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Champions League 2022: Results, Top Scorers After Wednesday's Round of 16 Games

Feb 23, 2022
LISBON, PORTUGAL - FEBRUARY 23: Sebastien Haller of Ajax looks on during the UEFA Champions League Round Of Sixteen Leg One match between SL Benfica and AFC Ajax at Estadio da Luz on February 23, 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
LISBON, PORTUGAL - FEBRUARY 23: Sebastien Haller of Ajax looks on during the UEFA Champions League Round Of Sixteen Leg One match between SL Benfica and AFC Ajax at Estadio da Luz on February 23, 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

The Champions League round of 16 is halfway over after the last four clubs began their knockout stage runs on Wednesday.

Atletico Madrid and Manchester United finished with a 1-1 draw while Ajax and Benfica ended even at 2-2 in the first leg for each tie. The squads will look to clinch a spot in the quarterfinal in the return matches on March 15.

The latest matches were also important in the race for the top goalscorer in this year's competition with Sebastien Haller continuing to lead big names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Antoine Griezmann and others who were in action Wednesday.

Here is the latest in the hunt for the golden boot.

Champions League Top Scorers

1. Sebastien Haller (Ajax): 11

2. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich): 9

3. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool): 8

4. Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig): 7

T5. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United): 6

T5. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City): 6

T7. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain): 5

T7. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid): 5

T7. Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich): 5

T7. Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain): 5

Full leaderboard available at UEFA.com

Sebastien Haller entered the day leading the competition with 10 goals, but made what was seemingly his first mistake of the tournament with an own goal in the 25th minute against Benfica:

That one didn't count toward his goalscoring total, but he made up for it a few minutes later with a goal on the correct end in the 29th minute:

It continues an incredible run for the 27-year-old:

Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland led all competitors with 10 goals last year, but Haller has already surpassed that to raise the bar in 2021-22.

The attacking depth for Ajax was also on display with a goal from Dusan Tadic, who now has two in this year's Champions League run:

Benfica still kept pace with the Dutch side, which won all six matches in the group stage.

Roman Yaremchuk found an equalizer for Benfica in the 72nd minute, forcing the 2-2 draw.

https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1496600168900091904

Though Ajax remains a favorite to advance, Benfica did enough to stay alive after the first leg. 

Scoring was tougher to come by in the more high-profile matchup of the day between Atletico Madrid and Manchester United.

Veteran forwards Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann didn't start for Atletico, but Joao Felix stepped up with an impressive goal in the seventh minute:

The 1-0 score held up through halftime and seemed like it might be enough to win with Manchester United struggling.

The visitors finally got onto the scoresheet from a surprising source in the 80th minute:

Anthony Elanga produced a great finish on his first touch after a perfect Bruno Fernandes through ball. It was the seventh assist in UCL play for Fernandes, who leads all players in the competition.

The one assist was enough for Manchester United to have much more confidence heading into the second leg.

The goalscoring competition should also remain a good one throughout the knockout stages with Robert Lewandowski's Bayern Munich and Mohamed Salah's Liverpool both a threat to make a deep run.

USMNT's Weston McKennie Suffers Foot Injury in Juventus' UCL Draw with Villarreal

Feb 22, 2022
TURIN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 21: Weston McKennie of Juventus during a Champions League Juventus training session on February 21, 2022 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 21: Weston McKennie of Juventus during a Champions League Juventus training session on February 21, 2022 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images)

United States men's national team star and Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie fractured the third and fourth metatarsals of his left foot in his club's 1-1 draw with Villarreal in the Champions League, according to Italian reporter Fabrizio Romano.

McKennie was subbed off in the 81st minute for Denis Zakaria.

The injury is bad news for both Juve and the USMNT.

McKennie has started 20 Serie A matches and three Champions League fixtures for Juventus, establishing himself as a key piece of the midfield.

The Italian club will now be without his services as it looks to close a nine-point gap on Serie A leader AC Milan. A win over Villarreal in the second leg is far from assured as well, so his absence raises the odds of a third successive UCL exit in the round of 16.

For the USMNT, the situation might be even worse.

