Kylian Mbappe Scores Twice as PSG Tops Bayern Munich in 1st Leg of UCL Quarterfinal
Apr 7, 2021
PSG's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the opening goal of his team during the Champions League quarterfinal soccer match between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, April 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Blustery, snowy conditions in Munch didn't stop Paris Saint-Germain from coming out red-hot and putting itself in position for a Champions League semis berth.
Kylian Mbappe found the net twice and Marquinhos added a goal of his own, leading PSG to a 3-2 win over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their quarterfinal matchup.
Bayern entered Wednesday unbeaten in its last 32 matches at the Allianz Arena.
PSG did not waste any time getting to work in what began as an up-and-down affair. Mbappe's first goal came on the Paris side's first serious attack three minutes into the match as it seemed determined to play the aggressor early on. Marquinhos added another in the 28th to put PSG in a commanding position.
A hat-trick at Camp Nou. A brace at Allianz Arena.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 7, 2021
That said, PSG's control did not last long. Bayern got its act together as the match progressed, dominating time of possession (64 percent) and peppering the PSG goal for 31 shots (12 on goal).
Most of the second half was played with Bayern deep into the PSG zone, with the Reds and Blues forced to simply try stopping the floodgates from opening.
Their efforts were largely successful. Thomas Muller finally broke through in the 60th minute to knot the match at 2-2, but Mbappe's singular brilliance could not be denied. The 22-year-old put PSG back ahead 3-2 a mere eight minutes later, proving again he can be relied upon on the biggest stage.
The rest of the match essentially saw PSG hang back in a prevent defense and desperately try to keep Bayern off the board. Bayern had several close calls in the waning moments but were never quite able to finish and force a draw.
PSG's three away goals put it in a position of strength heading into the second leg next Tuesday. While Bayern looked like the better side for most of the opening leg, the defending champions will need to defeat PSG by two goals on the road to have any real chance at defending their championship.
Top Winners, Losers After Tuesday's Champions League Quarterfinals Leg 1 Results
Apr 6, 2021
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League quarterfinal first leg, soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Manchester City and Real Madrid have one foot in the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League following Tuesday's quarterfinal play.
Phil Foden netted a 90th-minute goal to propel City to a 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund, while Madrid earned a comprehensive 3-1 win against Liverpool.
Beyond the overall results, here are some winners and losers from the two fixtures.
Winner: Vinicius Junior
When it came to the Real Madrid attack, much of the focus centered around Karim Benzema, who had nine goals in his last seven appearances. Perhaps Liverpool put too much emphasis on the French striker and neglected to worry about Vinicius Junior.
Vinicius was subbed off in the 85th minute, thus finding himself unable to complete a hat trick. So he had to settle for scoring twice in the first leg.
Much has been made of Los Blancos' inability to replace Cristiano Ronaldo following his move to Juventus, and Vinicius has played a part in that. Across 73 La Liga appearances, he has just eight goals. But Tuesday was a reminder of the player he could still become over the next few seasons.
Loser: Trent Alexander-Arnold
Many were surprised when England coach Gareth Southgate omitted Trent Alexander-Arnold from the squad for the national team's most recent World Cup qualifiers. Alexander-Arnold responded by assisting on one of Liverpool's three goals in a Premier League victory over Arsenal.
Tuesday's defeat, however, will provide plenty of ammunition for those who believe the 22-year-old was rightfully left off the Three Lions. He gifted Madrid its second goal when he headed the ball straight into the path of Marco Asensio.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 6, 2021
In general, Madrid looked to attack the left flank frequently in order to expose Alexander-Arnold's defensive frailties.
It’s a real mystery.
— Jacob Steinberg 🎗️ (@JacobSteinberg) April 6, 2021
Trent Alexander Arnold suffering badly, but not getting much help from Salah or anyone else. Madrid clearly targeted area from start with Mendy and Vinicius.
The clock is ticking for Alexander-Arnold with the Euros rapidly approaching, and it's difficult to see him winning Southgate over after a performance like this.
