The Champions Blog #1.8
The Champions Blog
Please Note: Original Creation Date was 9th March 2024
The second leg of this season's Champions League Round of 16 was absolutely exceptional. We were in store for some great comebacks, penalty shootout drama and enticing encounters. This is the Champions Blog.
The two weeks of football started very smoothly as Real Madrid hosted RB Leipzig in the Santiago Bernabeu. The hosts came into this match after grabbing a slim 1-0 win in Leipzig thanks to a stunning effort from Brahim Diaz. RB Leipzig have failed to make the quarter finals since their incredible run in 2020, making all the way to the semi finals while Real Madrid were looking to make the quarter finals for the fourth consecutive season. The game started off strong for the German side as they managed to attack with ease. They even came so close to scoring in the early stages of the match but the linesman came to Real's aid. As time went by in the first half, Leipzig improved their chances by setting themselves up even more, but they could never find the goal to even out the tie. Leipzig would then end the first half the better side with Real Madrid in desperate need for a goal. Real Madrid returned to the second half as a much better team then before, as they started attacking much more then they did in the first half. However, Leipzig also had their fair share of chances, but all of it was immediately cancelled out with the breakthrough goal from Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid who thumpped a well-hit shot past Peter Gulasci of Leipzig. However, it wouldn't take long for Leipzig to find a response as their main defender Will Orban, managed to tuck away a header bast Andriy Lunin. Both sides played hard for the rest of the game, but Leipzig couldn't find the goal to take the game to extra time, and Real Madrid won the tie 2-1 on aggregate, as they were the first team to make the quarter finals.
Picture Above: Real Madrid players Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham celebrating Real Madrid's only goal
The following day, French champions, Paris Saint Germain travelled to San Sebastian in Spain to face off against Real Sociedad. The Parisians were victorious in the previous leg winning 2-0 in the French capital. Real Sociedad needed to provide a miracle comeback if they were to progress to the last 8 for the first time since 1983. PSG's last appearance in the quarter finals was against Bayern Munich in which they progressed 3-3 on aggregate via the away goals rule. PSG started the match off strong and within 15 minutes, they already found their breakthrough goal from their starman, Kylian Mbappe as he managed to drive past Real Sociedad defenders and dispatch the ball in the back of Alex Remiro's net. Despite that goal from Mbappe, the PSG attacks wouldn't stop there as they managed to attack even more, yet they still couldn't find the goal to double their lead. In the second half, 10 minutes from kick-off, Mbappe added another goal to his tally to make it 4-0 on aggregate to PSG. It looked as though the tie was set and PSG are very much on their way to the last 8. However, Real Sociedad had their first goal of the entire tie in 89th minute thanks to a strike from Mikel Merino, however, it turned out to be a consolation goal as PSG won the tie 4-1 on aggregate and advanced to the quarter finals for the first time since 2021.
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Picture Above: Paris Saint Germain forward, Kylian Mbappe, celebrating after scoring his second goal
Elsewhere in Europe, Bayern Munich managed to turn around their 1-0 defeat in the first leg against Lazio and win 3-0 in the Allianz Arena thanks to goals from Harry Kane and Thomas Muller. This win for Bayern saw them qualify for the quarter finals of the Champions League for the fifth consecutive season. In Manchester, defending champions Manchester City managed to finish of their tie against Copenhagen winning comfortably 3-1 in the Etihad Stadium. Goals from Manuel Akanji, Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland proved decisive as the champions marched on into the quarter finals.
Picture Above: Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane celebrating his goal against Lazio. Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez celebrating his goal against Copenhagen.
