UEFA Champions League - Round of 16 (2nd legs)

Barcelona vs Benfica - Olympic Stadium Lluis Companys (4-1 AGG)

A comfortable victory in the end for Barcelona on the night and on aggregate over the two legs as they went through 4-1 winners on aggregate. Most of the action came in the first half with all of the goals scored within 42 minutes. Lamine Yamal was in sensational form again with a stunning goal and assist for the scorer of the 2 other goals for Barca in Raphinha. Benfica did cause some tense moments in the first half with an immediate response from Nicolas Otamendi to equalise on the night and go within 1 goal in the 13th minute. However, Barcelona were able to see the game through dominating the stats and not giving anymore momentum to the Portuguese club to build on in the second half of note. This sets up a Quarter Final tie with last year's Finalists in Borussia Dortmund. 

The first goal was made by Lamine Yamal with some tidy footwork on the edge of the box leaving 2 Benfica players behind him as he went into the box. He either miss kicks the ball or sees a pass that not many would have seen to the far post where Raphinha is waiting to pass it in the corner on the volley. 

Within 2 minutes of the opener Benfica had a corner taken by Andreas Schjelderup that was well delivered. An unmarked Nicolas Otamendi at the back post heads it in despite the best efforts of Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. He may have been disappointed to not keep the ball out but with how close Otamendi was it would have been an incredible save to keep it out. At this point it seemed to be game on again in the tie. 

Despite the efforts of Benfica, an unstoppable moment of magic from teenage Wonderkid Lamine Lamal put Barca ahead again in the 27th minute. Lamal stopped the ball from going out of play on the far right hand side, cuts back in on his favoured left foot and despite facing more towards his own goal than the opposition’s he wraps his foot around the ball and curls it into the far corner. The Benfica goalkeeper with no chance of saving the shot as some individual brilliance gives Barcelona the lead again on the night. 

The tie is then sealed within 42 minutes as Alejandro Balde wins the ball on the edge of his box with a good tackle to intercept a dangerous attack from Benfica. He then carries the ball from box to box with a great run before setting the ball to Raphinha to strike into the bottom corner. Despite a brief VAR check for offside the goal stands with Barcelona delivering what would be the decisive blow to Benfica. 

Inter Milan vs Feyenoord - San Siro Stadium (4-1 AGG)  

The second leg between these 2 teams was even on paper but Inter seemed to have the better of the chances created. Feyenoord did have good chances to get back into the game but were not taken. In the end the team that took their chances and probably deserved it overall went through comfortably with a 4-1 win on aggregate for Inter. The Quarter Final draw for Inter is against Bayern Munich. 

In the 8th minute, Marcus Thaurum picked up the ball on the left hand side and drove into the box before cutting it and firing the ball into the top corner. A brilliant finish from the Frenchman to break the deadlock early in the stages to ease any possible Inter nerves. 

Just before halftime Feyenoord got themselves back into the game with a penalty given after a VAR review due to a challenge from Hakan Calhanoglu on Moder as he went through the back of him. Moder takes the penalty himself, beating Yann Sommer despite him going the right way. 

Just after the break, Inter were awarded their own penalty. A mistake from Feyenoord defender Thomas Beelen caught Mehdi Tarami at the corner of the box. Given immediately by the referee, Hakan Calhanoglu steps up and puts it bottom right as Inter win 4-1 on aggregate to advance. 

Liverpool vs PSG - Anfield Stadium (1-1 AGG - 1-4 PENALTIES)

A close game with both sides having equal chances to win the game and an aggregate draw at the end of the tie being a fair result from the 2 legs. From goal line clearances to penalty shootouts, this game wasn’t short of drama. A deserved win away from home for PSG put the game into extra time but with neither team able to score in the allotted time, penalties were needed to decide the outcome of the tie. 

The only goal of the game came from the PSG right hand side as Barcola put a hopeful ball into the box. After a mix up by both Konate and Allison the ball was loose heading towards the goal. The first person to react was Ousmane Dembele who pokes the ball home. PSG got the goal they needed to even the game. 

