two in four minutes to leave the hosts scrambling less than fifteen minutes in. However, Prague responded well and veteran attacker Petra Divišová reduced the deficit just five minutes later before Kateřina Svitková restored parity just before the break.

Having worked their way onto the front foot, Slavia were on top for most of the second-half, desperately searching for an advantage, the knock-out blow landed ten minutes before time. Apollon were reduced to ten after Danai-Eleni Sidira had been dismissed for a second bookable offence on half-time substitute Tereza Krejčiříková, the foul a double-whammy as Svitková riffled her free kick past Kelsey Brouwer. A last frantic ten push wasn’t enough for Limassol and they were forced to miss out on the last 16 as Slavia progress.

Fortuna Hjørring [Denmark] (4) 3-1 (3) Athletic Club [Spain]

In what was slated to be one of the ties of the round, Fortuna and Athletic certainly lived up to the billing, the hosts matching the visitors score from the previous week, the clash was the only one on Wednesday to go to extra time. After a nervy first-half it was the hosts who took a deserved lead through Nevena Damjanovic as the Serbian international sent her direct free kick past Ainhoa Tirapu but the Basque team responded in superb fashion.

After a neat one-two with Yulema Corres, Erika Vázquez chipped the ball over the back-line and keeper to give the visitors the edge. With five minutes of regulation time left, the hosts struck again as the hard-working Camilla Larsen fired the ball into an open net following a melee in the box.

With both teams running on fumes in extra time the match began to slow down, the teams taking it in turns to attack, no one with the energy to chase up and down the pitch. As it looked for all the world like penalties would be the only way to split the two who couldn’t be separated after three and a half hours, Tamires gave the hosts the late (late) winner. With just seconds left on the clock the Brazilian defender found herself free in the area to slot the ball past Tirapu to send the hosts through in dramatic fashion.

FC Rosengård [Sweden] (1) 0-0 (0)  Breiðablik UBK [Iceland]

Following a tight game in Iceland last week, Breiðablik were once again keen to push the Swedish champions as far as they could and once more Rosengård will be wondering how they didn’t manage to run away with the game. With a total of 23 attempts, Sonný Lára Þráinsdóttir’s goal was under constant threat but the keeper pulled of a string of saves to keep her side it in and although impressive, her clean sheet was for nought as the visitors were unable to finish off any of their chances and the game ended scoreless. Rosengård progress after a tight three hours and Breiðablik go away to work on their finishing.

FC Zürich [Switzerland] (9) 3-0 (0) Sturm Graz [Austria]

Having already all but secured their spot in the next round after a damming first-leg away win, Zurich weren’t ready to roll over and walk to the finish line but once more put in a commanding performance to bolster their aggregated score, although coach Dorjee Tsawa might have something to say about the finishing, wanting to see more than three goals from 25 shots. Fabienne Humm got the ball rolling for the hosts in the twentieth minute, heading Selina Kuster’s cross over Anna-Carina Kristler. Humm grabbed her second of the match just seven minutes later as she flicked Naomi Mégroz’s cute cross in at the near post, which left Barla Deplazes to put the gloss on the tie fifteen minutes from time, firing low from the edge of the area send Sturm back to Austria licking their wounds.

With the tie already won, Fabienne Humm gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about
With the tie already won, Fabienne Humm gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about

AGSM Verona [Italy] (2) 1-1 (4) BIIK Kazygurt [Kazakhstan]

With a mountain to climb at home, Verona needed goals and they needed them quickly, unfortunately for the hosts, Kazygurt were in no mood to fold and experienced Georgian attacker Gulnara Gabelia gave the visitors an even greater advantage five minutes before half-time, finishing beyond Swiss 'keeper Gaëlle Thalmann.

Despite all their possession and shots, Verona found themselves more wayward that clinical only forcing four saves out of Oksana Zheleznyak from their 16 shots. The only bright spark of the night was when Melania Gabbiadini converted from the spot just before the hour, but on the back foot from the first leg the Italians never looked likely. As they progress to the round of 16, Kazygurt can claim to be the first ever Kazakhstani women’s team to ever reach the last 16 in the UWCL era.

Olympique Lyonnais [France] (10) 5-0 (2) Avaldsnes IL [Norway]

Coming into the game with a 5-2 lead from the first leg it would have taken something very special to see current holders, Lyon knocked out by debutants Avaldsnes but just in case, the hosts made sure to start on the right foot. Wendie Renard was on hand to give the French side the lead less than five minutes into the game, knocking Dzsenifer Marozsán’s corner over the defence and into Madalyn Schiffel’s top corner.

