Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich: UCL Odds, Live Stream, TV Schedule
Feb 24, 2020
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Chelsea manager / head coach Frank Lampard during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on February 22, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images)
Premier League side Chelsea face Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich on Tuesday in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the UEFA Champions League.
The Blues crept into the knockout stages of Europe's top tournament after finishing in second place in Group H behind La Liga side Valencia.
Bayern had no such problems and topped their group with ease, winning all six matches and scoring 19 goals along the way.
Odds(courtesy of Caesars Palace):Chelsea 63-20, Draw 31-10, Bayern Munich 77-100
Match Preview
Chelsea have wobbled at home this season. They lost at Stamford Bridge to Valencia in the group stage and have also been beaten five times on home turf in the Premier League in 2019-20.
Head coach Frank Lampard will also have to cope without some key men on Tuesday. Midfielder N'Golo Kante has been ruled out for three weeks, while Christian Pulisic has not played since New Year's Day due to an adductor injury.
Mateo Kovacic is likely to continue alongside Jorginho in midfield after an impressive display against Tottenham:
Mateo Kovačić completed every single take-on he attempted, completed 95% of his passes, completed the most passes, and made more recoveries than any other play on the pitch vs. Spurs.
Lampard also has some key decisions to make in defence and attack. Willy Caballero has replaced Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal for the last four matches and will be hoping to keep his place in the side.
Meanwhile, Olivier Giroud could start again in attack after scoring in Saturday's win over Spurs, although Tammy Abraham made his return from injury as a substitute in the same game.
Bayern arrive in London after a 3-2 win in the Bundesliga over bottom side Paderborn. Striker Robert Lewandowski scored twice to take his tally for the season to 38 in all competitions:
The Poland international has been in prolific form again for Bayern. He's scored 10 goals in five Champions League games in 2019-20 and is the tournament's joint top scorer:
Former Arsenal midfielder Serge Gnabry is also in good form. He has three goals and two assists in his last two games and struck four times on his last visit to London:
Bayern have wobbled at times in the Bundesliga this season but their form in Europe has been dominant, and they have the attacking power to cause Chelsea real problems on Tuesday night.
Pep Guardiola Says Aymeric Laporte Is 'OK' Ahead of Real Madrid UCL 1st Leg
Feb 23, 2020
Manchester City's French defender Aymeric Laporte (R) reacts during the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Manchester City at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on January 21, 2020. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City can expect to have key centre-back Aymeric Laporte fully fit and raring to go for the first leg against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League last 16 on Wednesday.
City chief Pep Guardiola substituted Laporte three minutes before the hour mark during Saturday's 1-0 win away to Leicester City in the Premier League. The change sparked some concern about the fitness of a defender who missed around five months with a knee injury earlier this season.
However, Guardiola revealed the decision to sub Laporte for Nicolas Otamendi was merely a precautionary measure, one dictated by the player himself, per Press Association (h/t MailOnline):
"He asked me to be subbed. He's not injured. We cannot forget he has been out for four or five months injured. They run a lot, (Jamie) Vardy, Kelechi (Iheanacho), (Harvey) Barnes, they are all so fast. It was quite different against West Ham (on Wednesday) where there was only one striker so it was easier to control, but he's OK."
When asked directly whether Laporte would be able to complete the match at the Santiago Bernabeu, Guardiola offered an emphatic "yes" in response.
Laporte's availability could well be the single most important factor in determining whether City can overcome the 13-time winners. The former Athletic Bilbao star is the best natural defender in Guardiola's squad, with the 25-year-old aggressive in the air, quick across the deck and competent in possession.
City's attempt to win a third-straight domestic title crumbled during his absence. A threadbare back line featuring mistake-prone duo Otamendi and John Stones, along with converted midfielder Fernandinho, was found wanting.
Laporte returned for the 1-0 win over Sheffield United on January 21. He played 78 minutes at Bramall Lane and has appeared in two league games since, including Saturday against the Foxes.