Winners: Eder Militao, Nacho
Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane knew well ahead of time he'd be without Sergio Ramos for both legs against Liverpool. However, he only discovered hours before Tuesday's match Raphael Varane would be missing as well after testing positive for COVID-19.
That left Eder Militao and Nacho as the center-back partnership, and the pair excelled.
Nacho was largely to blame for Mohamed Salah's goal as he allowed the Liverpool forward to get in the box for a straightforward finish.
It's hard to see what more Zidane could've asked of his defense.
Winner: Phil Foden
Following an equalizer by Marco Reus in the 84th minute, it looked like Manchester City would have settle for a draw—a fair result given the performance by both clubs.
Foden had other ideas.
The cross from KDB. The touch and assist from Gundogan. The finish from Foden. 😯 pic.twitter.com/8ka41adyrJ
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 6, 2021
The English midfielder got some help from Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan as the three demonstrated why the City attack has been so lethal over the last few months.
Foden may have provided an assist of his own after the match. Cameras caught him chatting up Dortmund star Erling Haaland, whose future is the subject of speculation.
In general, it's funny to think how not so long ago it looked like Manchester City needed to loan Foden out to further his development. Few players at the club have shown as much improvement in such a short amount of time under Pep Guardiola's watch.
Winner: Marcos Reus
As the club captain, nobody is probably feeling the weight of Dortmund's disappointing season more than Reus. Even in a losing effort, registering an away goal Tuesday has to help.
If Dortmund can replicate this kind of showing in the second leg, then a comeback isn't out of the question. And that's not the worst possible outcome from Tuesday given how divergent the respective form of Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City has been.
Real Madrid Tops Mo Salah, Liverpool 3-1 in 1st Leg of UCL Quarterfinal
Apr 6, 2021
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, left, celebrates after scoring his second goal during the Champions League quarterfinal first leg, soccer match between Real Madrid and Liverpool at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Vinicius Junior helped Real Madrid earn a 3-1 win over Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal.
The 20-year-old scored two goals Tuesday as the La Liga squad grabbed an early advantage in the two-leg knockout-stage battle. Marco Asensio also scored in an impressive offensive showing for the home team.
Though Mohamed Salah got a key away goal for Liverpool, the English club will have to overcome the two-goal deficit in the second leg.
This rematch of the 2018 UCL final features two clubs that have recently won European titles (Liverpool in 2019, Real Madrid in 2016-18), although both are coming off disappointing round-of-16 exits in 2020. They each appear to be legitimate contenders to win it all again in 2021, but they will have to get past each other after a tough draw.
The tie will conclude on April 14 at Anfield, with the aggregate winner advancing to the semifinals for a matchup against the winner of Chelsea and Porto.
Real Madrid took control early in Tuesday's match, getting the majority of chances while putting a lot of pressure on Alisson in goal.
Vinicius Junior helped his team break through in the 27th minute before adding to the lead in the second half.
Toni Kroos' assist for Vinícius Júnior was his 85th accurate long ball in the Champions League this season - no other outfield player completed more than 56 accurate long balls in the competition in 2020/21.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 6, 2021
This cut the score down to 2-1 at the time, but Real Madrid was able to get it back and put itself in excellent shape after one leg.
Real Madrid entered the match shorthanded defensively with key defenders Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane both unavailable, perDermot Corrigan of The Athletic. Liverpool has also been without their first choice center backs in Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip.
It left an open match with each mistake magnified, and the attackers on both sides were able to take advantage.
One club was more prepared than the other, though, and it leaves Real Madrid with a solid chance to earn a spot in the UCL semifinals.
Champions League Results 2021: Scores, Highlights After Tuesday's Quarterfinal Ties
Apr 6, 2021
MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 6: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid Celebrates 3-1 with Eder Militao of Real Madrid, Lucas Vazquez of Real Madrid, Marco Asensio of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League match between Real Madrid v Liverpool at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on April 6, 2021 in Madrid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Real Madrid and Manchester City each picked up home victories in the first leg of their respective Champions League quarterfinal matchups as the UEFA season draws closer to crowning a champion.
