Champions League round of 16 (3/7 – 3/8)

This week we got the second leg of the first four games of the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League, and there is a lot to dissect, so let’s begin with the games that happened this last Tuesday.

Four in ✅
Four more 🔜

Who'll join our quarter-finalists?#UCL pic.twitter.com/VmyyPVdGxj

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 8, 2023

Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea were facing off at Stamford Bridge after the former won 1-0 in Germany, and their forms couldn’t be any more opposites: Dortmund had won all their games in 2023 and the Blues were struggling massively in the Premier League, despite their notorious investment this season. However, this second leg proved that football is not predictable by any means.

The game was very even for the most part, but the Blues got the most out of it as Raheem Sterling tied the series with a goal in the 43^rd minute. Afterward, Chelsea started to stiff Dortmund’s attack and the latter couldn’t do much for the rest game as Kai Havertz, through a penalty, sent the English club to the quarterfinals. A much-needed result for manager Graham Potter as he can breathe for a few more games.

On the other match that took place this Tuesday, Benfica had defeated Club Brugge 2-0 in the first game and they managed to up that by beating them 5-1 in the second one. The Portuguese side has proven to be the revelation of the tournament, kicking Juventus out of the competition in the group stages, topping their group and now heading to the quarterfinals. Their young talented striker, Gonçalo Ramos, scored a brace and made quite an impression during the match.

Wednesday came and we can safely say that these were the most promising matches from this badge of the round of 16: Bayern Munich vs Paris Saint Germain and Tottenham vs. AC Milan.

Bayern defeated the Parisians 1-0 in the latter’s stadium in the first leg, and they managed to make their presences known in the second leg as well. The Germans tactically outclassed Galtier’s team and players of the caliber of Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi were left stranded during the vast majority of the match. Marco Verratti, the team’s engine in midfield during most of their billionaire era, had a very negative performance when his team needed him the most.

Embed from Getty Images

Ironically, it would be another former PSG player (as Kingsley Coman scored the sole goal in the first leg), Eric Choupo-Moting, who would score the opening goal for the Bavarian side in the Allianz Arena stadium. Near the end of the game, Serge Gnabry would seal Bayern’s pass to the next round and another Champions League failure for the PSG project.

On a similar note to PSG, manager Antonio Conte continues to struggle in the Champions League and this time he had to endure an early exit with Tottenham at the hands of AC Milan. The Italian giants had control during most of the game and Tottenham squandered most of their chances, with defender Cristian Romero getting sent off being another nail in the coffin for the English club.

Conte’s ordeal with the Champions League continues and so Tottenham’s problems in recent years to compete at the highest levels.

Meijer, Ramos, Gnabry, Sterling ⚽

Who scored the best goal this week? #UCLGOTW || @Heineken

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 8, 2023