43 - Aymeric Laporte has won 43 of his first 50 Premier League games, overtaking the record previously jointly-held by Ederson, Arjen Robben and Didier Drogba (42 wins from 50). Authority. pic.twitter.com/GfkLYzkYka
Significantly, City have kept three clean sheets with Laporte in the lineup. He's restored the secure base the Citizens need to afford greater freedom to artful playmakers Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Ilkay Gundogan.
City have steadied the ship at the ideal time ahead of facing a Real team in a state of flux. Poor results have been logged in back-to-back games in La Liga, with a 2-2 draw at home to struggling Celta Vigo preceding Saturday's 1-0 loss away to Levante.
Those dropped points have seen Los Blancos relinquish top spot to rivals Barcelona. The defeat in Levante also came at a further cost, with winger Eden Hazard leaving the pitch after fracturing his ankle.
Hazard has already been ruled out for Wednesday:
BREAKING: Real Madrid have announced that Eden Hazard has fractured his right ankle.
He will miss Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Man City and next Sunday’s Clasico. pic.twitter.com/5htKCDAmAs
His absence should make a Real forward line overly reliant on prolific No. 9 Karim Benzema easier to defend. Gareth Bale has found consistency and regular starts hard to come by, and the Welshman was sent home from training this week while suffering a bout of gastroenteritis, per MailOnline's Oli Gamp.
Isco and James Rodriguez are options, but the latter hasn't started a league game since October 19. Meanwhile, Rodrygo has been left out of the last three matchday squads, omissions Zinedine Zidane explained to the 19-year-old Brazilian, according to Mario Cortegana of AS.
Los Merengues are depleted in forward areas, but Zidane has proved he can find solutions in Europe before. He lifted this trophy three seasons in a row as manager during his first tenure in charge.
It's the kind of record City and Guardiola can only dream of emulating after failing to get past the quarter-final in each of the last three seasons. The club is under greater pressure to produce at this level after being hit with a UEFA-imposed ban from the tournament for the next two seasons because of financial fair play irregularities.
Laporte played down the impact of the ban on the mentality of the squad following Wednesday's 2-0 win over West Ham United, per BBC Sport: "We are professionals, a big team with big personalities in the dressing room, and I think we just think about football, nothing else. We are professionals and have to do our job. That's all."
More than any sense of desperation or defiance regarding events off the pitch, Laporte's fitness will be the catalyst for how far City will go in the Champions League.
Jose Mourinho: Tottenham 'Improved' After Dele Alli Substitution vs. RB Leipzig
Feb 19, 2020
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Tottenham Manager José Mourinho during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and RB Leipzig at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 19, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Jose Mourinho has defended his decision to substitute Dele Alli against RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday by pointing out Tottenham Hotspur were better once the midfielder left the pitch.
Alli reacted angrily when his number was called in the 64th minute of Spurs' 1-0 home defeat in the first leg of the last 16. However, Mourinho didn't take Alli's emotions personally, per Football.London's Alasdair Gold: "I think he was angry with his performance. Not with me. I think he understands why I took him off, and the team improved."
It's hard to argue with Mourinho's reasoning since Tottenham became more aggressive, both on and off the ball, once Erik Lamela had replaced Alli. The Argentinian, who had been dealing with groin and thigh injuries, led a more intense press that harassed Leipzig players and created some promising opportunities for a Spurs team otherwise outplayed for most of the night.
Lamela's industry won the ball back higher up the pitch and got Giovani Lo Celso in possession more often. Unlike Alli, Lo Celso was accurate with his passes, displayed deft touches and wasn't shy about shooting when chances came his way.
Mourinho was full of praise for the Argentina international. The box-to-box midfielder, who initially joined from Real Betis on loan last summer before making a permanent move in January, is "playing really, really well," according to his manager.
The Tottenham chief was also wowed by Lamela's performance: "He did the warm-up in front of the cameras yesterday with the team but zero training sessions and then he played like that."
Mourinho is right to talk up the resiliency and commitment of key members of his squad. Those qualities are essential for a side enduring an injury crisis up front, with strikers Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son both out.
Son could miss the rest of the season after Mourinho offered a bleak prognosis on the South Korea international's fractured arm that requires surgery, per BBC Sport.
Being without Kane and Son increases the pressure on players like winger Lucas Moura and Alli to make the difference in the final third. Goals and assists weren't eluding the 23-year-old when Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pochettino in November.
