Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona
Goals - Willian 62' - Messi 75'
Coming into the game a lot of the talk was about Lionel Messi. The Argentine had never scored against Chelsea coming into this round of 16 tie. Barcelona, who have lost only once in all competitions this season, came into the game as favourites. Chelsea not in great form domestically, but they came flying out of the box on Tuesday night. Hazard blazing a left footed shot over from range within five minutes, the Belgian looking sharp. Barcelona played their typical passing game, and their possession led to their first chance just past the 15 minute mark, Paulinho heading wide when he should do better.
Chelsea were holding their own against the Spanish League leaders, and could have been ahead after 32. Willian turning in and firing a sublime effort from outside the box. Ter Stegan stranded, but the post saved the German keeper. Antonio Conte, who hasn't enjoyed much of this current campaign, reacted as if he was certain his side were in front. And less then 10 minutes later Barcelona were again thanking the woodwork, and Willian again struck a viscous strike from the edge, this time heading into the opposite left hand corner. Again however, he left the post shaking. There was time for Hazard to again fire over before the half time whistle was blown. Willian could have had two, but the stalemate remained after 45 minutes.
The second half started with Barcelona trying to force the agenda. Luis Suarez running into the left channel and firing across goal, forcing the first real save of the game from Courtois. Despite a very impressive first half, Chelsea appeared to be set up very defensively in the second. Understandably against Barca, but surprising after the first half went the way of the home side. But despite this, Willian, who was the best player on the park, continued to create danger. And third time proved to be the charm for the Brazilian. Barcelona hadn't learnt their lesson, again letting Chelsea's number 22 let fly from the edge of the box. But this time it found it's way into the near post. 1-0 to the home side.
But if there is one side in the world you do not want to be gifting chance to, that is Barcelona. Andreas Christensen, who had been brilliant all game, played a sloppy square pass that was latched onto by Iniesta. The Spaniard cutting it back to the man all of the talking had been about, Lionel Messi. Who didn't even blink before slotting into the corner to make it 1-1. Just like that.
And the game was to end like that. Chelsea will be wondering how they won't be taking a lead into the second leg. Tactically, Conte's desire to be solid may have cost them, with Barcelona there for the taking. The Spanish giants take an away goal to the Nou Camp, and Messi's Chelsea slump is over.
Bayern Munich 5-0 Besiktas
Goals - Muller 43', 66' & Kingsley Coman 52' & Robert Lewandowski 79', 88'
Both side domestic champions in their own rights, and despite this Besiktas must have known they were huge underdogs coming into this match. It's not easy for anyone to withstand the fire power of the German giants on any day. Bayern are known to step up the gears when in Europe, and the Turkish champions were nothing more then a punching bag on the night. It would have been hard enough with 11 men, but an early red card for the away side really but their backs up against the wall. Despite being down to 10 Besiktas did manage to keep the ball out of their net during the first half hour. A sublime ball in by James Rodriguez was met by Mats Hummels and well turned over the bar by the man between the sticks for the away side.
Ricardo Quaresma proved to be his usual tricky self down the flank, turning Hummels inside and out before firing in a shot from the right, but easily saved. But it was just delaying the inevitable and the home side were ahead just before half time. Kingsley Coman's pace causing nightmares down the left hand side, he played the ball across, met by Alaba and then turned in by the captain for the night Thomas Muller. Right before the break, the deadlock was broken.
The second half started and as expected, the home side came for blood. Hummels sent a header over the bar, and Robert Lewandowski rattled the cross bar both inside four minutes of the restart. And just three minutes later it was two nil. A slick Bayern Munich move lead to Lewandowski being slotted in down the right, he pulled it back expertly into the on-running Kingsley Coman to slot home. 2-0.
Bayern have looked a different side since Carlo Ancelotti departed in October last year, and they go from strength to strength. So the last thing they need is a helping hand, but Besiktas didn't come out in the second half. Robben slipped a pass into Joshua Kimmich, the young German whipped the ball into an unmarked Muller to secure his brace. Unmarked in the six yard box, 3-0, game over.
With every goal Bayern grew in confidence, and it was flowing through every player. Besiktas didn't have an answer for it. Mats Hummels charged forward from the back, striking down to the goal keeper's right, forcing a decent save. But on hand was Lewandowski to fire in the rebound and make it four. Even at 3-0 up, Bayern had three players running in for the follow up, the German's wanted this tie over before the second leg.
