Champions League Results 2022: Qualified Teams After Tuesday Quarterfinal Games
Apr 12, 2022
MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 12: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Chelsea at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, in Madrid, Spain, 12 April 2022. (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
It's looking increasingly like the 2021-22 Champions League title will be headed to Spain.
Real Madrid and Villarreal each advanced to the semifinals after taking care of business in the second leg of their quarterfinal matchups Tuesday.
Villarreal managed to move on in a 2-1 aggregate win over Bayern Munich after playing the German side to a 1-1 draw, while Real Madrid escaped 5-4 in the aggregate after a 3-2 loss to Chelsea.
Both second legs proved to be nail-biters that went down to the wire. Villarreal finally broke through with a goal in the 88th minute by Samuel Chukwueze to sneak away with the draw after Bayern Munich dominated the match.
Bayern held possession for 68 percent of the match and outshot Villarreal 23-4. The only on-goal shot of the match for Villarreal came when Chukwueze scored his goal.
Bayern entered the match having won 12 of its last 13 home games in Champions League competition.
Real Madrid likewise sweated things out and needed extra time to put away the matchup in aggregate. Karim Benzema scored in the 96th minute to allow Madrid to escape with a 3-2 loss.
Real Madrid will move on to play the winner of Atletico Madrid vs. Manchester City. City currently holds a 1-0 lead heading into the second leg of their matchup.
Villarreal will almost certainly be going up against Liverpool, given Liverpool's 3-1 lead over Benfica after the first leg of their quarterfinal.
Top Winners and Losers After Tuesday's Champions League Quarterfinals Leg 2 Results
Apr 12, 2022
Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and Chelsea FC at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 12, 2022. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP) (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images)
Like New York City's hottest club, Tuesday's second-leg quarterfinal matchups at the UEFA Champions League had everything.
Real Madrid's extra-time victory in aggregate, 5-4, after Chelsea initially erased a 3-1 aggregate deficit with three straight goals. Villarreal's unthinkable 1-1 draw that pushed it to a 2-1 victory on aggregate over Bayern Munich. Controversial VAR rulings and questionable refereeing decisions. Some of the most beautiful goals you'll see.
We'll get into the specifics below. But if you love the beautiful game, this was a day to remember.
Winner: Samuel Chukwueze
Calling Samuel Chukwueze a super sub would be doing him a disservice. With one beautiful finish on a Villarreal counter, he became a club legend.
Unai Emery could be easily listed as a winner on the day as well, as his tactics led his prohibitive underdog squad to a stunning result, on the road, on Tuesday. But it was Chukwueze's goal that was the definitive moment.
Loser: Julian Nagelsmann
This one is going to sting the Bavarians for a long, long time.
Bayern Munich's inability to secure a victory, at home, with its significant talent advantage can't be considered anything short of a massive failure. And it's a failure that will rest at the feet of first-year manager Julian Nagelsmann.
That type of Villareal counter-attack for the goal has happened throughout the 180 minutes of the tie. Who on earth is occupying Bayern’s defensive midfield areas in transition. Nobody. The structure of Nagelsmann’s transition defence has been poor.
Bayern Munich is well on its way to winning a 10th straight Bundesliga title, so all is not lost for Nagelsmann. But domestic titles are old hat for Bayern Munich at this point. The real prize is UCL glory, and Nagelsmann's charges let it slip away against an opponent they should have beaten.
Winner: Real Madrid's Resolve
You could easily single out Karim Benzema here for his extra-time winner, another stroke of genius in a career full of them:
But the entire Real Madrid squad deserves a shout after coming into Tuesday with a 3-1 advantage on aggregate, promptly gave up three goals, sucked it up and found a way to stave off defeat and put Chelsea away in added time.
Los Blancos could have easily folded under that adversity against the defending UCL champions. Instead, they found a way. A special night for the most successful club in Champions League history.
Loser: Chelsea's Chance to Repeat
The Blues had them. With just 15 minutes to play, unlikely hero Timo Werner gave them a 3-0 advantage, and all Chelsea had to do was hold on.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 12, 2022
It could not.