The first 3 penalties all converted as Darwin Nunez stepped up to make it 2-2. One of the best goalkeepers in the World as penalty shootouts makes the save as Nunez misses the first penalty of the game. PSG converted the next penalty for pressure to be piled onto the young shoulders of Curtis Jones. He steps up but another great save from Donnarumma puts PSG on the verge of going through. For the win, up steps Desire Doue. The finish into the top left hand corner shows that he didn’t feel the pressure that most would have in that situation. PSG won the shootout 4-1 to advance in the competition. The Quarter Final is set, PSG vs Aston Villa. Another English team  for the French Champions awaits. 

Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich - BayArena (0-5 AGG) 

The match was largely dominated by Bayern who came out of the tie as deserved winners over the 2 legs with 5 goals scored and no reply from Leverkusen. Within the first 15 minutes Bayern could have been out of sight but unable to find the back of the net until the 52nd minute with Harry Kane scoring and assisting in both goals. Leverkusen did have their chances, most of which coming to their main striker Patrick Schick but it wasn’t to be his night or Leverkusen’s as they exited this year's Champions League with a disappointing 5-0 aggregate defeat to their Bundesliga rivals. 

A mix up and bad defending led to the opening goal for Bayern Munich. With a fairly straightforward ball into the box from a free kick by Kimmich. The Leverkusen defense didn’t seem to know how to defend the ball as it landed at the feet of Harry Kane with an open goal to pass the ball into. One of the easiest goals he will score in his career and his 10th in the Champions League this season, making him joint top goalscorer at this stage. 

The second goal started from the pace and determination of substitute Serge Gnabry as he beat the Leverkusen defenders and drew out another 2 defenders before finding a pass to Goretzka. Lovely one touch football from Goretzka into Kane who looped it over the last defender to an arriving Alphonso Davies. He opened up his body with a delicate half volley into the bottom corner. 

A tricky tie next up as Bayern play Inter for a place in the Semi Finals. Both teams lead their respective leagues with iconic stadiums to host each leg. A blockbuster tie which has only occurred twice in the last 10 years, with Bayern coming out on top both times. 

LOSC vs Borussia Dortmund - Stade Pierre Mauroy (2-3 AGG)

Despite the early goal to put Lille ahead from Jonathan David, Dortmund grew into the game fairly quickly. They had chances throughout the first half that were only kept out by an outstanding first half performance by Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier. An overall tight game with Dortmund coming out on top due to a penalty and moment of quality from Maximillian Beier in the second half. They go on to play Barcelona in the Quarter Finals as last year’s finalists look to do one better this year. 

For the opening goal the Lille left back Ismaily broke free down the left hand side driving into the Dortmund box. His pass finds David who put in a hopeful shot first time, with a blunder from the goalkeeper as it goes through his legs to give Lille the lead on the night and in the tie. 

Dortmund found an equlaiser from the penalty spot after a foul from former Dortmund man Thomas Meunier. Up stepped Dortmund captain Emre Can with a penalty straight down the middle to put Dortmund back in the game. 

The winner started from the Dortmund right hand side with Waldemar Anton looking early for Beier but over his head and landed well for Ryerson on the left. He cuts in before a reverse pass to Guirassey on the edge of the box. A short pass to Beier, some excellent footwork from him as he fired a shot into the top corner. No chance for Chevalier who can only watch as the ball flew past him. A goal good enough to win any match let alone a Champions League Round of 16 tie. 

Aston Villa vs Club Brugge - Villa Park (6-1 AGG)

A nightmare start for the Belgian side as within the first 16 minutes they were down to 10 men. A direct kick from Martinez goes through to Rashford, who is brought down by Kyriana Sabbe. Sabbe was sent off as he denied Rashford a goalscoring opportunity just outside of the box. From then on it seemed to be all Villa as they went on to win the game 3-0 and book their place in the next round. Their opponents are the team that knocked out Liverpool in PSG. A team that is in a rich vein of form and the toughest test for Villa in their UCL campaign. 

Aston Villa made the breakthrough with Asencio breaking through the middle of the pitch. The ball seemed to be lost but recovered well by John McGinn, who found Bailey on the wing. He plays a direct chip ball to Asencio who hits it into the roof of the net to give Villa a deserved lead. 

Another goal was added with good play from both Rashford and Rogers, with clever footwork from Rogers to make space near the touchline to get space and deliver a pass across the box to Ian Maatsen. Maatsen with a flick deflected into the goal to double their lead. 