The United States is second in the 2022 World Cup qualifying table with matches against Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica to come in March. For the moment, the team is on pace to qualify for the World Cup, but that outlook can easily change.

Only four points separate the U.S. from Panama in fourth place, which would mean dropping into the qualifying playoff. It's not out of the question for Gregg Berhalter's squad to fall all the way to fifth—Costa Rica trails the United States by five points—and thus miss the World Cup altogether for the second cycle in a row.

With those three crucial fixtures on the horizon, Berhalter will have to forge ahead without one of his top performers in recent months.

Champions League 2022: Results, Top Scorers After Tuesday's Round-of-16 Games

Feb 22, 2022
CASTELLON, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 22: Dani Parejo of Villarreal during the UEFA Champions League match between Villarreal v Juventus at the Estadio de la Ceramica on February 22, 2022 in Castellon Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
CASTELLON, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 22: Dani Parejo of Villarreal during the UEFA Champions League match between Villarreal v Juventus at the Estadio de la Ceramica on February 22, 2022 in Castellon Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

The Champions League round of 16 continued Tuesday with a pair of first-leg fixtures.

Chelsea is in the driver's seat in its matchup with Lille thanks to a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge. Juventus and Villarreal are deadlocked at 1-1 after the Spanish side canceled out an early goal for Juve.

Neither outcome did much in the race for the title of top scorer in this year's competition.

Champions League Top Scorers

1. Sebastien Haller (Ajax), 10

2. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), 9

3. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), 8

4. Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig), 7

T5. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), 6

T5. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City), 6

T7. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), 5

T7. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), 5

T7. Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich), 5

T7. Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain), 5

Full leaderboard available at UEFA.com

Juventus made a major statement when they signed Dusan Vlahovic for €70 million from Fiorentina in January. In 58 Serie A matches over the past two seasons, the 22-year-old had 38 goals. His arrival addressed one of the biggest issues in the squad as Juve lacked a true goal poacher following the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Vlahovic remained untested on the biggest stage in club soccer, though, having never appeared in a Champions League fixture. He needed less than a minute to open his UCL scoring account.

Juventus was unable to press its advantage further, though. The inconsistent attacking it displayed in back-to-back 1-1 draws with Atalanta and Torino was on display at Estadio de la Ceramica.

Dani Parejo delivered a well-deserved equalizer for Villarreal in the 66th minute. Nobody on Juventus accounted for the midfielder as he had a free shot on goal.

While Inter Milan knocked Juve off its domestic perch by winning Serie A last season, supporters would probably trade losing out on another league title if it meant finally attaining the continental success that was so elusive during a recent run of dominance.

But a third straight exit in the round of 16 could beckon for Massimiliano Allegri's squad after Tuesday's result. A draw might have been a fortunate outcome on the balance of play, underlining the need for improvement in the return match.

Chelsea, on the other hand, are sitting pretty heading into the second leg.

Like Juventus, the Blues didn't waste any time as Kai Havertz's eighth-minute opener came amid an offensive flurry for the reigning UCL champions.

https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1496216329346433026

Lille actually finished with nearly twice as many total shots (15) as its opponent (eight) but struggled to create any clear goalscoring opportunities. Only two of Lille's shots were on target compared to four for Chelsea.

In the 63rd minute, Christian Pulisic delivered what could be a fatal blow in the two-legged affair when he displayed the kind of clinical finishing that was lacking from the French side.

N'Golo Kante's sprint through midfield and pass to Pulisic were instrumental in the goal. Lille's inability to muster much in the final third was partly down to how much Kante disrupted play.

Chelsea came into Tuesday's match after an uninspiring victory over Palmeiras in the Club World Cup and a similarly hard-fought win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League. The Blues are 13 points back of PL leader Manchester City, summing up a domestic campaign in which they've been somewhat inconsistent for a team with their talent level.

But there's no question manager Thomas Tuchel knows how to get the best out of his players in a continental setting. Another deep Champions League run could be in store.