Perhaps there was some karma in the loss. Toni Rudiger's second-half goal, Chelsea's second of the game, should have never happened after coming off a corner that should have instead been a goal kick.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 12, 2022
But it all would have been moot, regardless, if Chelsea had held the lead. With the chance to move on to the semifinals, the Blues were undone by the brilliance of Modric and Benzema.
In the process, they lost the chance to become the first repeat UCL champions since Real Madrid pulled off the feat three straight times between the 2015-16 and 2017-18 seasons. Before that, the last repeat winner was AC Milan in 1988-89 and 1989-90.
Perhaps it was only fitting, then, that Los Blancos personally ended Chelsea's bid.
Real Madrid Outlasts Chelsea in Thriller, Advances to Champions League Semifinals
Apr 12, 2022
MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 12: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring their team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg Two match between Real Madrid and Chelsea FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 12, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Karim Benzema is inevitable.
The French star scored the winning goal in extra time as Real Madrid sent Chelsea packing 5-4 on aggregate in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Benzema put Chelsea to the sword in the first leg with a hat trick at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel didn't mince words about his club's precarious position. He said immediately after the 3-1 first-leg defeat on Wednesday that the Blues would "get hammered at the Bernabeu" with a similar showing in the return fixture.
Tuchel's tone didn't change much Monday.
"It is one of the biggest challenges to perform away at the Bernabeu," he told reporters. "It is even more difficult if you have to earn a certain result, if you need to win with a minimum of two goals or better or maybe a three-goal difference, that makes it almost impossible and very, very difficult, but still it is worth trying."
If the German was trying to deploy some reverse psychology, it certainly seemed to work in the first half.
Mason Mount opened the scoring in the 15th minute, continuing what has been a rich vein of form.
Beyond just Mount's goal, Chelsea registered eight total shots and two on target. Real Madrid was limited to three shots, all of which were wide of the mark.
Perhaps the first-place club in La Liga was guilty of resting on its laurels a bit because Madrid flattered to deceive in the opening half. And with the abolition of the away goals rule, the one-goal aggregate lead wasn't as advantageous as it would've been in years past.
Chelsea only needed one more tally to make things really interesting, and Antonio Rudiger duly delivered in the 51st minute.
Real Madrid had reason to feel aggrieved, though, since the goal came from a corner that shouldn't have been a corner in the first place.
Real Madrid concede a goal from a corner that should’ve been a goal kick.
Marcos Alonso appeared to net Chelsea's third goal of the match in the 62nd minute when he fired a right-footed shot inside the far post from close range. However, the goal was taken off the board when he was judged to have handled the ball prior to the attempt.
Fresh off a brace in the Blues' 6-0 demolition of Southampton, Timo Werner left no room for interpretation when he feinted twice and managed to sneak the ball just under Thibaut Courtois in the 75th minute.
Chelsea's 4-3 aggregate advantage didn't hold for very long. In the 80th minute, Luka Modric floated an inch-perfect pass to Rodrygo, who volleyed home the equalizer. Between the assist and the finish, it was a masterful piece of attacking.
Modric's pass was so good that Rodrygo scored a perfect equalizer on the full volley in the Champions League quarters and nobody cares
— Ryan Rosenblatt, World Series Champion (@RyanRosenblatt) April 12, 2022
In the second minute of second-half injury time, Christian Pulisic could've dealt the decisive blow. His volley from inside the box sailed over the bar.
While that was a costly miss, Tuchel had plenty of reason to believe his players could make the vital breakthrough in extra time.
Brilliant performance from Chelsea in Madrid. Brave, intelligent and technically/tactically spot on. Too many top performers to single out. 3-1 after 90 mins the very least they deserve. And at this point they look like they have what it takes to finish the job in extra time
As many have reflected already, the attention and credit being paid to the 34-year-old are long overdue. Because he shared the pitch with Cristiano Ronaldo, his contributions at Real Madrid have often been overlooked.
Now that he's the main man, it's impossible to ignore Benzema's contributions, which puts his time at the club into a different context. He has undoubtedly earned his place alongside the greatest players to step into the dressing room at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid will wait for the second leg of Manchester City and Atletico Madrid's matchup to learn of its opponent in the semifinals. City holds a 1-0 lead ahead of Wednesday's clash at Wanda Metropolitano in the Spanish capital.