Despite having all of the possession, the hosts struggled against a well-disciplined Avaldsnes side who played repeatedly sprung the offside trap, but all their hard work was for nought when Marozsán made it two just before half-time. A careless foul on Amel Majri gifted the hosts a free-kick in range, Marozsán stepped up and curled the ball over the jumping wall, all eyes focused on the ball as it ricocheted from the near post to the far, pinging over the line and forcing Schiffel to once more pluck it from her net.

Delphine Cascarino added a third on the hour, slamming the ball into the net from two yards out at the back-post before Eugénie Le Sommer netted a ten-minute brace. Following a crisp passing move, Le Sommer found herself ahead of the defence in the box, unmoved by the advancing keeper, Le Sommer fired the ball past the American and into the abused goal before nodding Mylaine Tarrieu’s cross in at the near post.

WFC Rossiyanka [Russia] (2) 2-1 (1) SFK 2000 Sarajevo [Bosnia]

After a frustrating evening in Bosnia last week, Rossiyanka struggled against the same steely Sarajevo side at home, the deadlock finally broken once and for all in the second-half as the Russian champions took a deserved lead through Tia N'Réhy neat near-post header at Ekaterina Sochneva’s free kick.

With the hosts cruising – although still unable to boast a second goal – they were left shocked when Ekaterina Dmitrenko was adjudged to have fouled Armisa Kuć in the box and Jasna Djoković converted her spot kick with ease.

Suddenly facing the prospect of going on the hosts began to pile on yet even more pressure but seemingly couldn’t find a way through the staunch away defence. But not for the first time in this round of fixtures there was last minute drama as Rossiyanka found a winner deep in injury time as José Nahi nodded the winner home from close range.

Paris Saint-Germain [France] (5) 4-1 (4) LSK Kvinner [Norway]

Needing to overcome a 3-1 deficit, the Parisians got off to a dream start at home as Verónica Boquete set them on their way from the spot in the fourth minute, from then on it was total domination from the hosts. Brazilian international Cristiane stole the show with a hat trick staggered over the two halves, doubling the advantage with a 25-yard strike before adding a third with her head five minutes after the break and capping off the display with a mouth-watering curler from 20-yards. For their part LSK looked nowhere near themselves, unable to register a shot on target until second-half stoppage time, a Marte Berget flick from Emilie Haavi’s set piece delivery that evaded Katarzyna Kiedrzynek.

ACF Brescia [Italy] (6) 3-2 (6) KKPK Medyk Konin [Poland]

Having fallen to a shock 4-3 defeat in the first leg after being 3-1 up, Brescia knew they wouldn’t be in for an easy night at home against their Polish opponents and found themselves with even more to do when Liliana Kostova put the away team up in the fifth minute.

But Brescia fought back and equalised ten minutes later when Silvia Fuselli’s cross caught Radoslava Slavcheva out and the defender could only turn the ball into her own net but it was the visitors who were the first to celebrate after half time as defender Aleksandra Sikora finished past Chiara Marchitelli from close range.

Just as Medyk Konin left it late to seal the win against the Leonesse last week so did Brescia this time out, as first Cristiana Girelli restored parity as she knocked Barbara Bonansea’s cross past Anna Szymanska. Before Daniela Sabatino completed the come-back, taking advantage of a melee in the box following a Valentina Cernoia cross, Sabatino was alert to poke the ball home, tying the scores and giving the hosts the win on away goals.

Glasgow City [Scotland] (1) 1-2 (3) Eskilstuna United DFF [Sweden]

Needing to overturn a one-nil deficit at home shouldn’t have been a major problem for Glasgow City but they were up against a steely Eskilstuna side that quickly took the advantage on the night too as Olivia Schough volleyed the ball past Gemma Fay in the seventh minute. Although the hosts saw plenty of the ball in the first-half and found themselves in great positions they struggled to doing anything worthwhile, consistently failing to the find the target, only registering one shot on target from their eight.

Knowing they needed three the hosts hit the ground running in the second-half and pulled a goal back almost right from the off as Sarah Crilly fired the ball past Emelie Lundberg at the back post. Despite their renewed vigour, Glasgow still laboured against a fine Eskilstuna team, the game effectively put out of reach as Schough turned home Fay’s parry. The result sees Glasgow fail to make the last 16 for the second year on the bounce as Eskilstuna go from strength to strength in their debut campaign. 

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About the author
Sophie Lawson
Neutral football fan travelling around Europe, covering matches and bothering footballers for interviews