Top Winners and Losers After Tuesday's Champions League Round-of-16 Results

Feb 22, 2022
Chelsea's Christian Pulisic celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League round of 16, first leg, soccer match between Chelsea and LOSC Lille at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
Chelsea's Christian Pulisic celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League round of 16, first leg, soccer match between Chelsea and LOSC Lille at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Chelsea moved one step closer to the Champions League quarterfinal after a strong showing in Tuesday's round-of-16 matches.

The titleholders are looking to add another trophy to the shelf and began the 2021-22 knockout stage with a 2-0 win over Lille. In the other matchup of the day, Juventus and Villarreal ended with a 1-1 draw.

These two ties will be decided in the second legs March 16.

Here are the biggest winners and losers from the latest UCL action.

Winner: Americans in Europe

Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie have been the two most prominent players for the United States men's national team, and both stepped up with big performances on the biggest stage.

Pulisic had been mostly quiet in 2021-22 with just three goals in all competitions, but he scored the second goal for Chelsea with a strong finish:

The goal certainly wasn't a fluke, as Pulisic was impressive throughout the match, making long runs while creating a lot of opportunities for teammates.

Not to be outdone, McKennie also fared well patrolling the midfield for Juventus:

McKennie was subbed off in the 81st minute after suffering an apparent ankle injury, which is worth monitoring going forward, but he was excellent when on the pitch.

Fans also didn't get a chance to see Timothy Weah, as the birthday boy remained on Lille's bench, but there was a lot to like from the American players.

Loser: Romelu Lukaku

It's been a disappointing season for Romelu Lukaku since he transferred to Chelsea, scoring just five goals in league play while seeing inconsistent playing time.

Manager Thomas Tuchel kept the star striker on the bench for Tuesday's match after an uneventful performance against Crystal Palace last time out.

Kai Havertz took over as a center forward and rewarded the decision with a goal in the eighth minute:

https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1496216329346433026

Havertz had missed an earlier chance, but he was much more active than Lukaku has been as of late:

The movement led to more opportunities for Havertz and other players in what became a more fluid attack.

With Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech linking up well with Havertz in a rotating front three, Chelsea looked much more dangerous than in recent weeks.

Unless Lukaku begins improving, he could see less playing time going forward.

Winner: Juventus' January Transfer Window

Clubs don't often get game-changing players during the January window, but Juventus might have found one in Dusan Vlahovic.

The striker was making his Champions League debut Tuesday and needed just 32 seconds to get onto the scoresheet:

The 22-year-old showcased a wide skill set throughout the match for Juventus:

https://twitter.com/harryedwards16/status/1496213913704218624

Juventus had been lacking a target man to lead the attack and seemingly found one in Vlahovic, who also scored in his Serie A debut with the club earlier this month.

If he continues to perform, the high-priced signing could help Juventus make a deep run in this tournament.

Loser: Villarreal's Finishing

The result could have been worse for Villarreal, which ended up with a 1-1 draw after coming from behind.

Dani Parejo tied the match in the 66th minute with a close goal:

The Spanish club might still be disappointed in not getting three points after controlling most of the action.

Villarreal finished with 54 percent possession while outshooting Juventus 9-7. The home team also took the only four corners of the match and easily led in expected goals.

Unfortunately, the squad simply couldn't create enough real chances to win.

The margins are extremely thin at this level, and Villarreal must make sure it takes advantage of opportunities if it wants to advance.

Winner: Premier League

After last year's all-English final between Chelsea and Manchester City, the Champions League could see a lot more of Premier League teams in this season's knockout stages.

Manchester City is a clear favorite and already has a foot in the next round after a 5-0 win over Sporting CP last week. Liverpool followed suit with a 2-0 win over Inter, while Chelsea also earned a win in the first leg.

Manchester United could have a difficult task getting past Atletico Madrid, but you probably don't want to bet against an English club at this point.

Bayern Munich was the only Bundesliga club to advance beyond the group stage, and there are question marks for the squad after a 1-1 draw against Salzburg in the round of 16. Clubs from La Liga and Serie A have also struggled throughout this tournament.

The Premier League has been much more consistent and is clearly the toughest league in the world at the moment.