Villarreal Eliminate Bayern Munich, Advance to UCL Semifinals with 88th-Minute Winner
Apr 12, 2022
Villarreal's Nigerian midfielder Samuel Chukwueze celebrates scoring the 1-1 during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final, second leg football match FC Bayern Munich v FC Villarreal in Munich, southern Germany on April 12, 2022. (Photo by Jose Jordan / AFP) (Photo by JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Villarreal completed its stunning upset over Bayern Munich with a 2-1 aggregate win in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.
After grabbing a surprising 1-0 advantage in the first leg at home, the La Liga squad closed things out in Tuesday's second leg at Allianz Arena with a late winner by Samuel Chukwueze.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 12, 2022
Robert Lewandowski had equalized the tie with a goal in the 52nd minute, his 13th of the Championship League campaign. It seemed another Bayern goal would be inevitable, but it was Villarreal that came through on the counterattack in the closing minutes of regulation.
Bayern was seeking its seventh European championship and second in the last three years, but it couldn't overcome last year's Europa League winners.
Villarreal will now face the winner of Liverpool and Benfica in the first leg of the UCL semifinals on April 26 or 27.
After a first leg that featured just one goal, the second leg was another defensive struggle with neither side able to create many opportunities early.
Lewandowski was quiet in the first half but finally came through with the match's first goal in the 52nd minute:
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 12, 2022
It created a 1-1 tie on aggregate, setting up a dramatic finish.
Bayern Munich continued to produce more shots, but it was the first shot on net for Villarreal that ended up deciding the match. Chukwueze finished an excellent pass from Gerard Moreno on the counter to put the Spanish club ahead for the eventual win.
It was a change from the first half when each team failed to take advantage of its few chances.
There was more pressure on Bayern, which came out with an aggressive 3-2-4-1 formation led by Lewandowski. Bayern had 63 percent possession in the first half while outshooting Villarreal 8-2, although only one shot was on net.
The home team simply wasn't as dangerous as it should have been:
Bayern have five attackers on the pitch and they've managed just one shot on target in the first-half. Villarreal sitting deep, but Bayern should be better than this
Lewandowski had a yellow card and might have deserved a second one but was fortunate to stay on the pitch. While the striker came through with a goal in the second half, it wasn't enough to keep his team in the competition.
After consecutive wins over some of Europe's top clubs in Juventus and Bayern Munich, Villarreal is now into the UCL semifinals for the first time since 2006.
Top Winners and Losers After Wednesday's Champions League Quarterfinals Leg 1 Results
Apr 6, 2022
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 06: Karim Benzema,, player of Real Madrid, is celebrating the goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on April 06, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Antonio Villalba/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
The Champions League quarterfinals continued on Wednesday, with Real Madrid smacking the defending champions Chelsea 3-1 and Villarreal stunning Bayern Munich, 1-0.
It was another fantastic day of football, and below we'll break down the biggest winners and losers from the first-leg action.
Winner: Karim Benzema
Any time one of these articles is written and Real Madrid played, it's basically a given that Karim Benzema will be among the winners.
So it won't come as a surprise that the Real Madrid striker notched a hat trick on Wednesday, his latest flash of brilliance in what has been a superb run during the Champions League.
IT’S THOSE TWO AGAIN! VINI JR FINDS KARIM BENZEMA WHO SCORES IN HIS SEVENTH STRAIGHT GAMES. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/6vKqmu6JDs
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 6, 2022
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 6, 2022
Karim Benzema's night...
✅ 1st French player to score 11 goals in a European Cup season ✅ 1st player to score a #UCL hat trick vs Chelsea ✅ 1st Real Madrid player since Ronaldo Názario (2003 vs Man United) to score a road #UCL hat trick on English soil pic.twitter.com/fjFI5G7YqA
50 - @Benzema has been involved in 50+ goals (37 goals, 13 assists) in all competitions a single season for the first time in his club career. At @realmadriden, only @Cristiano (eight times) did it in 21st Century.
That's a decision that Mendy would love to have back, especially with Benzema looming. And it made Chelsea's hurdle against Real Madrid all the taller heading into the second leg.
