The Champions Blog #1.10

 THE CHAMPIONS BLOG 

What a quarter final we had in store. It had everything. Crazy comebacks, heated tensions and late drama. What else can you ask for? This might as well go down as one of the greatest quarter finals in the history of the competition. This is the Champions Blog.

The 2 days of football started off in Catalonia, where Barcelona and PSG would meet again. There have been many great memories in the Champions League between these two sides, most notably in 2017, when Barcelona came from 4-0 down to produce one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the competition. Barcelona would be off to a flying start as Xavi's men hit the front within the first 12 minutes, with Raphina scoring again against PSG, giving Barca a 4-2 lead on aggregate. As constant jeers from the home supporters turned to Ousmane Dembele, Barca's hopes of reaching the last 4 were slightly dampened due to a sudden sending off for Barcelona, as Ronald Araujo was asked to leave the pitch due to a rough challenge on Bradley Barcola. Things would then turn on its head. 10 minutes after Araujo's sending off, PSG were back in the game and the goal came from Dembele, which sent the home supporters into full anger. Both sides would go into the first half with a goal each, but Barcelona was still holding a slim lead on aggregate, 4-3. However, the second half was all about PSG. Within the first 10 minutes into the second half, Vitinha scored a great goal which comfortably beat Marc Andre Ter Stegen. Just like that, PSG had the lead, the scores on aggregate were tied and the Ligue 1 champions were in control. Only five minutes later, and PSG had a penalty; and of course, Kylian Mbappe was there to finish off the chance for PSG, and give them the lead on aggregate for the first time. Barcelona kept pushing for another goal, but they just couldn't find it. When all hope seemed lost, Mbappe put another dagger into the hearts of Barcelona fans by scoring once again to put PSG 6-4 ahead on aggregate and well into the semi finals. For Barca fans, it was the end of the dream, as PSG were into their first semi finals since 2021. 

Picture Above: PSG forward, Kylian Mbappe taking a shot while Barcelona defender, Jules Kounde, tries to defend the goal.

Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid travelled to Germany to take on Borussia Dortmund. The Spanish side were eyeing a place in the last 4 for the first time in 7 years while Borussia Dortmund were looking to qualify for the semi finals for the first time since 2013. Atleti won the first leg in Madrid 2-1, meaning that Dortmund had work to do, if they were to comeback and qualify for the semi finals. After two golden chances were missed within the first 5 minutes, the home side looked to be the ones in control after just half an hour, and it was them who scored the first goal. The goal came from Julian Brandt as he dribbled past Axel Witsel to place it past Jan Oblak. Just like that, Dortmund were back in the tie. After just 5 minutes, Ian Maatsen but the ball in the back of the net for the German side, and they were ahead in the tie for the first time. By the time the referee ble the whistle for half time, Dortmund were ahead 3-2 on aggregate. However, their luck seemed to change in the second half. As Antoine Griezmann crossed in the ball from a corner, Mario Hermoso headed the ball into the danger zone, as Mats Hummels unfortunately tapped it into his own net and put Atletico Madrid back in the tie. After constant threats from Atletico, the found their goal again. After the ball dangled around the penalty area, Angel Correa was there to finish the chance off and put Atletico ahead in the tie again. However, it didn't take long for Dortmund to respond, because only 7 minutes after Correa's strike, Niclas Fullkrug headed the ball into the net after a cross from Marcel Sabitzer, and only three minutes later, Sabitzer scored and Borussia Dortmund have turned the tie on its head. Just like that, Dortmund held on and progressed to their first semi final since 2013. Unfortunately for Atletico Madrid, it was the end of the European dream. 

 

Picture Above: Borussia Dortmund midfielder, Marcel Sabitzer celebrates after scoring the winner for Dortmund.

The following day, it was another classic encounter between Manchester City and Real Madrid in store for us at the Etihad Arena. The first leg in Madrid ended in an enthralling 3-3 draw, which means that in this tie, anyone could go through to the semi finals. Despite the hosts being heavy favourites to progress into the semi finals, it was Real who got off to a flying start to the match. Two years after scoring two goal in the semi final against City, Rodrygo stroke again for Los Blancos within 12 minutes played. It was a simple yet effective tap in that was previously saved by Ederson. Just like that, the visitors were ahead. City attacked and attacked but they just couldn't find the goal that would bring them back into the game. Meaning they would go into the first half trailing by a goal to nil, with Real having a slim advantage in the tie. Their forceful attacking continued on into the second half, and it wasn't until the 76th minute when they got the goal that they desperately needed. Kevin De Bruyne scored once again against Los Blanocs after a saved shot from Lunin bounced back to the Belgian midfielder. It was a stalemate between these two, and the game would go to extra time. Nothing interesting would be borught up in extra times, as the sides remained even steven. The game would to penalties. The first penalty came from Luka Modric, but his effort was saved by Ederson. Julian Alvarez then managed to score his penalty to make it 1-0 to City. Bellingham scored Real's first successful penalty as Bernardo Silva saw his penalty saved by Lunin. Mateo Kovacic would then see his penalty saved as the rest of the penalties were scored. This meant Real Madrid were into the semi finals and Man City, the reigning champions of Europe, were eliminated. 

Picture Above: Real Madrid players celebrate after defeating Manchester City and their defence of the European Cup.

Meanwhile in Munich, the Bavarian giant, Bayern Munich hosted Arsenal, in another highly anticipated match. Bayern and Arsenal were huge heavyweights in the Champions League, and both teams were heavy favourites to go through, but only one team can go into the semi finals. However, Bayern were almost off to a flying start, after their prominent attacking almost paid off in the 22nd minute, when Noussair Mazraoui had his shot blocked by Ben White. Then, it was Arsenal's turn to attack, and they came very close with their captain, Martin Odegaard, who after a few deflections, saw his shot saved by Manuel Neuer. In the second half, Bayern almost saw themselves ahead within just 1 minute into the half, when Harry Kane's header hit the crossbar before Raphael Guerreiro's shot hit the post. Finally, after an hour of prominent attacking, Bayern finally found their goal, as Guerreiro's cross met then end of a thumping header by Joshua Kimmich. Just like that, Bayern had the lead. Bayern attacked even more to find the goal that would seal the deal, but it was enough end Bayern through into their first semi final since 2020. 

Picture Above: The final four teams and semi finalists of this season's Champions League

Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint Germain and Real Madrid. The final four of this season's Champions League. Unfortunately, we've had to say goodbye to four more European giants, including last season's winners, Manchester City. Just like that, last season's champions are eliminated, proving once again, no one in the Champions League is safe. The Champions Blog will return soon for the semi finals.