Top Winners and Losers After Wednesday's Champions League Round of 16 Leg 1 Results

Feb 16, 2022
Salzburg's Chukwubuike Adamu, left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League, round of 16, first leg soccer match between Salzburg and Bayern, at the Salzburg stadium, in Salzburg, Austria, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Alexandra Beier)
Salzburg's Chukwubuike Adamu, left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League, round of 16, first leg soccer match between Salzburg and Bayern, at the Salzburg stadium, in Salzburg, Austria, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Alexandra Beier)

Kingsley Coman played the role of spoiler as he denied Red Bull Salzburg an improbable victory in the round of 16 in the Champions League.

Salzburg was clinging to a 1-0 lead before Coman got onto the end of a Thomas Muller header at the back post to bring Bayern Munich level in the 90th minute. The match finished at 1-1.

Elsewhere across Europe, Liverpool snatched a 2-0 victory over Inter Milan at San Siro in a match that wasn't as one-sided as the final score would suggest.

Here are some of the winners and losers from Wednesday's action.

Winner: Red Bull Salzburg Youngsters

Almost a year ago to the day, Chukwubuike Adamu was loaned out to FC St. Gallen. On Wednesday, he was netting the opener for Red Bull Salzburg against Bayern Munich.

Adamu didn't even get the start, coming on in the 12th minute for the injured Noah Okafor. Nine minutes later, he made it 1-0 for the home side.

For American fans, the goal was a reason to celebrate because of Brenden Aaronson's role in the buildup. The United States international flicked the ball on for Adamu to earn an assist.

Meanwhile, 22-year-old Mohamed Camara put in a man-of-the-match performance in central midfield. He didn't look overawed in the slightest by Bayern Munich.

Salzburg has been a stopping ground for a number of promising young players. Erling Haaland, Takumi Minamino, Dominik Szoboszlai and Naby Keita are among the stars who have used the club as a springboard to one of Europe's five big leagues.

Adamu, Aaronson and Camara are examples of how the assembly line continues on despite the talent Salzburg loses on an almost yearly basis.

Winner: Manchester City

Looking at the remaining field, Bayern Munich might be the biggest foe standing between Manchester City and a long sought after Champions League title.

City made a statement Tuesday with a 5-0 hammering of Sporting CP. Bayern responded Wednesday with a lackluster performance against Salzburg.

Especially with the second leg being played at Allianz Arena, it isn't exactly a five-alarm fire for Julian Nagelsmann's squad. Removing the away goal rule also lessens the likelihood of a shocking upset because Salzburg really could've put the pressure on Bayern with one or two goals in Munich.

Still, the odds of Bayern Munich crashing out of the Champions League in the round of 16 went up after Wednesday. The Germans finished with 63 percent possession and 21 shots but couldn't make the most of those chances.

Salzburg did an especially good job of isolating Robert Lewandowski.

Even assuming Bayern Munich survive, Salzburg might have shown other teams the blueprint for quieting the Bundesliga giant in a knockout tie.

Loser: Inter Milan

The aforementioned abolition of the away goal rule works as a double-edged sword for Inter Milan.

A 2-0 result at Anfield in the second leg won't be enough to secure passage to the quarterfinals. However, Inter isn't looking at a situation where one goal from Liverpool early in the return fixture is basically a death knell.

Hakan Calhanoglu was inches away from putting the Serie A champion ahead in the 16th minute as his left-footed shot hit the crossbar.

As the second half progressed, it looked like Inter might be able to hold onto at least a draw and potentially grab a late goal as Ivan Perisic posed a constant threat down the left flank.

Then second-half substitute Roberto Firmino put Liverpool ahead in the 75th minute from a corner. Mohamed Salah added a second in the 83rd minute.

Suddenly, what had been a competitive match tilted significantly in Liverpool's favor in a space of eight minutes. Inter manager Simone Inzaghi has a tall order ahead to overturn a two-goal deficit at Anfield.

This was Inter Milan's first excursion into the knockout stage of the Champions League since 2011-12, and its stay may not extend for much longer.

Winner: Harvey Elliott

It has been quite the journey for Harvey Elliott this season.

The Liverpool midfielder saw a bright start interrupted due to a fractured ankle. But his recovery progressed better than anybody could've expected, and he was back in the squad for a 3-1 win over Cardiff City in the FA Cup on Feb. 6.