Winner: Arnaut Danjuma
It isn't easy to slay a giant. But Arnaut Danjuma kicked down Bayern's beanstalk on Wednesday.
The Villarreal winger finished off a brilliant team goal in the first half, giving the Spanish side an advantage it wouldn't squander:
Bayern haven't lost away in the #UCL since 2017. 👀
Danjuma had a few chances to widen that gap, hitting the post on one attempt and completely whiffing on another. But Villarreal will be pleased to take a one-goal advantage to Munich, with Unai Emery's charges proving to be a tough side to break down while posing a real threat on the counter.
Winner: Unai Emery
It might be easy to pick a loser for Bayern here, from a group of attackers who failed to produce a goal to a defense that was alarmingly carved up by Villarreal's counter. Fair enough.
But Unai Emery deserves a lot of credit for a fantastic game plan against the Bavarian giants. His team defended fiercely and was vibrant going forward when given the chance. This was an Emery gem.
Villarreal have ended Bayern's record-breaking away run in the Champions League:
Replicating the feat in the second leg will be a major challenge. But Villarreal certainly looked up for it in the first one.
Champions League Results 2022: Top Scorers After Wednesday Quarterfinal Ties
Apr 6, 2022
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 06: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring their team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on April 06, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Villarreal are one step closer to the UEFA Champions League semifinals.
Liverpool defeated Benfica 3-1 and Manchester City defeated Atletico Madrid 1-0 in the first leg of their quarterfinal ties on Tuesday, while Real Madrid defeated Chelsea 3-1 and Villarreal defeated Bayern Munich 1-0 in their first legs on Wednesday.
While much of the attention is on the results as the eight remaining teams battle for the title, there was also a shakeup when it came to the top scorers in Champions League play thus far with Karim Benzema scoring a hat trick for Real Madrid.
Here is a look at the top of the list, which can be found in full at UEFA.com.
1. Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich, 12 goals
T2. Sebastien Haller, Ajax, 11 goals
T2. Karim Benzema, Real Madrid, 11 goals
4. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, 8 goals
5. Christopher Nkunku, Leipzig, 7 goals
Salah is the one in the top five for goals for Liverpool, but they used more of a balanced attack to create a two-goal lead over Benfica in Tuesday's matchup.
Ibrahima Konate, Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz were the ones to find the back of the net in the impressive showing. Diaz in particular shined with an assist on the Mane goal and his own insurance goal in the 87th minute.
That final goal figures to be key as Liverpool looks to hold onto the aggregate advantage in the second leg next Wednesday.
There were far fewer fireworks for Manchester City in their win over Atletico Madrid, but star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne continued his red-hot streak with a timely goal in the 70th minute just when it appeared the two sides would head to the second leg with a scoreless draw:
Clinical from Kevin De Bruyne on his 50th #UCL appearance. 🎯
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 5, 2022
Attention then shifted to Wednesday, and Benzema wasted little time stealing the show.
The Real Madrid forward buried two headers in the opening 24 minutes as his side stunned the Stamford Bridge crowd and quickly seized control. He also skyrocketed himself into the top three on the Champions League goals leaderboard and just missed a first-half hat trick with an open look at a potential third.
IT’S THOSE TWO AGAIN! VINI JR FINDS KARIM BENZEMA WHO SCORES IN HIS SEVENTH STRAIGHT GAMES. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/6vKqmu6JDs
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 6, 2022
Karim Benzema. Two perfect headers in three minutes.
However, Chelsea didn't fold, cutting the lead in half with Kai Havertz's goal before intermission.
Yet it felt like just a matter of time before Benzema would score again, and he did one minute into the second half. Perhaps the only surprise was that his third goal didn't come off a header, as he took advantage of a terrible Chelsea turnover and provided some breathing room for Real Madrid.
It didn't appear as if the lead would hold up with Bayern Munich controlling possession and finishing with a 22-12 advantage in shots, but Villarreal's defense and goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli had an answer for every attempt.
