The Champions Blog #1.9

The Champions Blog

Please Note: Original Creation Date was 16th April 2024

The quarter finals in underway for the season, and we have been treated to some highly fancied matches with some exciting drama. Some club reunions where witnessed while some matches were good enough to make Champions League classics. This is the Champions Blog. 

The week of football started off with a classic encounter between Real Madrid and Manchester City, the two most recent champions. This is the fourth time in five seasons in which Real Madrid and Man City have met with each other with Man City being successful twice with Real only once. Their most recent meeting came in last season's semi final with Man City being successful 5-1 on aggregate, en route to their historic run towards glory in Istanbul. Despite the hosts being favourites to go through, it was the visitors who were off to a flying start, when Bernardo Silva tucked home a clever free kick which caught Real Madrid goalkeeper, Andriy Lunin by surprise. Just like that, the champions were in front inside two minutes; however, it wouldn't take long until the hosts would find away back. 10 minutes after Real Madrid hit the front, with Eduardo Camavinga hit a shot which took a deflection from Ruben Dias. The jury is still out there on whether it was an own goal or not, but it will not matter for Ancelloti's men as the hosts where back in it. Only two minutes later and Rodrygo found himself through on goal before tapping it in to give the hosts the lead in Madrid. The half would then come to a close with a tension-packed 15 minutes. However, little did the supporters at the Bernabeu know, that the excitement was going to continue. In the 66th minute, Phil Foden scored an absolute banger from outside the penalty box, which rippled into the back of Andriy Lunin's net. Only 5 minutes later and more jubilation came for Pep Guardiola's side as Josko Gvardiol scored an absolute peach. The goal would also turn out to be his first in a Manchester City jersey. The hosts, didn't give up so easily as Federico Valverde sliced a beautiful volley into the back of Stefan Ortega's net. There would be no winner in this blockbuster of a match as the two sides will go into the second leg with a winning desire and mentality. 

Picture Above: Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola talking to Phil Foden after the match.

Elsewhere, Bayern Munich took a trip to North London to face off against Arsenal. This is the first time since 2017 in which these two sides would meet in a Champions League match, with Bayern grabbing an infamous 5-1 victory in front of the Emirates. However, this time, it would be the home side who would be off to a flying start in front of their own fans. Arsenal forward, Bukayo Saka managed to tuck away a finish which would meet the end of Manuel Neuer's net. Arsenal's joy wouldn't last long because only 8 minutes later, former Arsenal man, Serge Gnabry managed to tuck away is shot after a careless dispossession from Gabriel. Not long later, and Bayern had a penalty which was conceded by a late challenge from William Saliba. Bayern eventually scored their penalty and who else but the former Tottenham man, Harry Kane. The Britishmen scored his 7th goal in the campaign this season, and to put the Bavarians on top for the first time of the evening. The half would end the half holding onto a slim 2-1 lead. After the second half started, Arsenal pushed hard for an equalizer. For the first 30 minutes of the second half, they couldn't find the goal that would draw them level in London. However, chance after chance later, Arsenal found their goal, coming from Leandro Trossard, capitalizing with a composed finish from a beautiful attack from Arsenal. However, both sides couldn't find a winner as all was to be decided in Munich the following week. 

Picture Above: Arsenal appealed for a penalty for this Manuel Neuer challenge on Bukayo Saka

The following day, it was a Remontada rematch between Paris Saint Germain and Barcelona in the French capital. Barca and PSG meet again for the first time since 2021, in which the Parisian side were victorious 5-2 on aggregate. However, this time Barcelona looked to be the side with the most confident start with all their constant attacks. With over half an hour played, Lamine Yamal tucked in a cross into the PSG penalty area. Gianluigi Donnarumma got a hand to it, only for Raphina to tuck it on and score his first Champions League goal and to give Barca a crucial lead. Despite PSG's constant attacks, they couldn't find an equalizer, and would go into the trailing by a goal to nil. However, straight into the second half, and PSG would eventually find their goal after a scramble in the Barcelona penalty box leading to former Barca man, Ousmane Dembélé, finishing the chance with a composed finish. However, this goal would cause a lot of infuriating tension towards the travelling supporters. Only 2 minutes later, and PSG would find themselves ahead for the first time when Vitinha would capitilize by sending the ball past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, giving the Parisians a 2-1 lead. However, all hope wouldn't be lost for Barcelona as they would find an equalizer, just only about 10 minutes later, when Raphina scored from a beautiful cross by Pedri to keep Barcelona in the tie. About 15 minutes later, and Barca would be in front for the second time. The goal came from the Danish defender, Andreas Christensen, as he headed the ball into the back of Donnarumma's net, just moments after coming on as a substitute. It would stay that way and Barca would reurn to Catalonia with a crucial 3-2 win.

Picture Above: PSG forward, Kylian Mbappé shell shocked after Barcelona virtually grab the winner in Paris

Elsewhere in Spain, Atletico Madrid hosted Borussia Dortmund in the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid. Atleti were heavy favourites go through to their first semi final since 2017, while Dortmund's last semi final appearance in the Champions League came in 2013. The hosts would be off to a flying start, because within four minutes, Rodrigo de Paul scored a simple goal yet it was proved effective to Atletico Madrid and their many supporters from around the world, as that goal would put them 1-0 up within the first five minutes. Atletico's day would only get better because in the 21st minute. This time, the goal came from Samuel Lino who finished it absolutely beautifully. With the ball dispatched into the Dortmund net, the lead would be doubled and Atletico would go into the first half with a comforting 2-0 advantage. In the second half, both teams attacked with full confidence which forced the keepers into excellent saves. However, in the 81st minute, Dortmund found a way back into the tie. After a scramble in the Atletico penalty area, Sebastian Haller was there to finish it off wonderfully. However, despite the goal, it wouldn't be enough to bring the Germans back into the tie, as Atletico would travel to Dortmund with a 2-1 aggregate lead, looking to qualify for the last 4 for the first time since 2017. 

Picture Above: Atletico Madrid player, Rodrigo De Paul celebrating with the fans after scoring early 

And with that, the first leg and bit of drama of the last 8 is completed. Who will make the final 4 and be one step closer to conquering Europe in London, and who's European dreams will end in tatters. The Champions Blog will return soon as we look into the second leg on the quarter finals and the 4 teams into the semi finals.