The tie was settled well and truly by Asencio’s second goal coming within just 11 minutes of the first goal of the night. A quick start to the second half quickly put the tie beyond the reach of Club Brugge. Rashford was released down the left hand side, he drove into the box towards the goal before laying the ball off to Asencio. He puts it into the bottom corner from close range to double his tally for the evening. 

Arsenal vs PSV - Emirates Stadium (9-3 AGG) 

A fairly even game on the night at the Emirates, with Arsenal coming out comfortable winners on aggregate due to their away performance where they netted 7. Most of the action came in the first half as 3 of the 4 goals scored in 37 minutes. PSV faced an uphill task from the beginning especially with Zinchenko scoring in the 6th minute to make it a 7 goal deficit. Arsenal seemed to control the game despite only drawing on the night but easing through 9-3 on aggregate. The defending Champions Real Madrid await the Gunners in the Quarter Finals. 

The making of the first goal came from good work from one of the standout players of the night in Raheem Sterling. He played the ball whilst being fouled but advantage was played with the ball at the feet of Zinchenko. A great advantage played by the referee as Zinchenko would go on to curl the ball into the far corner from just outside of the box. A satisfying finish from the Ukrainian to give Arsenal a perfect start on the night. 

The Dutch side did equalise fairly quickly in the 18th minute from some good play down the middle of the pitch. The midfield linked up well before Isaac Babadi on the edge of the box played it to Ivan Perisic. The first touch from the Croatian wasn’t the best but still able to scoop it out from under his feet and place it into the top corner. The former Tottenham man showed his class with such a finish. 

The second goal for Arsenal came down the right hand side. A slightly overhit pass from Kiwior managed to just stay in play thanks to Raheem Sterling’s efforts. His efforts don’t stop their as he drives down the wing with the ball going past 2 men using his pace. Then putting a perfect floated ball into the box with an arriving Declan Rice meeting the ball, heading it into the ground and past the PSV goalkeeper. Making it 9-2 on aggregate. 

A final goal of the night came from Arsenal being dispossessed in the middle of the park, a counter attack from PSV led to Couhaib Driouech being put through. David Raya tries to come out to meet him and put pressure on the winger. However, he remains cool under pressure as he lifts the ball directly over Raya’s head and without bouncing it hits the back of the net. An incredible finish from the Moroccan. PSV may not have made much of a contest over the 2 legs but provided moments of quality just like that finish. 

Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid - Riyadh Air Metropolitano (2-2 AGG - 2-4 PENALTIES)

Despite Real having the majority of the possession  it was Atletico who had the best chances in the match. With nearly 3 times as many shots on target as Real shows that Atletico were the ones to make their possession count when it mattered. Although having the better of the chances Real Madrid did have a chance to win the game from the penalty spot in 90 minutes with Mbappe being fouled in the 68th minute. Strangely Mbappe did not take the penalty himself and left it for Vinicius Jr. who ended up blasing the ball straight into the Atletico fans behind the goal. Vinicius’s bushes were spared in the penalty shoot out as Real Madrid prevailed, with Antonio Rudiger scoring the decisive penalty to send them through. The Madrid derby won by Real as they go to their 5th successive Champions League Quarter Final. 

The only goal of the game came within 30 seconds as Atletico played it in between their defence before a long ball up field but was intercepted but straight back to Atletico with Griezmann. The ball was played between the midfield for Atleti before a good ball into space for Rodrigo De Paul who put the ball in first time. Towards the front post with Giuliano Simeone but he can’t make contact with the ball. Following up quickly was an arriving Connor Gallagher, he managed to beat Courtois to the ball to poke it into the corner. 

A penalty shoot out was needed to separate the 2 sides, with the first 3 penalties all converted. The 4th penalty, taken by Julian Alvarez, was scored but upon VAR review it was decided that the Argentine had kicked the ball onto his standing foot as it went in. Meaning that the penalty had to be ruled out, controversially to say the least. The next 2 penalties are both scored. Following that the next 2 penalties were missed, Lucas Vazquez had his effort saved by Oblak and Marcos Llorente hitting the crossbar. Antonio Rudiger then stepped up for the win, Jan Oblak went the right way and may think he should have saved it but was unable to keep it out as Real went through. 

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER FINAL DRAW:

BAYERN MUNICH VS INTER MILAN 

ARSENAL VS REAL MADRID

BARCELONA VS BORUSSIA DORTMUND

PSG VS ASTON VILLA