Photo courtesy of Alex Pantling via Getty Images, 2024
Football fans eagerly awaited April, as the most interesting part of the Champions League started on the 9th and 10th. The first leg of the quarter finals were held – four games played, two on the 9th and two on the 10th. And the fans were not disappointed as we may have witnessed the best games of the Champions League in years. Every team still has a chance to qualify for the semi finals with ties or really close results.
First off, Atletico Madrid, who is silently having a great season on the European scene, as they eliminated the current vice champion of the Champions League, Inter Milan, managed to beat Dortmund. The Colchoneros are once again at the best level of Europe thanks to a player that isn’t recognized enough: Griezmann. The French player ended the game by being elected as the MVP, which was well deserved as he performed an incredible game and changed it by giving an assist for the second goal to his teammate Samuel Lino. Beforehand, his Argentinian teammate DePaul opened the scoring at the 4th minute. Despite this comfortable advantage, the German team managed to come back towards the end of the game with a goal scored by Haller. The forward gave hope to his team for a potential comeback tonight as there is only one goal difference and they will be playing at home.
Still in Madrid, Real Madrid offered us an incredible battle as they were playing the current holder of the Champions League, Manchester City. 20 seconds into the game Real Madrid midfielder, Tchouaménie, committed a foul on Grealish which earned him a yellow card. He is suspended for the second leg. This foul offered a free kick to the British opponent. Man City midfielder, Bernardo Silva, took advantage of this and scored two minutes into the game. Ten minutes later, Ruben Dias, a Man City defender, scored an own goal as he deviated a shot from Madrid’s midfielder Camavinga. Madrid’s second goal was then scored by Rodrygo by ridiculing the British defense. The Brazilian let the ball roll in slowly into the cages to give the advantage to Real Madrid. After half time, Pep’s team decided to wake up and scored two gems. Phil Foden, scored the most beautiful goal right into the top corner, where the goalkeeper could never stop it. This goal, and his incredible performance, earned him the MVP of the game. Man City then scored an even more beautiful goal, this time by Gvardiol with a powerful shot outside of the box. As Manchester City was leading again, Real Madrid scored their third goal, which led to a tie between both teams. Federico Valverde was the one who scored the goal with a volley outside of the box. Both teams will play their qualification for the semis tomorrow night in England.
FC Barcelona, seen as an outsider, managed to win 3-2 against PSG, in Paris. Barcelona winger, Raphinha, scored the opening goal giving his team the lead. He was able to do so after a great offensive action led by Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal who made the goalkeeper get out of the cage. After half time, Barcelona were seeing the bottom as PSG managed to comeback at 2-1. The first goal was scored by their former player, for six years, Dembele. The French winger celebrated the goal, which enraged the Barcelona fans after they supported him despite his numerous injuries and lack of performance for the club during his time there. Paris’s second goal was scored by Vitinha, who did an impressive game despite the struggle of his team. Superstar Mbappe was almost absent with no more than one occasion on the goal. The Barcelona defense, Araujo and Cubarsi, managed to block him for most of the game which helped their teammates to win. Barcelona was back at it thanks to Raphinha who scored on an incredible pass made directly from the midfield by Pedri. This was his first touch after he was subbed on into the game, following more than a month of injury. The coaching made by Xavi was insane as after the entrance of Christensen, the defender scored on a header and gave the victory to the Blaugranas. FC Barcelona managed to win a tough away match and will be in a more favorable position to qualify as they will play tonight at home with their fans.
To finish, Arsenal and Bayern Munich made their reunion after the 10-2 during the 2016/17 Champions League edition. The Germans are currently in a tough phase. The British took advantage of it by scoring the opening goal. The British forward, Saka scored a beautiful goal from inside the box. The German then came back thanks to a series of passes following a defensive mistake made by Arsenal, Gnabry was then able to score for Bayern. The German then took the advantage thanks to a penalty scored by Harry Kane. Arsenal finally came back for a tie towards the end of the game thanks to a goal scored by Trossard following a great possession of the ball by Gabriel Jesus who gave him the assist. We will know tonight who will qualify for the semis, as everything is yet to be done for both teams.
The teams will compete again tonight and tomorrow with the hope to qualify for the semis. Everything is yet to be done for every confrontation, the fans will enjoy the second leg as much as they did with the first one.
Sophomore Agathe Vanmassenhove is the Sports Editor. Her email is avanmass@fandm.edu.