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Apoorv Dwivedi
The UEFA Champion’s League round of 16 began last night with two high-profile matches.
Format
It is a knock-out round where two teams face each other twice. They play one match in their home ground. The team which scores the most number of goals is declared the winner of that round. In the case of equal goals, a penalty shoot-out is held. Prior to this season the teams which scored many away goals proceeded in case of a tie.
This two-match format continues till the semi-finals. The final round includes only one match.
Match no.1 Paris Saint-Germain vs Real Madrid
Lionel Messi faced Real Madrid for the first time without sporting Barcelona Jersey. A match that was dominated by PSG’s attack, was decided by a single goal. Madrid’s attack lacked the edge as it could not manage a single shot on target despite having the likes of Benzema, Asensio, Vinicius jr., Eden Hazard, and Gareth Bale on the pitch.
French Striker Kylian Mbappe put the ball in the net in the 94th minute of the match which was the last minute of injury time. Earlier in the night, Messi missed a penalty which was saved by Belgian Thibaut Courtois. Brazilian winger Neymar Jr. made his awaited return to the football field. He picked an injury in November.
It was raining yellow cards in Paris as 4 players of each team got one. Casemiro and Mendy from Real Madrid picked their 5th yellow card of the season and they will be barred from playing when the two sides meet at Santiago Bernabeu for the second leg on March 10.
Match no. 2 Manchester City vs Sporting CP
It was raining goals in Lisbon as Pep Guardiola’s side ran riot on Sporting and scored a 5-0 victory on the hosts. Riyad Mahrez scored the first goal while Bernardo Silva struck twice to give the visitors a 4-0 lead in the first half. Sporting’s defense got its act together in the second half and conceded only one goal.
With a humiliating defeat at their own home ground and second leg match in Manchester City’s home ground. It is highly unlikely that Sporting will overcome a 5 goal deficit.
This is the third time this season that City thrashed aside by a difference of 5 or more goals. They have issued a strong statement to other teams and it will be interesting to see if Manchester City finally gets its hands on the coveted trophy.