On Wednesday, Elliott made his Champions League debut.

As Jurgen Klopp explained before the match, the 18-year-old's start was both a testament to his development so far and the big role he's likely to occupy for the Reds going forward:

Elliott ultimately had little impact on the match before exiting in the 60th minute for Keita. But simply appearing in a Champions League knockout match this year was seemingly out of the question in the immediate after his ankle injury in September.

Champions League 2022: Top Scorers After Wednesday's Round-of-16 Leg 1 Results

Feb 16, 2022
Salzburg's Chukwubuike Adamu, left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League, round of 16, first leg soccer match between Salzburg and Bayern, at the Salzburg stadium, in Salzburg, Austria, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Alexandra Beier)
Salzburg's Chukwubuike Adamu, left, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League, round of 16, first leg soccer match between Salzburg and Bayern, at the Salzburg stadium, in Salzburg, Austria, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Alexandra Beier)

Two entertaining Champions League matches went down during round-of-16 action Wednesday.

Liverpool defeated Inter Milan 2-0 after a pair of second-half goals, and Bayern Munich salvaged a 1-1 draw with upset-minded FC Salzburg after Kingsley Coman's 90th-minute equalizer.

At San Siro, Roberto Firmino's header off an Andrew Robertson corner kick gave Liverpool the 1-0 edge in the 75th minute.

Up until five minutes before then, neither team had a shot on target.

Both teams combined for 22 shots, but only two were on target. Liverpool made the most of both.

Eight minutes after Firmino's game-winner, Mohamed Salah scored his eighth Champions League goal in just seven appearances after firing a low shot for the 2-0 advantage.

Here's a look at this year's latest Champions League top-scorers list after Salah's effort.

Champions League Top Scorers

1. Sebastien Haller, Ajax (10)

2. Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich (9)

3. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool (8)

4. Christopher Nkunku, RB Leipzig (7)

T5. Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United (6)

T5. Riyad Mahrez, Manchester City (6)

T7. Kylian Mbappe, Paris Saint-Germain (5)

T7. Karim Benzema, Real Madrid (5)

T7. Leroy Sane, Bayern Munich (5)

T7. Lionel Messi, Paris Saint-Germain (5)

Salah has thoroughly dominated the Champions League as well as all competitions this season, and there's no shortage of statistics to prove that notion.

https://twitter.com/AnfieldWatch/status/1494065043767500811

FC Salzburg nearly pulled off the upset over Bayern Munich, but they had to settle for the 1-1 draw after Coman's effort:

Bayern Munich possessed the ball for 72 percent of the match and outshot the opposition 22-11 (9-6 in shots on goal), but FC Salzburg nearly pulled this off.

That's largely thanks to 20-year-old substitute Chukwubuike Adamu, who scored his first-ever Champions League goal in the 21st minute:

A win wasn't meant to be for FC Salzburg, which was making its Champions League round-of-16 debut.

However, all is not lost for the Austrian side, which will visit Bayern Munich for the second leg on March 8. Liverpool will host Inter Milan on the same day.

Champions League 2022: Top Scorers After Tuesday's Round of 16 Results

Feb 15, 2022
Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe celebrates after winning the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Real Madrid at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on February 15, 2022. (Photo by Geoffroy VAN DER HASSELT / AFP) (Photo by GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP via Getty Images)
Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe celebrates after winning the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Real Madrid at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on February 15, 2022. (Photo by Geoffroy VAN DER HASSELT / AFP) (Photo by GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP via Getty Images)

For Kylian Mbappe, the grass may not be greener on the other side of the fence.

What's arguably the most anticipated round-of-16 matchup of the Champions League kicked off as Mbappe's current club, Paris Saint-Germain, took on the club with whom many expect the French star to sign, Real Madrid.

In a fitting narrative twist, Mbappe netted the winner in the fourth minute of injury time as PSG won 1-0.

While the 23-year-old now has five UCL goals this season, he still has a lot of work ahead in order to catch Ajax's Sebastien Haller for the top spot in that category.