Madrid’s Vinicius Junior jumped into the starring role of Tuesday’s action netting two goals in his club’s 3-1 victory over Liverpool, while City required a 90th-minute goal from Phil Foden to eke out a win over Borussia Dortmund after controlling play for much of the match.
All four clubs will have a week to prepare for the second leg with the quarterfinals continuing on April 14.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 6, 2021
Mohammed Salah picked up a massive away goal for the Reds in the 51st minute, but it was hardly enough to slow down a Real Madrid team playing on its home pitch—not with the touch displayed by Junior.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 6, 2021
The 20-year-old forward barrelled his way through Liverpool’s defense to open the scoring after Toni Kroos led him with a pass from well beyond midfield. From there, it became a foot race to the ball between Junior and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and Nathaniel Phillips. Neither was capable of catching Junior, however, as the Madrid star needed just one touch before putting the ball in the back of the net.
It was a devastating counterattack by Madrid that gave the home club as much momentum as it had all night. After Junior broke open the scoring in the 27th minute, it was Marco Asensio following up with another goal for Madrid just 10 minutes later.
Madrid took a comfortable 2-0 lead into halftime and hardly had to worry about Liverpool mounting a comeback. Though the Reds maintained possession for 54 percent of the match, Liverpool fired off just seven shots with only one—Salah’s goal—reaching the net.
Junior would add his second of the day in the 65th minute as the Spanish club finished off a first leg win.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 6, 2021
After dominating Dortmund for nearly 80 minutes, the Black and Yellows found the equalizer in the 84th minute thanks to team captain Marco Reus off a perfect feed from Erling Haaland. That put immense pressure on a MCFC club that had held on all game after Kevin De Bruyne opened up the scoring in the 19th minute for the home club.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 6, 2021
Fortunately, De Brunye remained on the pitch late in the action and found Ilkay Gundogan standing to the side of the keeper’s box with Foden in the 90th minute. De Brunye’s cross landed perfectly in front of Gundogan, who drew the defense away from Foden before sending the game-winning assist his teammate’s way.
The cross from KDB. The touch and assist from Gundogan. The finish from Foden. 😯 pic.twitter.com/8ka41adyrJ
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 6, 2021
Five minutes of additional time weren’t enough for Dortmund to pull off another equalizer, and it heads home with a massive missed opportunity to put City on the heels heading into the second leg.
UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal Draw Results and Predictions
Mar 19, 2021
A giant replica of the UEFA Champions League trophy is displayed at the Rossio square downtown Lisbon, Portugal, Friday, Aug. 21, 2020. PSG will play Bayern in the Champions League final on Sunday. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
The UEFA Champions League quarterfinal draw Friday provided four fantastic matchups that create a ton of great stories and intrigue ahead of the first legs on April 6-7.
The big questions that come to mind immediately: Does the favorite Manchester City have what it takes to get past an Erling Haaland-led Borussia Dortmund and then face Bayern Munich and Robert Lewandowski or Paris Saint-Germain and Kylian Mbappe? Can Real Madrid or Liverpool recapture the magic of past European successes to get to the final from the arguably weaker side of the draw? Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea have only allowed two goals since the German took charge in late January; could they ride their defense to the final?
Let's dive deeper into the matchups one-by-one and predict the outcomes. Now would be a good time to put the Champions League theme song on loop.
Quarterfinal 1: Manchester City vs. Borussia Dortmund
Will Manchester City be able to stop this man?
First Leg: April 6
Second Leg: April 14
Semifinal Opponent: Winner of Quarterfinal 3
Going into the draw, the two clear favorites were Manchester City and Bayern Munich. Undoubtedly the most in-form teams remaining in the competition, neither looked in any trouble in the round of 16.
Manchester City easily dispatched Borussia Monchengladbach with a 4-0 aggregate win courtesy of a pair of 2-0 victories. They are 14 points clear in the Premier League, and their only loss in 32 games across all competitions was against Manchester United on March 7. The squad is deep, the coaching is excellent, the path forward is clear.