However, Alli has now scored a mere two goals over his last 16 matches in all competitions. It's a dire run that's come at the worst time for Spurs' threadbare attack.
Alli's frustration is obvious, but Tottenham can't afford to be without him at the moment, no matter how well the gifted Lo Celso performs. Mourinho may need to try a softer approach to get one of his most talented players back on track.
Top Winners, Losers After Wednesday's Champions League Round-of-16 Leg-1 Results
Feb 19, 2020
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur after being substituted during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and RB Leipzig at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 19, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Dele Alli wasn't happy about being substituted during Tottenham Hotspur's 1-0 defeat at home to RB Leipzig in the UEFA Champions League last 16 on Wednesday night.
Alli didn't enjoy the game, but Timo Werner did. Leipzig's attacking talisman stroked home a 58th-minute penalty to give the visitors a priceless away goal. It was the signature moment of a performance that would have encouraged the clubs rumoured to be keen on signing Werner to solidify their interest this summer.
Big clubs may be watching Werner, but the European elite's choice to overlook Josip Ilicic has been Atalanta's gain. The 32-year-old has used the Serie A club's maiden campaign at this level to show why he's a special talent who deserves more recognition.
Ilicic and another underrated gem, Chelsea loanee Mario Pasalic, helped Atalanta destroy hapless Valencia 4-1 at the San Siro. Los Che's fragile defence couldn't cope, with former Manchester City centre-back Eliaquim Mangala among those easily overwhelmed.
Wednesday Scores
Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 RB Leipzig
Atalanta 4-1 Valencia
Winner: Timo Werner's Career Path
Liverpool were circling Werner ahead of the match, according to MailOnline's Kit Holden, and if Reds boss Jurgen Klopp cast an eye over events in north London, he surely would have liked what he saw.
Werner led a frantic Tottenham defence on a merry dance for the best part of an hour. His varied range of movement, which included dropping off the front at the right time and drawing an overly eager defender out with him, created a host of room for others to exploit.
In truth, Leipzig rarely took advantage of the extra space Werner's intelligent play afforded. Manchester City loanee Angelino hit the post after a raiding run from left-back, while AS Roma striker Patrik Schick wasted several opportunities.
There was something fitting about it being left to Werner to apply a true finishing touch. He duly did from 12 yards after Ben Davies had felled Konrad Laimer in the box.
Still just 23, Werner is the leading light of Leipzig's bright and enterprising team. Sadly for Julian Nagelsmann, his star forward appears destined to graduate to a bigger stage sooner rather than later.
Loser: Dele Alli
Alli was off the pitch six minutes after Werner had converted the Leipzig spot-kick. His petulant reaction was more about lamenting a drab performance than showing competitive fire.
The cold reality was Alli had failed to sparkle with the onus on him to be the danger man in a depleted attack. Injuries to strikers Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son had increased the burden on Alli and Lucas Moura.
Pace and well-timed runs from out to in make Moura an obvious threat, but those qualities are wasted without the right passes to find him. Alli couldn't pick those passes between the lines, despite his natural vision and technique.
Nor was Alli able to make enough breaks from deep and beyond the front to draw attention away from Moura in central areas. He seemed a yard behind the flow of the game whenever Spurs committed numbers forward.
Alli's lacklustre display was particularly drab when compared to Giovani Lo Celso. The Argentina international was the best player on the pitch in a Tottenham shirt, while Alli's replacement, Erik Lamela, pressed Leipzig into mistakes with the drive and aggression Alli had lacked.
Giovani Lo Celso’s game by numbers vs. RB Leipzig:
• = most ball recoveries (8) • = most successful take-ons (4) • most chances created (3)
Alli must prove he can stand alone as Tottenham's main threat if Spurs are going to progress.
Winner: Josip Ilicic and Mario Pasalic
It's still a surprise a player of Ilicic's artistry has never found his way to the Premier League. His touch, clever feet and speed of thought make him a lethal finisher who creates and scores chances for fun.