Champions League Top Scorers

1. Sebastien Haller, Ajax (10)

2. Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich (9)

T3. Christopher Nkunku, RB Leipzig (7)

T3. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool (7)

T5. Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United (6)

T5. Riyad Mahrez, Manchester City (6)

T7. Kylian Mbappe, Paris Saint-Germain (5)

T7. Karim Benzema, Real Madrid (5)

T7. Leroy Sane, Bayern Munich (5)

T7. Lionel Messi, Paris Saint-Germain (5)

Whereas watching Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid was a case of delayed gratification, Manchester City wasted little time in putting one foot in the quarterfinals against Sporting.

Riyad Mahrez's seventh-minute goal was originally ruled out for offside but awarded upon a video review.

Bernardo Silva doubled the lead in the 17th minute and completed a brace in the 44th. Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling also found the back of the net in a 5-0 demolition of the Portuguese side.

The Champions League has seen some incredible comebacks over the last few years, but the odds of Sporting overturning a five-goal deficit are slim to none. Simply keeping Manchester City under double digits over the two legs is a more attainable goal.

A Champions League trophy is the most glaring omission on Pep Guardiola's list of achievements as City's manager. Supporters know better than to assume the club can cruise to a title, but it's tough to imagine another European power denying Guardiola this season.

Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid at least left some room for intrigue.

PSG was the far stronger side, finishing with eight shots on target to zero for Madrid and 57 percent of possession. It wasn't exactly a great audition for the Spanish giant if it was looking to woo Mbappe.

Still, Real Madrid was mere minutes away from a scoreless draw, and trailing by one goal isn't a terrible outcome with the tie heading to the Santiago Bernabeu. Thibaut Courtois saved a Lionel Messi penalty in the 62nd minute that could've left Madrid very vulnerable for the remainder of the match.

Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League campaign will likely go a long way toward deciding Mauricio Pochettino's fate as manager.

The Parisians have a 13-point lead over second-place Marseille in Ligue 1, but comfortably winning the domestic league is the minimum expectation for success. Pochettino will ultimately be judged by whether he can deliver the European glory Qatar Sports Investments has coveted since taking control.

A one-goal lead doesn't provide a ton of comfort for Paris Saint-Germain ahead of the return fixture on March 9.

Top Winners and Losers After Tuesday's Champions League Round-of-16 Leg 1 Results

Feb 15, 2022
Manchester City players celebrate the second goal of their team during the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Sporting CP and Manchester City at the Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
Manchester City players celebrate the second goal of their team during the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Sporting CP and Manchester City at the Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

The 2021-22 Champions League knockout stage kicked off Tuesday featuring several teams with dreams of winning the title.

Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid were two of the biggest favorites coming into this event, but only one will advance from their round-of-16 matchup. PSG got the upper hand in the first leg with a 1-0 win.

Manchester City also put itself in position to advance with a 5-0 win over Sporting CP.

Here are the biggest winners and losers from the first day of the knockout stage.

Loser: Lionel Messi's Alpha-Dog Status on PSG

Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest of all time and won the Ballon d'Or in 2021, but he is not currently the best player on his own team. That honor goes to Kylian Mbappe.

The 23-year-old had the moment of the match with a goal just before the final whistle:

Mbappe kept the pressure on Real Madrid all match long with quick touches and elite footwork. He created several looks out of nothing and set up easy chances for teammates.

He also nearly helped his team score in the 61st minute after drawing a penalty on a foul in the box.

Unfortunately for PSG, Messi took the ball and missed the shot:

It was a quiet match overall for Messi, and his miss only made things worse.

This is now Mbappe's team, and he should be the one taking over as the go-to option in every situation.

Winner: Thibaut Courtois for 93 Minutes

Based on the run of play, Paris Saint-Germain could have beaten Real Madrid by several goals. The main reason it stayed close was Thibaut Courtois in net.

The goalkeeper made one of the biggest plays of the match with a penalty save against Messi:

https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1493700656682647560

It was one of eight saves in an impressive match from the Belgium star:

Courtois finally gave up a goal in the 94th minute, but he still did enough to keep Real Madrid in the hunt for the quarterfinal.

Winner: Manchester City's Firepower

For some teams, you can key in on one or two players and hope to slow down the attack. This simply isn't an option for Manchester City, which can get goals from a wide variety of sources.