Of all City's successes over the past decade—and there's been a lot—the hurdle they have not been able to overcome is the Champions League. And now they have to face the leading scorer in the tournament, Haaland, and a very tricky Dortmund side.
An attacking threat when in the mood, Dortmund should not be overlooked despite the mouth-watering City vs. Bayern/PSG semifinal tie possibly ahead. Jadon Sancho, Marco Reus, Julian Brandt and more, along with Haaland, could cause problems for Pep's near-impenetrable back line with their creative movement and counterattacking prowess.
It won't be enough though, as City is a machine. The first leg will be close, but quality will win out as the blue side of Manchester pushes forward to the semifinal stage for the first time under the Spaniard.
Prediction: Manchester City
Quarterfinal 2: Porto vs. Chelsea
Tuchel has Chelsea back on track since taking over in January.
First Leg: April 7
Second Leg: April 13
Semifinal Opponent: Winner of Quarterfinal 4
This is the least sexy of the four ties but one that could give be among the more interesting. Chelsea have been so sound under Thomas Tuchel since he took over for Frank Lampard that you have to put them in the discussion for making a run to the final.
Porto provided us with the shock of the tournament with a thrilling victory over Juventus in the round of 16. Showing strength, resilience and determination, the Portuguese side went blow-for-blow with the Italian champions and outlasted them in a chaotic second leg in Turin.
At the center of it all is the 38-year-old brick wall known as Pepe. The former Real Madrid star has entered his twilight playing years leading the club he broke out with in the mid-2000s. He was immense against Juve and will relish another test with the ball-dominant style of the Blues. With Sergio Oliveira and Mehdi Taremi providing the goals, they will be a tricky ask for the London side.
Having said that, Tuchel has Chelsea powering ahead with confidence, and if the trio of Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech can keep building momentum, it's hard to go with anyone but the Premier League side here.
Prediction: Chelsea
Quarterfinal 3: Bayern Munich vs. Paris Saint-Germain
Do not sleep on this man coming up huge against PSG.
First Leg: April 7
Second Leg: April 13
Semifinal Opponent: Winner of Quarterfinal 1
Lewandowski. Mbappe. Neuer. Neymar. Sane. Di Maria. The list goes on.
This is the tie with more stars than the ball. Everywhere you look, there's quality.
PSG has been lackluster lately, with two defeats in their past four matches. Bayern, on the other hand, has been great. While not quite running away with the Bundesliga title as they have in years gone by, the holders have been scoring for fun. In their past five matches, including the round-of-16 tie against Lazio, Hansi Flick's men have tallied an impressive 18 goals, with Lewandowski seemingly hell-bent on being on the scoresheet as much as possible.
The duo of Neymar and Mbappe will want to avenge the narrow 1-0 loss to the German giants in last season's final, but it's questionable whether they will be able to contend with the offensive juggernaut that Bayern rolls out on a regular basis to keep it competitive going into the second leg. Eyes will be on the influence of Marco Verratti in the middle of the park to disrupt the flow of Bayern going forward, much like he did against Barca in the round of 16.
Ultimately, Bayern's organization and consistency will outlast the mercurial style of Les Parisiens and the hunt for a first non-Real Madrid repeat champion since AC Milan in the late '80s.
Prediction: Bayern Munich
Quarterfinal 4: Real Madrid vs. Liverpool
The return of Sergio Ramos will provide a massive boost to Madrid's UCL chances.
First Leg: April 6
Second Leg: April 14
Semifinal Opponent: Winner of Quarterfinal 2
And finally, a gift from the football gods. Two historical giants with long track records of success in top European competition, Real Madrid and Liverpool, will do battle in a rematch of the 2018 final in Kyiv.
