This season’s
round of 16 was a bit of a downer, in all honesty. Most of the matches were
mediocre, and the amount of goals scored wasn’t much fun. Most had predicted
long before who would make it into the quarters, so that’s another layer of the
disappointment that it was this season’s Round of 16. Some lucky people had
even guessed the final results for almost all games.
Overall it was
just a sub-par set of matches that an epic introduction isn’t even needed. I’m
going to dive straight into the reporting starting with Arsenal and
Leverkusen’s games.
ARSENAL vs. LEVERKUSEN
Arsenal wins 3-1 on
aggregate
The tamest of
all matches in comparison to the rest, Arsenal had a bit of a tough time trying
to beat Leverkusen in the first game. The German side struck first at the very
first minute of the second half with Andrich being the man for the job. The
struggle the “Gooners” had was finding a way to put the ball in the goal. They
did manage to do that thanks to a Havertz penalty in the 89th minute
of the match. First meeting was a somewhat evenly matched game.
Second game was
more in Arsenal’s favour. Eze and Rice being the contributors for Arsenal’s
overall victory of 2-0 in the second leg, and 3-1 in total. They had 10 corners in the second match.
Need I say more?
MANCHESTER CITY vs.
REAL MADRID
First leg: 3-0 for Real Madrid
Second leg: 2-1 for Real Madrid
Real Madrid wins 5-1 on
aggregate
To be fair,
City’s form this season has been all over the place. Not doing so well in the
Prem, not doing so well in Europe. They have Arsenal in the upcoming days to
face in the EFL Cup, and given Arsenal’s current form, plus their “genius”
tactics, they might not be able to beat them.
Same thing
happened to them in this clash against Real Madrid, which I believe UEFA is
milking it for the money. City were just shit. Honestly speaking. Utter fucking
shit.
Silva receiving
red in the 20th minute in the second leg didn’t help at all.
Haaland’s goal gave them some hope, but it wasn’t much. Real Madrid just
outplayed the Blue Scum.
CHELSEA vs. PSG
PSG wins 8-2 on
aggregate
It’s bloody
Chelsea! Do I even need to elaborate?
NEWCASTLE vs. BARCELONA
Barcelona wins 8-3 on
aggregate
Fair play to
Newcastle to have Barca under pressure for the entirety of the whole first leg
match.
Then they
realised they’re not a giant club and got stamped over with 7 goals in the
second leg.
ATALANTA vs. BAYERN
MUNCHEN
Bayern wins 10-2 on
aggregate
Article 231.
The Allied and
Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany
and her Allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and
Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence
of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies.
The only way to
summarise these matches.
GALATASARAY vs.
LIVERPOOL
Liverpool wins 4-1 on
aggregate.
Galatasaray were
similar to Newcastle in terms of thinking they’re the real deal and knocking
out a strong team.
Second leg
proved them how having too much pride can be a bad thing for the mind.
However, during the second leg, Galatasaray's Noa Lang suffered a horrific injury in which he partially severed his finger after running into an advertisement board. He has since went through the surgery and is recovering well, but good God that was an awful sight to behold.
ATLETICO MADRID vs.
SPURS
Atleti wins 7-5 on
aggregate
Despite how
tough their season is, the Championship side put up a decent fight in the second
leg of this duel in the round of 16. But it wasn’t enough to defeat one of
Spain’s best teams.
And no, I made
no errors in my writing. The newly “promoted” Championship team
did put up a decent fight in the round of 16. Sadly, their hopes and dreams
stop here.
SPORTING CP vs. BODØ/GLIMT
Sporting wins 5-3 on
aggregate
Oh how my heart
aches for the Norwegian side. By far the best team in the competition, even if
someone else wins it, they will be the champions of the people.
Their first
match against Sporting was PHENOMENAL. Taking the lead in the first half with a
comfortable 2-0 score, and then to completely seal the deal, they scored a 3rd
in the 71st minute. Domination was the name of the game and Glimt
played absolutely fine football in the first leg.
The pressure got
the better of them and couldn’t even lay a finger on Sporting in the second
leg. Conceding 3 goals in regular time wasn’t just bad, it was doomsday for the
Norwegian team. Funnily enough, the times when the goals Sporting scored were
almost identical to the ones Glimt scored. In extra time, the Portuguese side,
familiar with the pressure of playing in extra time in the Champions League,
booked their place into the quarters, with goals from Araujo and Rafael Nel.
Glimt couldn’t do anything but accept the hand fate had dealt them.
Fair play to the
Norwegian side. Saying it once again, they were phenomenal from start to
finish. Their exit of the Champions League broke the hearts of many. May you
return next season, or may another team with a mentality such as yours grace
this competition.
QUARTER – FINALISTS
Until next time
Ѓорѓи „GioGio“ Илиев
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