Three different players scored in the first half to build an early 4-0 lead:

They didn't even need much contribution from Raheem Sterling, who leads the team with 10 goals in Premier League play, until the second half.

Riyad Mahrez has only 10 league starts for Manchester City, but he has been one of the hottest players in the world in front of net:

Bernardo Silva scored twice and added an assist from the midfield, including the best goal of the day:

Without even getting to midfield star Kevin De Bruyne, there is simply too much offensive talent for opponents to control.

Already in good position in the Premier League, Manchester City also want to bring home a Champions League title.

Loser: Portugal's Chance at a Deep UCL Run

Clubs from Portugal's Primeira League are often overlooked in European competitions, but that usually becomes a mistake.

Porto has won a European title in the past and is usually competitive each season, reaching the quarterfinals in each of the past two years. Last year's upset over Juventus in the round of 16 was one of the most notable results in the round.

This season, Sporting CP and Benfica each made surprising runs to the knockout stage by finishing above Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona, respectively.

Unfortunately, the success might not last too much longer.

Sporting was overmatched against Manchester City and had problems right from the start:

It would take a near miracle to come back in the second leg.

Benfica has an easier battle on paper against Ajax, but the Dutch giants went a perfect 6-0 in the group stage and likely won't slow down with the stakes higher.

This could mean a quick exit for the Portugal teams, especially with league-leader Porto already eliminated.

Loser: UEFA Away-Goal Rule Change

Last June, UEFA announced away goals would no longer be used as a tiebreaker at the end of two legs. If the two teams are even on aggregate goals at the end of the second leg, they will go to extra time.

Though this is fair in some ways, we have already seen the impact in just one day of knockout-stage play.

Manchester City was dominant in a usually difficult environment. Though away goals are unlikely to matter in that tie, the English club still deserves an advantage for its impressive road performance.

More importantly, the away-goal rule seemed to impact Real Madrid's strategy in its trip to Paris. The club stayed conservative knowing it could keep the match close and have another 90 minutes to perform in the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Even with tons of offensive talent, Real Madrid finished with just three shots, none on goal.

It left fans wanting more from one of the biggest matchups on paper this year.

Kylian Mbappe's 94th-Minute Goal Leads PSG Past Real Madrid in UCL Leg 1

Feb 15, 2022
PSG's Kylian Mbappe, left, dribbles Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal during the Champions League round of 16, first leg, soccer match Paris Saint-Germain against Real Madrid at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Tuesday, Feb.15, 2022. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
PSG's Kylian Mbappe, left, dribbles Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal during the Champions League round of 16, first leg, soccer match Paris Saint-Germain against Real Madrid at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Tuesday, Feb.15, 2022. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

For nearly 94 minutes, Paris Saint-Germain knocked and knocked and knocked at the door to no avail.

Then Kylian Mbappe finally broke through with a goal in the 94th minute, giving PSG a 1-0 win over Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 matchup.

From start to finish, it was a dominant effort from a PSG team determined to make good on its preseason hype. PSG outshot Real Madrid 21-3 and held its opponents scoreless as the Paris crowd impatiently waited on their team to break through.

PSG had seven different tries on corner kicks, spent most of the evening deep in attack mode and even sent Lionel Messi to the box for a 62nd-minute penalty try.

Nothing worked.

Thibaut Courtois played a stellar game in net for Madrid, highlighted by his correct read of Messi to block the penalty try and keep PSG at bay. With PSG once more on the attack in stoppage time, Courtois seemingly saved the game one final time with a stop of an Idrissa Gueye attempt from outside the box.

But as the desperation rose in the closing minutes, Mbappe took a pass from Neymar and found the left bottom corner of the net on a stellar shot.

PSG will now travel to Madrid in a little over three weeks, hoping to close things out and advance to the quarterfinals.

While there are few positives to take from the loss aside from Courtois' play, Madrid avoided disaster in what could have—and arguably should have—been a blowout. 

Thanks to the elimination of the away-goals rule, Madrid only has to worry about winning on aggregate goals when they play March 9—or in the event of a tie, during extra time or on penalty kicks, as needed.

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