The Round of 16 football would continue the following week when match between the Spanish and Italian champions would be in store in the Catalonian capital. Barcelona and Napoli were both charging for a place in the quarter finals. Barca haven't made a quarter final appearance since 2020 while Napoli could make consecutive quarter finals if the were to get the better of Barcelona. However, it was the home side that was off to a flying start, as their counter attacking was found useful in Fermin Lopez. The youngster mananged to find the back of the net after so many attempts that previously been missed. Barcelona's day would only get better going forward, as only 2 minutes later, after a missed chance from Raphina, Joao Cancelo was there to thump it past Alex Meret to make it 2-0 to the Blaugrana. It wouldn't take long for Napoli to have their first say of the match. The goal came from Kosovan defender, Amir Rrahmani after an attack spiralled out of nowhere, and reduced the deficit to make it 2-1. Unfortunately for both sets of fans, it would be the last counter attack for the first half. In the second half, both sides spent the first 20 minutes attacking, but neither could find the goal that would make a huge difference in the tie. In the 68th minute, Barca had a goal from a corner, but due to an interference with Lamine Yamal, the goal was disallowed by VAR. Napoli fought hard and so did Barcelona, but neither sides could find the goal that would either seal the tie or tie the scores. However, in the 83rd minute, Barca looked as though they sealed the deal as a lovely counter attack was finished off delicately by Robert Lewandowski, as the Spanish side made it 3-1. The tie was sealed and Barca would march on to the quarter finals for the first time in 3 seasons.
Picture Above: Barcelona players celebrating their third goal against Napoli
The following day, we had another classic Champions League encounter between Spain and Italy. This time, it was Atletico Madrid againts Inter Milan. Atletico had failed to even make the last 16 last season, due to their shocking elimination in the group stage, while Inter Milan have successfully made it past the Round of 16 last season beating Porto 1-0 on aggregate en route to the final in Istanbul. Both sides attacked with confidence in the early stages of the match and came close to scoring twice within the first 30 minutes. Both teams attacked hard with full confidence but none could find their goal. In the 33rd minute, Federico Dimarco thumped home a close-range finish, sending Jan Oblak the wrong way and giving Inter a comanding 2-0 lead in the tie. However, 2 minutes later, Antoine Griezmann rescued a goal for the home side, reducing the deficit on tie to one goal. There wouldn't be much action for the remainder of the first half, and the two sides went into the first half with a goal each. In the second half, there lots of substitutions, passing and chances, but neither side could find the goal that would make a huge difference to the tie. It wasn't until the 87th minute when the biggest moment of the second half would come. Atletico Madrid managed to find a goal in Memphis Depay and the home fans were in Dreamland. The home side would hold on until extra time. Inter would've advanced but due to the abolition on away goals, the game would have another 30 minutes played. We were treated to exciting drama in extra time but no goals and no winner. The game would go to p[enalties. This is the first time since 2016, in which a Champions League game would go to a penalty shootout. (However, Arsenal and Porto had a penalty shootout on Tuesday). Inter would get the first kick and they would score with Hakan Calhanoglu. After 2 missed kicks from Inter and 2 scored kicks from Atletico, it all came down to Inter captain, Lautaro Martinez. Unfortunately, his penalty sailed over the bar and Atleti were through to the last 8 for the first time since 2020.
Elsewhere in Europe, North London saw Arsenal progress against Porto as Leandro Trossard's goal gave Arsenal hope. The game would go onto the extra time, and soon penalties. Arsenal's goalkeeper, David Raya was the hero of the shootout, saving two of Porto's four penalties, sending Arsenal through to the last 8 for the first time since 2010. In Germany, PSV travelled to Dortmund to face off Bprussia Dortmund. The home side was victorious, winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Jadon Sancho and Marco Reus.
Picture Above: The quarter-finalists and final 8 teams left in the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League
Just like that, the teams for the quarter finals are set. 32 teams started this competition in September and only 8 remain. This season's Round of 16 is one that will certainly be remembered. Penalty drama and the return of many big giants were in store for us in the last 16, as there were some surpirse defeats suffered by a few of our quarter finalists. Last season's runners-up are already eliminated, proving that in this competition, no one is really safe. The Champions Blog will return in April as the quarter finals kick off.
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