The Champions LeagueIts round of 16 is only midway through, but we’ve already seen City of Manchester scored five goals in the past Sports CP, Dusan Vlahovic waste no time in announcing his arrival Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain‘S Kylian Mbappe dizzy Real Madrid with its late winner.
Manchester United have to rely on a substitute Anthony Elanga to avoid failure at Atlético Madridwhen Liverpool and the defending champion Chelsea both lead 2-0 in their respective relationships. The last time we came to a shocking result was Bayern Munichdraw at FC Salzburg while the league’s top scorer, Ajax‘S Sebastien Hallerscored at both ends at Benfica.
We asked Gab Marcotti, James Olley, and Graham Hunter for their views on some of the big questions.
1:14
Craig Burley and Steve Nicol praised Dusan Vlahovic after Juventus’ 1-1 draw with Villarreal.
What caught your attention from the first days of round 16?
Marcotti: City of Manchester. I know it’s an “obvious captain” thing to say, but of the first leg favorites, I think they look the most impressive. Salzburg also proves – again – that if you have the speed and energy and are well trained, you can almost outrun one of the strong contenders.
Olley: City have undeniably impressed, but elsewhere there is plenty of speculation as to how long it will take Vlahovic to make an impact in this competition for Juventus following his €75m move in September. His January from Fiorentina. The answer is 32 seconds. 22 years old scored the fastest goal ever by a player making his Champions League debut. Even though it’s only enough to earn a 1-1 draw in VillarrealVlahovic has declared himself on the biggest stage in Europe with great style.
Hunter: Many choices: Vlahovic comes to Champions League football like a duck meets water, Joao Felix sent another message to Diego Simeone that he was the “real deal,” the defending champions play with power, Mohamed Salah shrugged at AFCON disappointment in exchange for Euro magnificence, Real Madrid looked pathetic in Paris. But on the first night the away goals rule wasn’t applied in UEFA competitions since 1965 – a ridiculous, negative change – the best part of this round so far has to be Man City destroyed Sporting 5-0. The serious attitude they display, seemingly saying “we play this way, home or away,” is inspiring.
1:11
Ale Moreno praised Kylian Mbappe after his performance in Paris Saint-Germain’s 1-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Besides Mbappe, Messi and Neymar, who is the most important person for PSG?
Hunter: Everything depends on the context. For PSG’s future “signing credibility”, they must show they are capable of doing it Lionel Messi happiness and success. That is crucial to how PSG are perceived by other top players and is key if they want to influence the season-defining number of goals their Argentinian conductor provides in the short term. term. For the team to open up opponents who just sit deep and let them excite Messi, that’s probably a performance Neymar Who is the most important person? But in all other respects – including his age, growth potential, ability to deliver goals and fend off PSG’s star-coveted opponents most – it’s Mbappe of the long haul.
Marcotti: Right now, it’s Mbappe. Not only because he is in better form, but also because he is not as dependent on supply as the others and he is also completely healthy.
Olley: It would be a stretch to not say Lionel Messi, but Mbappe has eight goals in his last nine games (Messi has three in nine, Neymar has only just returned from injury). Additionally, the uncertainty over the Frenchman’s future could provide a new sense of purpose that could help PSG in the coming weeks.
2:13
Alejandro Moreno thinks Atletico Madrid’s performance reflects more than how poorly Manchester United have played.
Which ‘in control’ team is most at risk of overturning?
Olley: Manchester United are not necessarily in control of their game against Atletico Madrid, but they are favorites to progress later Wednesday’s 1-1 draw in Spain. However, United were lucky to come out of the Wanda Metropolitano with that scoreline, and Atletico were better on the road in the Champions League this season, beating Porto and AC Milan in the group stage. Their willingness to hold the ball to prioritize stability in defense is a conundrum that United have repeatedly failed to solve at Old Trafford in recent times, so the warning signs are very clear.
Hunter: There aren’t many “under control” relationships, and only one that we can confidently declare is over. But (and I can’t believe I’m saying this, given how horrible Madrid has been their 1-0 defeat at the Parc des Princes, and taking into account that they will be missing Ferland Mendy and CasemiroPSG is weird. They are indeed very progressive candidates, but obviously very brittle and they are only 48 hours in a row, a crisis or a strange outcome. Karim Benzema unfit for the first leg but hopefully will be energized for the second leg. Anyone who understands Los Blancos, at home under headlights and with cynical pride, knowing that, historically, miracles can happen. Unless, of course, Mbappe, Messi and Neymar end up clicking… anyway, bring it on.
Marcotti: That’s a really good question, especially since the away goals rule has been dropped and may not be as clear-cut as one might think. So I would say Ajax. A 2-2 draw away from home Following the old rules means you’ve actually passed. Now it means you have to win at home. And that could give Benfica a chance at the break.
– Daily ESPN FC live stream on ESPN+ (US only)
– No ESPN? Instant access
What is your favorite Champions League final host city?
Marcotti: I’d say Milan, because that’s my hometown, but that would show my bias. So I would say Kyiv, where I watched Real Madrid beat Liverpool in the 2018 final and also saw Spain win Euro 2012 to win their third consecutive major tournament. I love how the stadium is right in town and, given the current situation, my thoughts and prayers go to the people of Kyiv that they can remain safe.
Olley: Well, it’s hard – there are so many great cities to choose from. I could give a boring logistics answer here and say Madrid. Not that Spain’s capital isn’t great in its own right: it’s a beautiful place, the weather is always great and you have your choice of the iconic Bernabeu or the modern wonder of the Wanda Metropolitano . But more importantly, both locations are on the metro system and the city center is well connected to the airport.
Hunter: I’ve been to 15 Champions League finals in 13 different cities, so it was a tough choice. I may be affected when participating in a sponsor’s trip to Hampden when Zinedine Zidane scores the HUGE goal for Real Madrid. Or when I interviewed a player who joined with the trophy in the dressing room not long after the opening whistle (Wembley, Munich). Or where I go to the stadium on a trailer (Berlin). But my favorite has to be the one that changed my life. Manchester United vs. Bayern Munich at BarcelonaThe Camp Nou of 1999 was remarkable, in many ways, but my work that night was discovered by (the late) head of Sky Sports and he recruited me to cover Spanish football. theirs for it.
