UEFA Champions League: Quarter-finals

 

Welcome folks!

I'm back with some coverage and this time it's for the quarter-finals of the competition. 

If there are words to describe the manner in which this week went, you could say down-right dramatic, humbling, insane, heartbreaking, jaw-dropping and much more. I'm now starting to think whether single-leg tournaments should be the way to go 🤔😂. Anyways, let's get straight to it!

Atalanta vs Paris-Saint Germain

The game that started all the drama. Atalanta, a team in its very first season and the dark horses of the competition, came up against a PSG team that wasn't looking its strongest. In the first-half, the Italian team looked good and after 20 minutes Mario Pasalic dispatched a shot right into the top corner of the goal, and at that moment Atalanta started to look like they could progress once again. In fact, Neymar had a super early chance to give PSG the lead but somehow he squandered the finish. However, in the second-half, the French team began to take control of the game with Atalanta now resorting to defending their lead. Atalanta managed to maintain their defending but they were getting tired and PSG kept asking questions. After so many attempts, Marquinhos grabbed a goal for PSG and it was game on very late. Believe it or not, PSG got a second goal right after that, as Kylian Mbappe (back from injury so soon😮) darted into the box and slid a cross in which was scored by an unlikely source, Choupo-Moting!

It was heartbreak for Atalanta, as they couldn't salvage themselves from the blitz.

Setting the tone

RB Leipzig vs Atletico Madrid

Another game played and more drama tagged along. For RB Leipzig, this was the first time in their history to come this far in the Champions league, making them the other dark horses of the competition. For Atletico Madrid, they had a chance to reach the semi-finals for the 3rd time in 6 years. Both teams played out a cagey first-half with Leipzig looking the closest to cause damage. In the second-half the German team managed to find a way, and thanks to a header from Olmo they took the lead. 20 minutes before injury time, Atletico managed to get themselves a penalty. It was wonderkid Joao Felix who got fouled in the area and him again to slot the ball into the back of the net. Game on in this game too!? Pretty much, but there was a twist. Leipzig sent the ball forward and Angelino got onto it to cutback a pass to young American, Tyler Adams. The strike took a wicked deflection but that didn't matter because RB Leipzig were back in front. They held on to the lead, as stoppage time seemed to constantly increase. For a moment it seemed like the game would go to extra-time but when the ref blew the whistle in the 98th minute, it was all over.

It is the first time the German team had ever reached the semi-finals in the competition and it was the first-time that Atletico Madrid manager, Diego Simeone, had been knocked out by a team that didn't have Cristiano Ronaldo 😱.

History was made

Barcelona vs Bayern Munich

Oh boy! This was the must-see game from all the fixtures and it indeed lived up to the hype. Well, not the hype many expected 😂👀. Bayern were flying as early as 3 minutes. However, an own goal from David Alaba leveled the game and it was 1-1 in just under 10 minutes. From then on though, Bayern were starting to pull away. Perisic got the second, Gnabry the third and Thomas Muller grabbed his brace to make the score 1-4 at the end of the first-half 👀🍿🔥. As the second-half went by, Luis Suarez got a goal back for the Catalans and the game still looked to bring hope for Barca. However, it only got worse. Alphonso Davies completed the most stunning run to assist teammate Joshua Kimmich to make it 5 for Bayern. Before you know it, top scorer Robert Lewandowksi headed in his goal and it was now 6 for Bayern. The hammering didn't stop as Phillipe Coutinho, on loan from Barca, scored two in quick succession to leave Barcelona to an 8-2 humbling. It's the biggest defeat the team has ever had in the history of the Champions league and it will take a long time to forget.

Lionel Messi and co were left in tatters as Bayern progressed convincingly. We all expected a thriller, but not in this manner. 💀

Demolition. Destruction. Annihilation

Manchester City vs Lyon

The final quarter-final game which we all thought would be the most normal out of all, or need we to think again 🤷🏽‍♂️🤯. Man City were struggling to trouble Lyon's goal and paid the price for their wastefulness when Lyon sent a ball over the top for Toko Ekambi, parried away by City's defense only for Maxwell Cornet to precisely score from about 20 metres, the opening goal of the game. Man City remained looking for a goal in the game but it just wasn't happening for them. Anthony Lopes, the Lyon goalkeeper, had an answer to every shot Man City threw at him. Eventually, Raheem Sterling got close to the byline and cutback for KDB (Kevin De Bruyne) to pull the Cityzens back into the game. For a moment, the English team looked to take control of the game. To their despair, Moussa Dembele shockingly got Lyon back in front and it was back to square one for Man City. If the situation wasn't already bad, Raheem Sterling missed an absolute golden chance to equalize and at least take the game to extra-time. Punishment came right after that missed chance as Dembele sneaked in another shot to end any hopes of a potential comeback.

This is the second time Lyon have bested Man City and it came at a time when Man City supporters felt that this would be the season for them to lift the trophy.

Rains or pours for Man City?

The results for this dramatic quarter-final round were as follows:

Wednesday, 12 August 2020

Atalanta 1-2 PSG     ←Click here to watch this game

Thursday, 13 August 2020

RB Leipzig 2-1 Atletico Madrid    ←Click here to watch this game

Friday, 14 August 2020

Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich      ←Click here to watch this game

Saturday, 15 August 2020

Man City 1-3 Lyon               ←Click here to watch this game

Well that's it guys. These were the quarter-finals and now they are done 🥺. Not short of drama to say the least 😂. Wowzerrss. Looking forward to the semi-finals now, as we edge closer to the final and bear witness to Europe's next champions. Until then, keep safe and keep well.

See you next matchday 🏆⚽🛣❗