It's not news that Liverpool have been a mess this season as it attempted to defend the Premier League crown. Well and truly out of the race with a quarter of the season remaining, the Reds have been searching for answers that just haven't been there. Losers of six of their past 10 matches, Jurgen Klopp and Co. are languishing in sixth place in the EPL (25 points off the top). They have not been themselves and will hardly relish the task set before them with this draw. Keeping Mohamed Salah firing (he's scored in each of his past three UCL matches) will be vital.
For Real, resurgent form has mostly kept it in the mix for the La Liga crown (though major slips from Atletico Madrid have helped). Its primary focus should be delivering another painful blow to Liverpool in the quarterfinals, even with a domestic title still within reach. Injuries and inconsistent forward play have troubled Zinedine Zidane's latest tenure, but with Sergio Ramos back in the middle of defense (and scoring), Madrid should fancy themselves against whatever it is that Liverpool has become this campaign.
We get Klopp vs. Zidane. Salah vs. Ramos. Benzema vs. whoever can play center back for Liverpool. It will be the most open of all the quarterfinals and definitely the most unmissable. With the Reds' home form yielding just one win, a neutral-location victory over RB Leipzig, since mid-January, their chances of preventing a vital away goal don't look great. Rising to the massive occasion, at Anfield and in Madrid, Los Blancos will come out on top.
Champions League 2021: Updated Odds After Final Draw
Mar 19, 2021
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, obscured, is congratulated by teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Manchester City and Borussia Moenchengladbach at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary, Tuesday, March 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Laszlo Balogh)
Premier League club Manchester City are the favorite to capture the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League title following Friday's quarterfinal final draw, which pitted the Sky Blues against German side Borussia Dortmund.
DraftKings Sportsbook provided updated odds for all clubs with the remaining bracket now set:
Manchester City +225 (bet $100 to win $225)
Bayern Munich +375
Liverpool +450
Chelsea +525
Paris Saint-Germain +900
Real Madrid +900
Borussia Dortmund +2700
Porto +3000
Quarter-finals set ✅
🏆 Plot your own path to the final and decide who lifts the trophy in Istanbul... ⬇️#UCLbracket | @GazpromFootball | #UCL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 19, 2021
Although City are the favorite, the odds illustrate how much of a toss-up the tournament still is with just eight clubs left in the field. Six of them can still be considered high-end title contenders at this stage, and you can't completely count out Dortmund or Porto either.
The value may come from trying to predict the winner of the quarterfinal featuring last year's two finalists, reigning champion Bayern Munich and runner-up Paris Saint-Germain. The winner of that marquee matchup should get a boost in their betting line heading into the semifinals.
Bayern suffered a shocking exit in the second round of the DFB-Pokal against Holstein Kiel in January, which will prevent the club from matching its treble from last season, but the German giants have otherwise looked as strong as usual throughout the term.
The Bavarians sit atop the Bundesliga table with 58 points through 25 matches and have reached the Champions League quarters with seven wins, one draw and no losses.
Paris Saint-Germain have dealt with inconsistency throughout the campaign, which led former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino to replace Thomas Tuchel as manager in early January. They still trail Lille by three points in the Ligue 1 table.
That said, PSG outclassed Barcelona in the UCL round of 16, scoring a 4-1 win in the first leg to ultimately advance 5-2 on aggregate. It showed the Parisians are still a threat when in top form.
Aside from the individual team outlooks, it's worth noting three of the top four betting lines heading toward the quarterfinals are from the Premier League, a nod to the relative strength of English football this season.
But the bottom line is the race for the Champions League title is wide open.
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Champions League Draw 2021: Schedule of Dates for Remaining Fixtures
Mar 19, 2021
Bayern's Robert Lewandowski, left, celebrates with teammate Bayern's Thomas Mueller after scoring during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Schalke 04 and Bayern Munich in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, Pool)
UEFA held the draw for the 2020-21 Champions League quarterfinals Friday, with defending champion Bayern Munich receiving a matchup with last year's fellow finalist Paris Saint-Germain.