Bayern's fire power is one matched by few sides across Europe, with Robben, Muller and Lewandowski running at you late on, goals are a guarantee. And the three men combined to put the icing on the cake. The flying Dutchman Robben playing a pass onto Muller, in for the hat-trick. But the German unselfishly squared for Lewandowski to turn the ball into an empty new for his second and the home sides 5th. Game over, tie virtually over. 5-0.
Sevilla 0-0 Manchester United
Jose and his Man United side travelled to Spain and to Sevilla for their round of 16 first leg. The Spaniard's welcoming their second English side of the competition, after a 3-3 draw with Liverpool in the group stage. Many could see United setting up to defend and from the beginning that was obvious, sitting back as the home side attacked. Luis Muriel testing De Gea early on with a strike from range inside four minutes. From a similar range Jesus Navas fired just wide, again with United backing off.
You have to fast forward to the 25 minute mark for United's first chance, and for a £80 million striker, you'd expect Lukaku to do better. A lovely floated ball from Alexis fell perfectly onto the Belgian's left boot, but it flied way over the bar on the volley. Any Liverpool fan will tell you that Banega can not be given space in Sevilla's midfield, as he will punish you. And United got a big let off as the Argentine played a ball over the back of United'd defence and into a team mate, only for a tame shot to be easily kept out. David De Gea dedicated stoppage time to creating a save of the season completion. Firstly brilliant keeping out a glancing N'Zonzi header, tipping it over the bar. But when Jesus Navas' cross found Luis Muriel unmarked inside the six yard box, the Spaniard defied explanation to get his left hand to the ball and pull off an unbelievable save to see the half end at 0-0.
Truth be told, the second half wasn't worth watching. Sevilla managed nothing more then balls into the box, with United dealing with them all pretty easily. The English side showed no desire to win the game, and it finished 0-0. You have to wonder who this result favours. United now can take the tie back to Manchester for the chance to progress. But Sevilla won't have to worry about away goals, giving them an advantage should they strike at Old Trafford.
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 Roma
Goals - Ferreyra 52' & Fred 71' - Cengiz Under 41'
A bitterly cold day in Ukraine saw Shakhtar welcome Roma to their temporary home. The home side known for never being easy to beat in Europe. Both sides pushing for an early goal. A ball played in from the home sides left was met by Fred, but a deflection took all of the power from the shot and fell comfortably into the arms of Alisson. Then a Kolarov corner was met by Dzeko unmarked in the Shakhtar box, but forced a brilliant save from the keeper. Dzeko again forced a save from the keeper after the 20 minute mark, firing first time as the ball was cut back by Perotti.
The Italian side were in the driving seat, and Dzeko continued to be a thorn in the Ukrainians side. Given far too much space just outside the box, the Bosnian turned and clipped a pass through the defence and into the young Turk Cengiz Under, who's shot squeezed under the goalkeeper and in. His first Champions League goal, 1-0 Roma right on half time.
The two sides came out for the second half and the home side had their wings up, and looking to equalise. Un-doing Roma's good work in just five minutes. Ferreyra running into the left channel, cut inside Manolas, and slotted it away brilliantly. The man who didn't get a sniff at Newcastle, brought his side level in the Champions League.
Shakhtar had Roma shaking, and very nearly had the lead two minutes after equalising. Brazilian Marlos bringing the ball down and curling towards goal from inside the box, forcing his countryman Alisson into a sublime save. Roma's keeper proving why Roma have slapped a £70 million price tag on him. And again less then ten minutes later, Taison struck, destined for the top right corner. Alisson showed cat like reflexes to bat the ball away.
But up steps Shakhtar's star man. Brazilian Fred has the world's biggest names lining up for his signature, and for anyone who doesn't know why, it explained it with one swing of his left foot. A truly sublime free kick, from the right hand side, in off the bar. Alisson had no chance. No keeper in the world would have any chance. The home side were ahead, 2-1.
There was time for one more exceptional save from Alisson, sprawling to deny Ferreyra his second from point blank range with what proved to be the last chance of the game. Roma take an away goal back to Italy, but the Ukrainian champions have a lead to defend.
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