Karim Benzema's 2nd-Half Hat Trick Leads Real Madrid Past PSG in UCL Stunner
Mar 9, 2022
Real Madrid's David Alaba celebrates with Karim Benzema, right, who scored his side's first goal during the Champions League, round of 16, second leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, March 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Karim Benzema and Real Madrid overcame a two-goal deficit to stun Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League round of 16 matchup.
After a 1-0 home win in the first leg, PSG were seemingly in a great position after Kylian Mbappe gave them a 1-0 halftime lead at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. Real Madrid didn't give in, however, with Benzema scoring three second-half goals to win 3-2 on aggregate.
Benzema needed just 17 minutes to complete the hat trick and transform the tie.
At 34 years and 80 days Karim Benzema is the oldest player to EVER score a hat trick in the Champions League.
Paris Saint-Germain have a star-studded team with Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar, but they are once again unable to secure a Champions League title. Real Madrid, meanwhile, lead all clubs with 13 European titles and will look to top last year's semifinal appearance.
Real Madrid appeared dead in the water when trailing by two goals on aggregate, but a mistake from Paris goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma kept the tie alive.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 9, 2022
That by Donnarumma was one of the worst Goalkeeping errors I have ever seen. Especially when you consider the circumstances. This tie was just about done and dusted!#RealPSG
— Maximiliano Bretos (@MaxBretosSports) March 9, 2022
It was enough to create drama for the final 30 minutes, but Benzema didn't need that much time as he scored two more goals back-to-back.
PSG never recovered, unable to find an equalizer in the closing minutes.
It was a major shift after Paris Saint-Germain seemingly had one foot in the quarterfinal after the first half. The French squad took advantage of the counter-attack early in the match, with Mbappe putting a lot of pressure on the defense.
Just like he did in the first leg, Mbappe scored the first goal of the second match with a great finish in the 39th minute.
KYLIAN MBAPPÉ GIVES PSG THE LEAD 💥
PSG now lead Real Madrid 2-0 on aggregate in the Champions League round of 16 @brfootball
Neymar provided a perfect pass to set up the break, but it was also an elite finish by Mbappe to get past Thibaut Courtois. The 23-year-old continues to impress as one of the best players in the world.
Brilliant deception and execution from Mbappe. #RMAPSG
8 - Kylian Mbappé has scored eight goals in Champions League knockout stage since the start of the last season, three more than any other player. Clutch. #RMAPSGpic.twitter.com/78lATBsMDV
The forward's chances weren't as prevalent in the second half with Real Madrid doing a much better job of getting back in transition.
The hosts also improved in the final third, leading to Benzema's outstanding finishes to earn the 3-1 victory.
Paris Saint-Germain entered the tournament as one of the favorites to win it all, but a tough draw has them going out in the round of 16. On the other hand, Real Madrid will be a club no one will want to face in the quarterfinal.
Top Winners and Losers After Tuesday's Champions League Round of 16 Leg 2 Results
Mar 8, 2022
Bayern's Robert Lewandowski is celebrated after he scored his third goal during the Champions League, round of 16, second leg soccer match between Bayern and Salzburg in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, March 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Tuesday was a day of contrasts in the Champions League Round of 16 ties. Inter beat Liverpool 1-0 in a close, dramatic affair but lost 2-1 on aggregate.
And after Bayern Munich were held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their matchup against Salzburg, they responded with a 7-1 shellacking of the Austrian side.
Below, we'll break down the day's biggest winners and losers, as Liverpool and Bayern advance to the quarterfinals.
Winner: Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski and scoring UCL goals: Name a more iconic duo.
All this man does is come up big for Bayern Munich when it matters. So it was hardly a surprise that 23 minutes into Tuesday's match, he already had himself a hat trick.
Robert Lewandowski becomes the first player in Europe's top 5 leagues to score 40 goals across all comps this season. 💥 pic.twitter.com/Cctm7suFWg
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 8, 2022
Robert Lewandowski scores a hat trick in 10 minutes against Salzburg in the Champions League ⚡️
23 - Robert Lewandowski has completed a hat-trick within 23 minutes against FC RB Salzburg tonight; the earliest treble ever scored by a player in UEFA Champions League history from the start of a match, overtaking Marco Simone for Milan v Rosenborg in 1996 (24 mins). Snappy. pic.twitter.com/aVNNmGdgVV
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 8, 2022
A minute later, they were nothing but dread, as Alexis Sanchez picked up his second yellow of the match and was sent off the pitch.