Here's a look at the full results from the draw:
Quarterfinal 1: Manchester City vs. Borussia Dortmund
Quarterfinal 2: Porto vs. Chelsea
Quarterfinal 3: Bayern Munich vs. Paris Saint-Germain
Quarterfinal 4: Real Madrid vs. Liverpool
And here's the semifinal bracket order:
Winner of Quarterfinal 3 vs. Winner of Quarterfinal 1
Winner of Quarterfinal 4 vs. Winner of Quarterfinal 2
The quarterfinal matches will take place April 6-7 and April 13-14. The complete fixture schedule will be released later Friday.
Quarter-finals set ✅
🏆 Plot your own path to the final and decide who lifts the trophy in Istanbul... ⬇️#UCLbracket | @GazpromFootball | #UCL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 19, 2021
A two-leg rematch of last season's final between Bayern and PSG should be a treat for football fans with both clubs coming off dominant performances in the round of 16.
The German side cruised to a 6-2 aggregate triumph over Lazio, while the French team eased past Barcelona 5-2 on aggregate on the strength of a 4-1 win in the first leg.
Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski explained coming into the campaign the club faced a lot of pressure to live up to the high standard it set by winning the treble last term.
"If you play so good in the last season, then everyone is looking at you now and how you will be in the new season," Lewandowskitold reportersin September. "And if you are on the top you have to work harder to stay longer on the top. And I think so for us that is the big challenge for this season."
So far the Bavarians have lived up to those expectations as they sit atop the Bundesliga table with 58 points, four points clear of second-place RB Leipzig, while also having captured the DFL-Supercup in September and staying alive to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
The matchup with Paris Saint-Germain represents their toughest test to date, though.
While the winner of the Bayern-PSG quarterfinal may be viewed as the tournament favorite heading toward the semifinals, this is a deep field littered with legitimate title contenders.
Six of the eight clubs have clear title hopes and even the two longer shots, Dortmund and Porto, have enough attacking firepower to make a run to the final.
It sets the stage for an entertaining, highly competitive finish to this year's Champions League over the next two months.
Champions League Results 2021: Qualified Teams After Wednesday Round of 16 Games
Mar 17, 2021
Bayern's Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring from a penalty kick during the Champions League, round of 16, second leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Lazio at the soccer Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, March 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Make it 18 victories from 19 Champions League games for Bayern Munich as the German club joined Chelsea in advancing to the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
The Reds made quick work in finishing off Lazio in the second leg of their Round of 16 matchup as Robert Lewandowski's 33rd minute penalty kick all but put the aggregate out of reach and made for a rather tame second half.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 17, 2021
It was a similar story for Chelsea, which defended well down the stretch to earn its second straight shutout victory over Atletico Madrid.
The quarterfinal draw is set for Friday and will feature Manchester City, Dortmund, Paris Saint Germain, Porto, Liverpool and Real Madrid alongside Chelsea and Bayern.
Wednesday's Results
Bayern Munich 2-1 Lazio (Bayern Munich win 6-2 on aggregate)
Chelsea 2-0 Atletico Madrid (Chelsea win 3-0 on aggregate)
—Chelsea —Bayern —Man City —Dortmund —PSG —Porto —Liverpool —Real Madrid
Bayern might not have as stress-free a match as it did on Wednesday the rest of the tournament.
Not only did Lewandowski's penalty kick put the team up 5-1 on aggregate, FCB held onto possession of the ball for 59 percent on the match and only had to worry about two of Lazio's five shots coming near the net. Comparatively, Bayern attempts 12 shots with four on net.
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 17, 2021
OptaJoe noted since the start of last season, no player has been directly involved in more Champions League goals than Lewandowski (20 goals, five assists)
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting poured in another insurance goal in the 73rd minute before Lazio ruined keeper Alexander Nübel's clean sheet with a goal from Marco Parolo in the 82nd minute—becoming the third-oldest player to record a goal in the knockout stage in UCL history (per OptaPaolo).
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 17, 2021
It was another brutal Champions League outing for Atletico's Luis Suarez, who hasn't scored an away leg goal in 25 consecutive matches.