Ilicic's 42nd-minute goal against Valencia continued a superb run:
There was more than one star for Gian Piero Gasperini's team, with Pasalic threading inch-perfect passes through to Ilicic and Co. all night. His classy distribution yielded a pair of assists and should have sent a message to Frank Lampard at Chelsea.
Given how pedestrian and cautious Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic can be with their distribution, Pasalic should have a future in west London. He would surely offer more as a creator than Ross Barkley and N'Golo Kante.
Loser: Eliaquim Mangala
It's hard to believe there was ever a time when Mangala was deemed worthy of a £32 million transfer fee. Yet whatever confidence the player who moved to City from Porto in 2014 had seems long gone, along with his pace, strength and timing.
Mangala struggled to track Atalanta runners and was baffled by the skill and flair of Ilicic and Papu Gomez. Valencia's defence has been struggling for a while, but the absences of Gabriel Paulista and Ezequiel Garay only compounded the problem, with Mangala proving to be out of his depth.
In fairness to the Frenchman, he wasn't helped by an equally uncertain showing from the versatile Mouctar Diakhaby alongside him. Diakhaby often operates in midfield, so he needed to lean on the experience of a veteran like Mangala.
Unfortunately for Los Che, the 29-year-old once touted as one of the best still appears unable to get his career back on track.
Champions League 2020: Top Scorers After Wednesday's Round of 16 Leg 1 Results
Feb 19, 2020
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Timo Werner of RB Leipzig celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and RB Leipzig at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 19, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur face an uphill battle if they are to qualify for the quarter-finals of the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League after losing 1-0 at home to RB Leipzig on Wednesday.
Timo Werner's 58th-minute penalty secured the Bundesliga side a potentially crucial first-leg lead in their last-16 tie against Spurs, with the second leg scheduled for March 10 at Red Bull Arena.
Atalanta, meanwhile, have one foot in the last eight after thrashing Valencia 4-1 at the San Siro.
Hans Hateboer scored a double for the hosts, and Josip Ilicic and Remo Freuler both found the net before Denis Cheryshev turned home what will surely only prove a consolation for Los Che.
Here are the updated top-scorer standings after the opening week of last-16 action in the 2019-20 Champions League:
10: Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
With his two most potent attackers sidelined, manager Jose Mourinho started with Lucas Moura and Dele Alli up front.
In the first half on Wednesday, though, Hugo Lloris was the busiest player in Spurs' side as Leipzig made a blistering start:
What a start by Leipzig. They have just had four chances in about a minute. Angelino's shot deflected on to the post by Lloris, who then saves from Werner.
If it weren't for the French goalkeeper, Tottenham would have been out of the tie after 45 minutes.
Lloris could do nothing to stop Werner scoring from the spot, though, after Ben Davies fouled Konrad Laimer.
It was nothing more than Julian Nagelsmann's side deserved, and Leipzig's away goal makes them heavy favourites to now advance to the Champions League's last eight for the first time.
Atalanta will also be first-time quarter-finalists when they inevitably advance having dominated Valencia on Wednesday.
They blew the Spanish side away with their remarkable pace in attack, and they never stopped harrying Valencia's defence.
Freuler netted the goal of the night to make it 3-0 just before the hour, his curling shot from the edge of the area nestling into the corner of the goal.
Five minutes later, Hateboer made it 4-0 to send the Atalanta fans into dreamland and continue the club's remarkable goalscoring record on the biggest stage:
And hey, you can watch them every weekend in Serie A, you know 😉
(63 goals in 24 games. Matches like this are the rule, not the exception.)
A slight dip in concentration allowed Cheryshev to pull one back, but the Serie A side should have enough breathing space to book themselves a spot in the next round after a superb display.
Atletico Madrid President Jokes Anfield 'Wouldn't Pass the UEFA Inspection'
Feb 19, 2020
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 04: Liverpool fans wave flags and banners before the FA Cup Fourth Round Replay match between Liverpool and Shrewsbury Town at Anfield on February 4, 2020 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Visionhaus)
Anfield isn't going to intimidate Atletico Madrid, not judging by club president Enrique Cerezo, who has made light of facing Liverpool at the forbidding venue in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League last 16.
