The first knockout stage of this season's Champions League have come to a close and it had everything - goals, red cards, VAR and Sergio Ramos recording a documentary of himself at the Bernabeu with Real losing. It was great fun!
ROMA 3-4 PORTO
In the least anticipated meeting of the round, this game was pretty good. Roma lead 2-1 going into the second leg but Porto fancied their chances with the away goal. With the scoreline 2-1 to Porto at 90 minutes, extra time was required and Alex Telles' penalty in the 117th minute sent Porto through, adding to Roma's problems. The highlight of the two legs, though, was the comical Edin Dzeko fall after going head-to-head with Pepe.
In the least anticipated meeting of the round, this game was pretty good. Roma lead 2-1 going into the second leg but Porto fancied their chances with the away goal. With the scoreline 2-1 to Porto at 90 minutes, extra time was required and Alex Telles' penalty in the 117th minute sent Porto through, adding to Roma's problems. The highlight of the two legs, though, was the comical Edin Dzeko fall after going head-to-head with Pepe.
MANCHESTER UNITED 3-3 PSG
Solskjaer pulled of one of the great European comebacks for United. Trailing 2-0 from the first leg and with a heavily depleted squad, it seemed set for PSG to progress. Lukaku had other ideas and profited from a defensive error to round Buffon and score. Bernat equalised but a Rashford goal from a Buffon error gave United hope. Then in the dying embers of the game, in the aftermath of UEFA implementing tougher laws on handball, Kimpembe was adjudged to have handled through VAR and Rashford scored the resulting penalty. PSG went out and the meme continued.
Solskjaer pulled of one of the great European comebacks for United. Trailing 2-0 from the first leg and with a heavily depleted squad, it seemed set for PSG to progress. Lukaku had other ideas and profited from a defensive error to round Buffon and score. Bernat equalised but a Rashford goal from a Buffon error gave United hope. Then in the dying embers of the game, in the aftermath of UEFA implementing tougher laws on handball, Kimpembe was adjudged to have handled through VAR and Rashford scored the resulting penalty. PSG went out and the meme continued.
TOTTENHAM 4-0 DORTMUND
Spurs arguably met Dortmund at the best time possible. The Germans, on a poor run of form, failed to live up to expectations and Tottenham capitalised on this. A 3-0 win at Wembley and a 1-0 in the return fixture made it a night to remember for the North London club. Tottenham are now in a "crisis" of their own and the other clubs will want to face them in the last eight.
Spurs arguably met Dortmund at the best time possible. The Germans, on a poor run of form, failed to live up to expectations and Tottenham capitalised on this. A 3-0 win at Wembley and a 1-0 in the return fixture made it a night to remember for the North London club. Tottenham are now in a "crisis" of their own and the other clubs will want to face them in the last eight.
AJAX 5-3 REAL MADRID
The stand out result comes from the Santiago Bernabeu. Real seemed in control, 2-1 up from a VAR dominated first leg and Sergio Ramos getting purposely booked to miss the second leg which he, and evidently the Real players, thought was done and dusted. Ajax's performance, motivated further by Ramos, was nothing short of perfect. The individual displays of Dusan Tadic and Frenkie de Jong were mesmerising and brought a smile to the neutrals. Not only had Ajax knocked at the holders, but they'd reasserted themselves among Europe's elite.
The stand out result comes from the Santiago Bernabeu. Real seemed in control, 2-1 up from a VAR dominated first leg and Sergio Ramos getting purposely booked to miss the second leg which he, and evidently the Real players, thought was done and dusted. Ajax's performance, motivated further by Ramos, was nothing short of perfect. The individual displays of Dusan Tadic and Frenkie de Jong were mesmerising and brought a smile to the neutrals. Not only had Ajax knocked at the holders, but they'd reasserted themselves among Europe's elite.
LYON - BARCELONA
Lionel Messi. That's all that needs to be said about the second leg. A rather uneventful first leg was followed by the greatest player ever doing what he does best. Two goals and two assists the night after his biggest rival scored a hat-trick. 5 for Barcelona in total secured a reasonably safe passage through to the quarter-finals.
LIVERPOOL 3-1 BAYERN MUNICH
The first leg was disappointing for Liverpool, who had the better chances but at least denied Bayern a crucial away goal. With Van Dijk back and Kimmich suspended for Bayern, Liverpool believed they had a chance. Sadio Mane, with ice in his veins, carefully chipped Liverpool in front, getting their crucial away goal, before Joel Matip kicked into his own net for Bayern's equaliser. Bayern, though, never really threatened as Van Dijk and Mane again scored to send the Germans out.
ATLETICO MADRID 2-3 JUVENTUS
Both legs were quite similar with one team dominating the other but the key difference between the two was one man - Cristiano Ronaldo. Disastrous in Madrid, Juventus were on it from the first whistle. Ronaldo scoring two headers before calmly dispatching a penalty after Atleti substitute Angel Correa tripped Bernadeschi, who also impressed. This performance adding to Ronaldo's legend that when needed, he steps up to the plate.
Both legs were quite similar with one team dominating the other but the key difference between the two was one man - Cristiano Ronaldo. Disastrous in Madrid, Juventus were on it from the first whistle. Ronaldo scoring two headers before calmly dispatching a penalty after Atleti substitute Angel Correa tripped Bernadeschi, who also impressed. This performance adding to Ronaldo's legend that when needed, he steps up to the plate.
SCHALKE 2-10 MANCHESTER CITY
This game was over after the first leg. Once again VAR was at the forefront of the action and with Schalke a man up for a large proportion of the match, they needed to secure victory to stand any chance of progressing. They didn't and the second leg turned out like everyone expected it to - the Premier League leaders versus a Bundesliga team fighting relegation.
This game was over after the first leg. Once again VAR was at the forefront of the action and with Schalke a man up for a large proportion of the match, they needed to secure victory to stand any chance of progressing. They didn't and the second leg turned out like everyone expected it to - the Premier League leaders versus a Bundesliga team fighting relegation.
The quarter-finals seems rather intriguing. Their is potentially the chance that the semi-finals could feature all four English sides (however unlikely that is). Porto and Ajax will be the ones the big boys fancy as well as Tottenham. I managed to predict 6/8 of the teams to go through, with Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid denying me a clean sweep.
Comments
Post a Comment