That made life all too easy for Chelsea, which took a 1-0 lead Wednesday on a 34th minute goal from Hakim Ziyech. It would still get worse for Madrid. Stefan Savic was handed a red card in the 81st minute and trailing 2-0 in aggregate as Atletico tried to grind the Chelsea defense down.
🇲🇦 Moroccan goalscorers in Champions League history:
⚽️8⃣ Marouane Chamakh ⚽️7⃣ Hakim Ziyech ⚽️6⃣ Youssef En-Nesyri ⚽️4⃣ Achraf Hakim ⚽️4⃣ Nourredine Naybet#UCLpic.twitter.com/hHb9TKiRRF
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 17, 2021
Playing with 10 men made that nearly impossible and the club essentially walked off the pitch after Emerson's 94th minute goal to put the aggregate out of reach at 3-0. Chelsea held possession for 56 percent of the match, put five of 16 shots on net and turned aside all four looks on goal by Atletico.
Havertz ➡️ Werner ➡️ Ziyech
Chelsea's summer signings combine to put them up 2-0 on aggregate 😎
The Blues haven't conceded a goal in eight of their last nine matches—including six straight—as Edouard Mendy continues racking up clean sheets. He'll look to keep that going in the semifinals as Chelsea moves one step closer to its first UCL title since 2012.
Top Winners, Losers After Wednesday's Final Champions League Round of 16 Results
Mar 17, 2021
Chelsea's Emerson Palmieri, left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League, round of 16, second leg soccer match between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid at the Stamford Bridge stadium, London, Wednesday, March 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
The final two clubs booked their place into the Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday, with Bayern Munich defeating Lazio 2-1 (6-2 on aggregate) and Chelsea knocking off Atletico Madrid 2-0 (3-0 on aggregate).
Below, we'll break down the day's biggest winners and losers.
Granted, it shouldn't come as a huge surprise the veteran forward couldn't find the back of the net—he hasn't done so away from home in the Champions League in a very, very long time:
Luis Suarez extends his away leg goal drought in the Champions League to 25 games 😬 pic.twitter.com/khaciosxMI
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 17, 2021
25 - Since the start of last season, Robert Lewandowski has been directly involved in more Champions League goals than any other player (20 goals and five assists). Master. #FCBLAZ
What more is there to say about Lewandowski that hasn't already been said? He's arguably the best striker in football today, and the primary reason why Bayern Munich remain a major threat to win this competition.
Loser: Diego Simeone
Atletico looked listless and rather unthreatening for long stretches vs. Chelsea. That buck starts and stops with Diego Simeone. Nothing seemed to work on Wednesday.
Simeone has forgotten more about football than I’ll ever know, but this team is a complete mess after the substitutions
A night when Simeone's football looked consigned to the past, in a vintage exhibition of how exacting the CL can be. Chelsea just looked a level above, in Tuchel's best display so far, and maybe like European championshttps://t.co/yzIWjzlCLc
▪️ Brushed aside by Chelsea in the UCL ▪️ Three wins in their last 10 games ▪️ Out of the Copa del Rey by a third-tier side ▪️ La Liga lead dwindling by the week
Atletico was outplayed and Simeone was out-coached. A 2-0 loss easily could have been worse.
Winner: Thomas Tuchel
A masterclass from Thomas Tuchel. Chelsea were composed, defensively sound and clinical when presented clear chances. They threatened on the counter-attack and looked a very better side than anything they showed under Frank Lampard.
🔵 Thomas Tuchel's opening 1⃣3⃣ matches as Chelsea head coach
✅ Wins - 9⃣ 🤝 Draws - 4⃣ ❌ Defeats - 0⃣
🤯 Takumi Minamino remains the only opposition player to score against Chelsea in that period... pic.twitter.com/AYdMGMldnl
Onto the quarterfinals! Tuchel tactics worked perfectly. Absorbed some early pressure, scored and then barely let Atleti have a clean look at goal the final 45 minutes. 11 clean sheets in 13 games under Tuchel. Unreal. #CFC
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 17, 2021
3 - Stefan Savic received his third UEFA Champions League red card; only Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edgar Davids and Sergio Ramos (all four) have had more in the competition's history. Marching. #CHEATM
Felt like even Simeone was going through the motions after Savic red, looking away and walking off before belatedly shouting "VAR" after his players surrounded the referee. The fight looks to have gone out of Atleti.
