The Champions league last-16 second legs came to a conclusion on Wednesday night. With the line-up for the quarter-finals confirmed, TIBS NEWS has provided our winners and losers from those ties.
WINNERS
5. Federico Chiesa
Despite being on the losing side in Turin, the Italy international scored three times over the two legs against Porto. Chiesa looked the most dangerous for Juventus and started the comeback with a strike four minutes into the second half before adding a second on the 64th minute with a header. Chiesa became the first Italian player to score a brace for Juventus since 2008.
4. Erling Haaland
That man again Haaland became the quickest player in Champions League history to score 20 goals. It took the Norway international 14 matches to achieve this feat. His brace against Sevilla was his ninth and 10th goal in this season’s competition in just six matches. Haaland also became the first player to score a brace in four consecutive Champions League games.
3. Real Madrid
Real Madrid made it to the quarter-finals for the first time since winning the competition in the 2017-18 season. Goals from Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos and Marco Asensio were enough to secure their passage into the next round. Madrid were 1-0 up from the first leg and took control after a mistake from the Atalanta goalkeeper. Ramos capped his return with a penalty before Asensio slotted in a third in the closing stages. Los Blancos will be carrying the flag for Spain solely after exits for Barcelona, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid.
2. Chelsea
Chelsea secured a passage to the quarter-final for the first time in seven years after easing past LaLiga leaders Atletico Madrid. Goals from Hakim Zyiech and Emerson Palmieri fired Thomas Tuchel’s side through. The Blues extended their record of never exiting the competition after winning the first leg away from home. Three of the summer signings combined for the first goal with Kai Havertz and Timo Werner exchanging passes before Werner found Zyiech in the box and he slotted home. Emerson added a second in the 94th minute after another counter-attack. The win ensures Tuchel’s unbeaten start continues and stands at 13 – the longest unbeaten start by any manager in the club’s history.
1. Porto/Sergio Oliveria
The Portuguese side have made it to the quarter-final stage in back-to-back seasons after a thrilling game against Juventus. Oliveria scored a free-kick in extra-time to secure 10-man Porto’s passage into the next round. Oliveria scored a first-half penalty to give Porto the perfect start to the game as they dominated the first half before being reduced to 10 men in the 54th minute. Porto progressed in a Champions league knockout tie for the first time since 2003-04 after winning the first leg.
LOSERS
5. Mehdi Taremi (Porto)
With his side winning 1-0 at the time (3-1 on aggregate) Mehdi Taremi got needlessly sent off to make his side’s task harder. The striker picked up a second yellow for kicking the ball away after conceding a free-kick in the 54th minute. The red card now means he will be suspended for the first leg of the quarter-final.
4. Atalanta
The Italian side failed to match last season’s run in the competition and reach the quarter-final stage. Atalanta had plenty of good chances to level the game on aggregate before Madrid scored in the 34th minute. Despite going a goal down, the Italian side did create some good chances before Madrid took control of the game. Their focus will now shift back to Serie A and the battle to finish in the top four. Atalanta are in currently fourth and travel to Verona on the weekend.
3. Sevilla
The kings of the Europa League had an uphill battle on their hands after conceding three away goals to Dortmund in the first leg. The Spanish side started brightly but became frustrated the longer the game went on as Dortmund grew and punished Sevilla even further. Sevilla are on course to return to the Champions League next season as they sit fourth in LaLiga.
2. Juventus
Another season and another opportunity missed by Juventus to try and finally win the Champions League. Juventus struggled to break down a stubborn Porto defence and missed a bundle of chances to put the game beyond their opponents and were made to pay from sloppy spells in the game. It has been 25 years since the Italian side won the Champions league. Where has it gone wrong for them? Bringing in Cristiano Ronaldo to win this competition has backfired, so what is next for the Old Lady?
1. Atletico Madrid
A poor display over two legs from the current leaders of LaLiga, Atletico have failed to reach the quarter-finals in three of the last four seasons they have been in the Champions League. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Atletico came out of the blocks very quickly before Chelsea grew in confidence and ended up nullifying the Spanish side. Stefan Savic made their task harder when he picked up a red card for violent conduct after elbowing Toni Rudiger. Atletico have lost both legs in a knockout game for the first time in the Champions League and have now lost four games against Chelsea in the competition, more than any other side.