Atleti will take a slender lead to Merseyside on March 11 after beating the holders 1-0 in the Spanish capital on Tuesday night. Liverpool have produced some memorable comebacks at home, but Cerezo was in bold spirits when he spoke about the prospect to AS (h/t Connor O'Neill of the Liverpool Echo): "Anfield is a great stadium but it's old. It probably wouldn't pass the UEFA inspection if it had to do it."
Naturally, there is more than a little bravado at play behind Cerezo's words. However, Atleti earned the right not to be over-awed at Anfield after the way they handled Liverpool in the first leg.
A stubborn defensive rearguard action denied the Reds time and space in the final third. Ultimately, a usually prolific and overpowering Liverpool side was rendered impotent in front of goal, much to Jurgen Klopp's frustration:
Liverpool are the only team to have failed to register a shot on target in a Champions League game so far this season.
Atleti achieved the rare feat of blanking Liverpool even with right-back Kieran Trippier and club-record signing forward Joao Felix injured. The result was further proof of Atletico boss Diego Simeone's ability to frustrate more talented teams in big games.
It's served Atleti well during Simeone's tenure, earning the club a pair of UEFA Europa League trophies, as well as Champions League final appearances in 2014 and 2016. In many ways, the victory over Liverpool represented a throwback to previous upsets on Simeone's watch, including beating Barcelona and Bayern Munich in 2016.
Atlético Madrid have never lost a Champions League knockout match at home under Diego Simeone.
"According to the media, a week ago we were dead and buried and now we are very much alive. They had gone 30 games unbeaten and people were saying they are the best team in the world. We are happy with the result but we still have another game to go. But we have rediscovered ourselves and that is the best news."
Of course, Liverpool have their own proud history at home in this competition. Historically, Anfield has taken on an aura that gives the Reds an edge on decisive nights.
This edge was never more obvious than when Barcelona arrived on the red half of Merseyside with a 3-0 lead after the first leg of last season's semi-final. Barca promptly wilted amid a deafening din from an intense home crowd that spurred Liverpool to a famous 4-0 win.
Klopp has already sounded a warning to Atleti about the challenges awaiting them in the return fixture:
Klopp (with more than a hint of menace): “For those Atletico fans lucky enough to get a ticket… welcome to Anfield.” https://t.co/JOLoO58ePa
The Reds have reversed more daunting deficits, while it's also true Atletico are no longer quite the force they were. Simeone's men are fourth in La Liga and 13 points adrift of leaders Real Madrid.
Even so, it would be dangerous for Liverpool to expect another Anfield miracle. If there's one team tough and resourceful enough to weather the storm in three weeks it's Simeone's masters of pragmatic resistance.
Alvaro Morata: Liverpool Still Among UCL Favourites After Atletico Madrid Loss
Feb 19, 2020
MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 18: Alvaro Morata of Atletico de Madrid in action during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Atletico Madrid and Liverpool FC at Wanda Metropolitano on February 18, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Morano/MB Media/Getty Images)
Atletico Madrid forward Alvaro Morata believes Liverpool remain among the UEFA Champions League favourites even after Tuesday's defeat, and he would rather avoid another date with former club Juventus.
The Rojiblancos beat the defending champions 1-0 in the first leg of their round-of-16 tie, and after the match, Morata was asked about his favourite for the title.
Per Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia), he named the Reds, Juve and Paris Saint-Germain, who also lost on Tuesday: "I think Liverpool and Juve are the best. I prefer not to meet them [Juventus] again in the Champions League. I think the Bianconeri, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain are the favourites. But nothing is for certain in the Champions League."
Saul Niguez scored the only goal of Tuesday's match from an early corner (UK/U.S. only):
Listen to that roar 🤯
Saul Niguez gives Atletico the dream start with a goal inside four minutes!
Atletico―who came into the match with just one win in their last five La Liga matches―shut up shop after the early lead, resorting to a defensive game plan that limited space for Liverpool's prolific attack.