But he also could have done far better on Chelsea's first goal:
Great counter from Chelsea but I have an issue with Savic. He does well to cut the passing lane but then once he does, he backs up! Why not continue to close down Werner to make it harder for him to do what he wants?@jamesbenge, I know you're there. Ask him for me, please. https://t.co/AuA5u3xOxo
Not a sparkling performance from the Atletico defender.
Chelsea Top Atletico Madrid 3-0 on Aggregate, Advance to UCL Quarterfinals
Mar 17, 2021
Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech, right, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Champions League, round of 16, second leg soccer match between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid at the Stamford Bridge stadium, London, Wednesday, March 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Chelsea is moving on to the quarterfinal stage of the UEFA Champions League after securing a 2-0 victory(3-0on aggregate) over Atletico Madrid in the second leg Wednesday at Stamford Bridge.
A stunning 68th-minute goal from Olivier Giroud in the first leg put the Blues in control heading into the home fixture.
Atletico struggled mightily in that match, Diego Simeone's defensive style coming back to bite the club as it failed to put a single shot on goal. Giroud's strike meant Atleti had to be more proactive in the return clash to have any hope of moving on.
They got a taste of their own medicine in the 34th minute.
Chelsea quickly dispelled the danger following a Koke free kick. Because Atletico had thrown so many men forward on the set piece, they were ripped apart on the counter. Kai Havertz found Timo Werner down the left flank, and Werner's low cross was perfectly placed to Hakim Ziyech.
Havertz ➡️ Werner ➡️ Ziyech
Chelsea's summer signings combine to put them up 2-0 on aggregate 😎
That Havertz, Werner and Ziyech combined for the goal will have been a pleasant sight for supporters.
The three haven't lived up to expectations since arriving in the summer, with Havertz and Werner, in particular, failing to deliver early returns on their £119.5 million in combined transfer fees. The opener was an illustration of what they can do together.
Havertz in the “Mount role” looks great. Dropping deeper and touching the ball a lot
As he floats, Werner can play as ST. He can also drift wide left, leaving Atleti CBs without a target. Ziyech looks comfortable. Either wide or central (Havertz plays infront of him). Very fluid
In general, the second leg played out much as the first one did. Even with the clear need to score, Atletico was unable to break Chelsea down, and the Blues' high press prevented Simeone's squad from making much progress into the final third.
Stefan Savic received a red card in the 82nd minute for delivering an elbow to the rib cage of Antonio Rudiger. His dismissal effectively put the finishing touches on the result.
Emerson eliminated any doubt when he doubled Chelsea's lead in the fourth minute of injury time, almost immediately after he entered the match for Havertz.
Luis Suarez has made a big impact in his first season at the club, scoring 18 goals in 24 La Liga matches so far. For whatever reason, the Uruguayan striker continues to be anonymous in continental matches away from home.
Luis Suarez extends his away leg goal drought in the Champions League to 25 games 😬 pic.twitter.com/khaciosxMI
Atletico Madrid isn't as moneyed as some others near the top of the European pyramid, but its collective showing in the round of 16 was disappointing.
Chelsea now awaits the results of Friday's quarterfinal and semifinal draw to learn of its path to Istanbul for the final on May 29.
The Blues haven't been firing on all cylinders—Saturday's 0-0 draw with Leeds United serving as a case in point—but their form has improved since Thomas Tuchel came aboard. They've yet to suffer a defeat with the German on the touchline.
Perhaps the stars can align for Chelsea to enjoy a European triumph.
What's Next?
Chelsea hosts Sheffield United in the FA Cup quarterfinals on Sunday. Atletico is in action the same day in La Liga against Alaves, when it will hope to at least retain its four-point lead on second-place Barcelona.