FT: #LFC 0 Inter 1 (2-1 on aggregate): Liverpool's year-long unbeaten home run is ended but they are into the QFs of the Champions League. Missed some great chances either side of Martinez's stunning strike. Alexis Sanchez's red card swung the contest back LFC's way.
Whether Sanchez deserved that second yellow—he clearly won the ball but his tackle slid him through the player—is debatable. But regardless, it was a brutal moment for an Inter side that outplayed Liverpool on the afternoon but fell a goal short of matching the Reds on aggregate (2-1).
Winner: Inter's Defensive Effort
Yes, they lost the match. But keeping a clean sheet against this Liverpool side is no easy feat. Only three teams in all competitions—Leicester City, Arsenal and Chelsea—managed to keep the Reds off the board this season.
And to do it at Anfield, on top of that, is wildly impressive.
Harsh on Inter. What a fearless collective to watch. First team to emerge from Anfield victorious in over a year some solace for the slightly harsh way they were bounced in this one. Liverpool march on, Quadruple Dreams intact
Yes, there was some luck involved. Mo Salah hit the post twice on a tough night for the Egyptian superstar.
But all in all, Inter have to be pleased with Tuesday's effort. Had Sanchez not earned a red, perhaps Inter could have pulled off the comeback.
Loser: Matthias Jaissle
Salzburg had a real shot in this tie after drawing Bayern 1-1 in the first leg. But they were completely outclassed on Tuesday, and some of that comes down to manager Matthias Jaissle's game plan.
🔴 Bayern 7-1 Salzburg
Only the eighth time a team have won by 6+ goals in the #UCL knockouts...
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 8, 2022
So Salzburg have obviously botched this, but credit to Nagelsmann: This shape has (largely) neutered them. Clean buildup from Bayern, finding Sané/Coman/Müller regularly, and Lewandowski has confiscated Wöber's soul.
There's no shame in losing to a powerhouse like Bayern. But losing by six goals in such a crucial tie is hard to justify. Jaissle has done an excellent job in his first season as Salzburg's manager, but this one was rough.
Report: UEFA Moving Champions League Final Out of Russia After Invasion of Ukraine
Feb 24, 2022
VILLARREAL, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 22: Details on an official Adidas UEFA Champions League matchball bearing the Saint Petersburg 22 logo during the UEFA Champions League Round Of Sixteen Leg One match between Villarreal CF and Juventus at Estadio de la Ceramica on February 22, 2022 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
UEFA is reportedly set to move the 2022 Champions League final from St. Petersburg after Russia
launched a military attack against Ukraine on Thursday.
ESPN's Mark Ogden reported it's "inevitable" the competition's championship match will be moved, and the
governing body of European soccer is also set to discuss the
involvement of Russian teams in its club competitions.
FIFA is also "monitoring the
situation," as Russia is scheduled to host Poland at VTB Arena in
Moscow on March 24 in a 2022 men's World Cup qualifying match, per Ogden.
Russian President Vladimir Putin
ordered the attack on Ukraine, one of its neighbors to the west,
early Thursday and vowed any efforts by other nations to interfere
would lead to "consequences you have never seen."
United States President Joe Biden
described it as an "unprovoked and unjustified attack" and
said the U.S. and its allies would respond accordingly.
"President Putin has chosen a
premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and
human suffering," Biden said. "Russia alone is responsible
for the death and destruction this attack will bring, and the United
States and its Allies and partners will respond in a united and
decisive way. The world will hold Russia accountable."
Ukraine has reported more than 40 soldiers have been killed and dozens injured following the initial attack, according to the
Associated Press.
Krestovsky Stadium in St. Petersburg was scheduled to host the Champions League final in 2021 before all the hosting dates were pushed back one year
in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
UEFA is exploring alternative
venues to host the match, which is scheduled for May 28. The tournament is in the round of 16 of the knockout stages.
Russia and Ukraine are both scheduled to take part
in the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League, beginning in June.
