UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2024-2025 ROUND OF 16 SUMMARY REPORT

 

Dear UEFA,

I get it! You want money. But why did you arrange for the Round of 16 to be played right after the knockout matches? I wanted to take a break for a bit and do something else. What the fuck, UEFA?

Anyways, let’s see the end results of the Round of 16…

 

 

BARCELONA vs. BENFICA

First leg: 1-0 for Barca

Second leg: 3-1 for Barca

Barcelona wins 4-1 on aggregate

 

 

To be quite frank with you, I wasn’t expecting Barcelona to put up a fight in these two legs. Benfica put up a good show against a giant, and they shouldn’t feel bad about losing. Honestly speaking, both Barcelona and Benfica played incredible football. The first leg is indeed noteworthy due to the result, the red card Cubarsi received in the 22^nd minute for his tackle on Pavlidis, and Benfica’s countless attempts at preventing Barcelona from scoring a second and giving it their all to draw the game or end it in their favour.

The second leg was magical due to the showmanship from Yamal. That kid is barely 18, yet he’s doing it like he’s been playing for eons. That bath Messi gave him when he was a little loaf of bread all those years ago was in fact a blessing. Besides Yamal, Barcelona were brilliant once more, whereas Benfica broke down and couldn’t do much after Otamendi’s goal put his side in the lead.

I’d say this draw was between equals, and the better team won…

 

 

LIVERPOOL vs. PSG

First leg: 1-0 for Liverpool

Second leg: 1-0 for PSG

Penalties: 1-4 for PSG

PSG wins on penalties 1-4

 

 

You know, I kind of find it funny how PSG are mocked for being a club that bought its way to victory, turning Ligue 1 into a farmer’s league and never being able to win a Champions League trophy, turned out to play one of the best matches in the Round of 16, in both legs.

It was rather jarring seeing PSG dominating Liverpool with loads of chances, possession, pressure, defence, attacks, you name it they must’ve done it, during the first leg of the draw. Allison Becker was the hero of that match, as he saved Liverpool’s arse multiple times after his team scored the only goal of that game.

The poor run from, I guess the champions of England for this season, didn’t stop there. It continued well over into the second leg, where they struggled to even hold possession, let alone reach PSG’s goal. Dembele’s goal in the 12^th minute was the only one for the second leg, and the game after regular time went onto extra time, only for that to end up in a penalty shoot-out with PSG as the victors, with their goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma as the man of the match. I’ve never seen Liverpool being so dogshit before in the last couple of years. Fair play to the French side, though. They earned their spot in the Quarter-Finals.

 

 

INTER vs. FEYENOORD

First leg: 2-0 for Inter

Second leg: 2-1 for Inter

Inter wins 4-1 on aggregate

 

 

I forgot this draw even happened. Inter won it with ease. Swiftly moving onto…

 

 

LILLE vs. DORTMUND

First leg: 1-1

Second leg: 2-1 for Dortmund

Dortmund wins 3-2 on aggregate

 

 

Another set of matches I forgot even existed! Dortmund almost dropped the ball, but managed to win. Can we move onto games that were somewhat interesting?

 

 

BAYERN vs. BAYERN

First leg: 3-0 for Bayern

Second leg: 2-0 for Bayern

Bayern wins 5-0 on aggregate

 

 

A draw that wasn’t very engaging, but at least it was better than the last two.

Bayern know that Bayer were formidable opponents, back at home and in Europe, so underestimating Bayer could mean a huge blow to their rep and a fat L in the trophy cabinet. So Bayern did what Bayern does best: DEMOLISH, CONQUER AND RULE!!!

Bayer stood no chance in either leg against Bayern. They were completely outplayed, outclassed and outmanoeuvred. In the end, Bayer got eliminated and Bayern advanced through the competition with ease.

I forgot to add that my money was on Bayern beating Bayern… I didn’t win much, but it was good enough for what it was…

I also forgot to ask, but did you read all of that properly?

 

 

ASTON VILLA vs. CLUB BRUGGE

First leg: 3-1 for Villa

Second leg: 3-0 for Villa

Villa wins 6-1 on aggregate

 

 

It seems that 1982 may be repeating itself this year.

Aston Villa are ON FIRE in Europe. Did really good in the league phase, and did really good in the Round of 16.

First leg was an easy W for the English side, with the team scoring early on in the first leg, which was then followed with a delayed, but a great 2 goal reply after Brugge equalised in a short amount of time.

The second leg was… Assensio’s dream match. What a great lad!

That’s all I have to say on the matter. If they reach the semis… OH BOY!!!

 

 

MADRID vs. MADRID

First leg: 2-1 for Madrid

Second leg: 1-0 for Madrid

Penalty shootout: 2-4 for Madrid

Madrid wins 2-4 on penalties

 

 

A controversial one.

Madrid is known as the royal club not just in Spain or Europe, but the entire world. The other Madrid is known for its passionate side rather than the royal one. Thus, makes them great and bitter rivals.

BUT THE MATCH WAS FIXED, I’M FUCKING TELLING YOU!!!

I have to keep it clean and neutral, now. Come on, boy!

First leg: easy win for Madrid. Madrid didn’t know what was doing.

Second leg: Madrid held it surprisingly well, and put the pressure on the other Madrid. So much so that their star player, Vinícius Júnior, missed a pen.

But the controversy happened during the penalty shootout, when Madrid’s Alvarez took his pen and scored, but was disallowed because he double touched the ball after he slipped when taking his shot. His goal was disallowed, and Madrid went on to win the penalty shootout.

The VAR decision was met with criticism. Both in favour and against the decision. What do you think? Was it fair for the ref to disallow the goal?

 

 

ARSENAL vs. PSV

First leg: 7-1 for Arsenal

Second leg: 2-2

Arsenal wins 9-3 on aggregate

 

 

Second leg, they drew, but both games can be summed up using the video bellow. PSV is Remy in this case

Video was made by Continuum Vortex (Mikazuki)

 

 

CONFIRMED TEAMS FOR THE QUARTER-FINALS

PSG and Aston Villa were the biggest surprises for me. PSG because they played great in their matches against Liverpool, and Aston Villa because they haven’t been in the competition since forever and are doing really well. Kind of like how Leicester ran their 2016/2017 campaign in Europe. Let’s just hope it doesn’t end with them losing in the Quarter-Finals. I really need a tiny break from football and write a story or something.

 

 

Until next time

Ѓорѓи „GioGio“ Илиев