It worked to perfection, leaving the Reds with no answers:
Liverpool failed to get a single shot on target against Atletico Madrid - only the second time they've done so in 251 games under Klopp 🤭 pic.twitter.com/BK6DDlodPz
The tie is far from over, however. Atletico managed just one goal themselves, giving them a slender lead ahead of the second leg at Anfield. Liverpool's home ground has been a fortress for them, and last year, it was the scene of the remarkable comeback against Barcelona.
After a 3-0 defeat at the Camp Nou, the Premier League giants beat Lionel Messi and his team-mates 4-0 at home on their way to the title.
Atletico were also on the end of a tremendous comeback last season. Serie A champions Juventus lost 2-0 in the Spanish capital but completed a comeback with a 3-0 win at home:
Morata had his chances against his former club in that match, but there was no stopping Cristiano Ronaldo.
The two teams were grouped together in the 2019-20 campaign. The Bianconeri earned a 2-2 draw in Madrid before winning 1-0 at home on their way to first place in Group D, ahead of Atletico. They'll face Lyon in the round of 16.
PSG have exited the tournament in the round of 16 in three straight years and lost to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday. Rising star Erling Haaland netted twice for the hosts either side of a Neymar strike for the Ligue 1 giants.
Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland Says He Must Improve After PSG Brace
Feb 19, 2020
DORTMUND, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 18: Erling Braut Haaland of Borussia Dortmund is challenged by Marco Verratti of Paris Saint-Germain and Thiago Silva of Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at Signal Iduna Park on February 18, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund forward Erling Haaland spoke to reporters after scoring a brace in the 2-1 UEFA Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain, saying he still has much to improve on and that the tie is far from over.
The 19-year-old is not about to let the success go to his head, per Goal: "I am glad about the man of the match award but feel like I still can do a lot better. I have to play better at this level, have to work hard to improve. The result is quite a dangerous one, as PSG has a very strong team and can still go through in the return leg."
The Norwegian bagged two second-half goals, sandwiched around Neymar's equaliser. The second goal was particularly good (U.S./UK viewers only):
By netting twice, the former Red Bull Salzburg striker took his tally in the competition to 10 goals. He has outscored two of Spain's biggest clubs on his own:
▪️ 39 goals in 28 games this season ▪️ 11 goals in 7 games since joining Dortmund ▪️ Joint top scorer in the Champions League ▪️ Fastest player ever to reach 10 Champions League goals@ErlingHaaland is ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/CmhmpfEjIr
Because UEFA did away with the cup-tied regulations in 2018, he was able to become the first player to score for two clubs in a single Champions League campaign.
He jointly leads this year's Champions League scoring charts, tied with Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski.
Haaland hasn't skipped a beat since moving from Austria to Germany in January, with an incredible eight Bundesliga goals in just five total appearances. Only Bayer Leverkusen have been able to shut him out since the transfer to BVB.
He stood out for more than just his goals on Tuesday, however. Haaland showed off strong technical ability and a good defensive work ethic, to go with world-class athleticism:
Erling Haaland clocked a time of 6.64 seconds for a 60 metre sprint during a first half counter attack tonight. The 60m world record (by US sprinter Christian Coleman) is 6.34 seconds! #BVBPSG
The 2-1 win puts Dortmund in a great position to add to PSG's Champions League misery. Les Parisiens have been knocked out of the competition in the round of 16 in three straight seasons, and they once again fell short of expectations on Tuesday.
Neymar scored but also showed signs of rust after not appearing in a match since the 5-0 win over Montpellier on February 1. Kylian Mbappe and Angel Di Maria were mostly kept quiet.
PSG have a 10-point lead in the Ligue 1 title race and can start their preparations for the return leg on March 11 early. Dortmund have no such luxury, sitting four points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern.
Diego Simeone Says Atletico Madrid Started Beating Liverpool 'On the Roundabout'
Feb 19, 2020
MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 18: Diego Pablo Simeone, head coach of Atletico de Madrid celebrates the victory after the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Atletico Madrid and Liverpool FC at Wanda Metropolitano on February 18, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Mateo Villalba/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone said his side had beaten Liverpool before their tie began on Tuesday after the incredible reception their team bus received outside the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
Los Rojiblancos proceeded to record a 1-0 win over the Reds in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie courtesy of a goal from Saul Niguez.