Top Winners and Losers After Wednesday's Champions League Round-of-16 Results
Feb 23, 2022
Manchester United's Anthony Elanga, center, celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Champions League, round of 16, first leg soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Manchester United at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
The round of 16 in the Champions League hit the halfway point Wednesday with the last two first-leg fixtures.
Things remain all square in both of the matchups. Benfica drew 2-2 with Ajax in Estadio da Luz, while Atletico Madrid was unable to protect a one-goal lead at home and finished 1-1 with Manchester United.
Here are some of the notable figures from the two contests.
Winner and Loser: Ralf Rangnick
Wednesday didn't provide much clarity as to Ralf Rangnick's suitability as the permanent successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
In the buildup to Wednesday's match, Fred conceded to TNT Sports Brazil (via The Athletic's Holly Percival) that Rangnick's interim status is less than ideal because "it's all about the short-term goals."
The Premier League is already effectively lost with United 17 points back of Manchester City, but the Champions League presents the Red Devils with an opportunity to get themselves pointed in the right direction.
More than just the draw, the manner of the result won't sit well with supporters. United mustered little in attack, and Rangnick's triple substitution in the 66th minute—bringing on Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Nemanja Matic and Alex Telles—seemed to be a case of damage limitation.
Rangnick’s really going for it with those subs. Real death or glory stuff
This isn't even one of the better Atletico sides of the Diego Simeone era. The club is fifth in La Liga and has conceded 34 goals after having allowed 25 over the entirety of last season. Still, Manchester United did almost nothing in the final third for much of the match.
Of course, Rangnick was vindicated when Anthony Elanga delivered the equalizer almost immediately after entering the match. The 19-year-old has caught the eye of the manager, which is the kind of thing that would justify why taking the interim tag off Rangnick might make sense.
The trouble with Rangnick's still-uncertain position is that he can find himself right back on the hot seat if Atletico Madrid prevails in the second leg.
Loser: Diego Simeone
Simeone was about 10 minutes away from delivering the kind of performance that has become synonymous with his time at Atletico Madrid. The club snags one goal and proceeds to use the proverbial dark arts to suffocate its opponent and survive.
Joao Felix put Atletico ahead in the seventh minute.
From there, Atleti did what it does best. Unfortunately, it was unable to muster many goalscoring opportunities on the counterattack. Felix's goal was Atletico Madrid's only shot on target.
For a long time, that wasn't much of a problem with how well Simeone's side was defending.
Atlético Madrid 1-0 Man Utd HT:
xG: 1.27-0.05 Shots: 6-2 Shots on target: 1-0 Possession: 33%-67% Touches in opp. box: 10-0 Fouls: 11-6
Ángel Correa and Felix have been very clever, as have the entire Atletico Madrid team in their turns. They have easily been able to throw the Manchester United players off with their movements on the ball.
But Atletico ultimately paid for its inability to find a second goal. When you decide to play for a 1-0 victory, you're still only one calamitous mistake away from watching all of your progress to that point disappear.
That's exactly what happened with Elanga's tally, and the sequence was emblematic of how the reigning Spanish champion lacks the defensive sharpness it possessed one season ago.
😜 Manchester United finished tonight with more shots on target (2) than Atletico Madrid (1) #UCL
Atlético Madrid – in a moment – let Manchester United put a goal on the scoreboard.
Up until the goal it was a masterclass of CHOLISMO, the Atleti of old. They deserved more because Manchester United didn't deserve that much. The missed chances, denied by posts, would've helped
FT Atletico 1-1 Man Utd. Atletico seemed set for a great night following early Joao Felix opener, but then shot themselves in foot with late Elanga equaliser.
Sebastien Haller scored 10 goals in the Premier League across a season-and-a-half with West Ham. The Ajax star now has 11 goals during this Champions League campaign alone, widening his lead over Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski.
Putting one in the back of the net for Benfica certainly dropped Haller's player rating on the night, but it shouldn't totally overshadow what he has achieved already. Imagine being told before this year started that the Ivory Coast international might wind up topping the UCL goalscoring chart.
Should Ajax lose in the second leg and get eliminated, then Haller's own goal could take on an added significance. For now, let's appreciate his inability to stop scoring at either end of the pitch.