Simeone told Movistar (h/t Goal's Ben Spratt): "We started winning on the roundabout next to the stadium. In eight years, I've never seen a reception like that."
The reception was something to behold:
The Atletico Madrid fans are up for this...
Just look at the scenes as they greeted the team bus 🤯
Liverpool had eight shots over the course of the game, but they weren't able to test Jan Oblak with any of them.
Mohamed Salah and Jordan Henderson had their best chances, but the former glanced a free header wide when he should have hit the target and the latter also narrowly missed with a volley.
At the other end, Alisson was on hand to keep out Morata after he latched onto a miscued header from Virgil van Dijk and escaped the attentions of Fabinho.
The defending champions have the chance to turn things around at Anfield on March 11, and they'll take heart from their Champions League semi-final last year. The Reds won 4-0 at Anfield having lost 3-0 to Barcelona at the Camp Nou in the first leg.
Although they may only have a one-goal deficit to overturn, defensively Atletico are one of the best sides in world football. Only Real Madrid have conceded fewer than their 17 goals in 24 La Liga matches this season.
Atleti gave up a 2-0 lead against Juventus in the round of 16 last season, though. If anyone can replicate the Bianconeri's achievement in coming back, it's a Liverpool side that have only failed to win on seven occasions in all competitions this season.
Thomas Tuchel Says Neymar Lacked Rhythm vs. Dortmund, Backs Kylian Mbappe
Feb 19, 2020
DORTMUND, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 18: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Neymar of Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain look dejected during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at Signal Iduna Park on February 18, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Paris Saint-Germain manager Thomas Tuchel has said Neymar lacked match rhythm going into Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League, and backed fellow forward Kylian Mbappe to have much more success in the return leg.
The Germans did a fine job handling the France international and came away with a narrow win thanks to two goals from Erling Haaland. Neymar also netted in the loss.
Per L'Equipe (h/t Goal's Dejan Kalinic), Tuchel said he knew Mbappe would be in for a difficult match, but the second leg will be different:
"I knew it would be a tough game for him. He had to be very, very patient.
"We know that the technical relationship between him and Ney is good. Ney lacked rhythm, competition.
"Kylian made an assist. It's a tough game for him, a game to grow. I trust him. We're going to have a good game at the Parc [des Princes]."
Neymar hadn't featured since the 5-0 win over Montpellier on February 1 and voiced his frustration at the inactivity after Tuesday's outing:
Les Parisiens have a healthy 10-point lead in Ligue 1, and Tuchel opted to rotate his side and keep his star players fresh in the 4-4 draw with Amiens over the weekend. Mbappe and Neymar didn't make the bench, and Marco Verratti was a substitute.
That decision appeared to backfire at the Signal Iduna Park, where the French side lacked their usual fluidity. Tuchel pointed at injury concerns in recent weeks, as well as the club's busy schedule:
"We have made twice as many matches as Dortmund in recent weeks. We have had injury concerns with key players, they lack the rhythm, the hardness of the competition, as we saw with Neymar.
"Our possession of the ball was not stable enough for this not to be a physical match. There was this physical side to this match, in addition, we made too many mistakes in unnecessary positions.
"We were lacking in timing. We lost a little confidence, and form. I thought it would be a more open game."
DORTMUND, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 18: Coach of PSG Thomas Tuchel answers to the media during the post-match press conference following the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Signal Iduna
Dortmund have played only one fewer match in February. They haven't been able to rotate their squad as much due to the tight title race in the Bundesliga, where the top five clubs in the standings sit just six points apart.
BVB did make a big splash in the January transfer window to add to their options, bringing in Emre Can from Juventus and Haaland from Red Bull Salzburg. Both have made immediate impacts, with the latter continuing his remarkable scoring exploits in Germany.
The 19-year-old has netted 10 goals in the Champions League already this season, becoming just the second player after Mbappe to reach the mark as a teenager:
Erling Haaland is only the second player to score 10 Champions League goals as a teenager 👶
PSG have exited the Champions League in the round of 16 in three straight seasons, including an upset loss at the hands of Manchester United last year.
The return leg will be on March 11 at the Parc des Princes.
