Champions League Round of 16 - Part One

The very peak of club competition in Europe is back. The UEFA Champions League. The group stage is over and the round of 16 has begun, with four huge games taking place. The Champions of Europe Real Madrid facing off against Paris Saint Germain, or as Spanish publication Marca put it 'Champions vs Contenders.' The two most lethal attacks in England faced off against two giants of their respective domestic leagues. As FC Basel and Porto hosted Manchester City and Liverpool. And Harry Kane faced the task of breaking through one of Europe's most rigid back lines as Italian champions Juventus welcomed Spurs.

Juventus 2-2 Tottenham

Goals -  Higuian 2', 9' (P) - Kane 35' & Eriksen 71'

We'll start in Turin on Tuesday night. The atmosphere was electric for what promised to be a masterclass in defensive football against the in form striker in Europe. But is was the home side which fired first. After Dembele gave away a silly free-kick inside the first 30 seconds 35 yards from goal. The ball was clipped into the channel to the waiting Gonzalo Higuian who expertly took it first time on the volley into the bottom left hand corner. Lloris got a touch on the ball but not enough to keep it out.

Juventus started the game brilliantly, and they continued to cause problems for the visitors. The ball was played in from the left where Federico Bernadeshi beat Ben Davies to the ball and went down in the area. Penalty to Juventus. And much like the first goal, Higuian fired the ball into the bottom left corner. Lloris again getting his right hand to the ball but not enough to make the save. Inside 10 minutes the home side lead by 2.

It took going down by two for Spurs to finally show some signs of life. Harry Kane made a darting run into the box before going down just to the left of the six yard box. The referee however correctly judged it to not be worth a penalty. Then a beautifully played ball into the box by Christan Eriksen found it's way onto Harry Kane's head. Six yards out, he couldn't beat Buffon. The Italian producing an excellent point blank save, when the Englishman really should score. Harry Kane however wouldn't be denied again. Dele Ali played a perfectly waited ball through and Kane took it on his right, past the on rushing Buffon, before slotting it into the empty net with his left. Spurs have a crucial away goal and a way back into the game.

Enter Douglas Costs. The Brazilian made a sublime run down the left, taking two Tottenham players out of the game before being brought down in the box by Aurier, another Penalty. On the stroke of half time Higuian stepped up for his hat-trick, only to be denied by the cross bar after blasting the spot kick down the middle! The half ends 2-1 to Juventus.

As the second half began Juve kept us their masterclass performance, with Bernadeshi cutting in from the right and whipping the ball towards the corner. Hugo Lloris pulling out a big save to keep the deficit to one. But as the half went on Spurs played their way more and more into the game. This time is was Spurs winning a free-kick just outside the penalty area, and up stepped Christian Eriksen. A sublime free-kick, curling it down low, to the right of the wall, wrong footing Buffon and into the corner. The Italian, much like Lloris in the first half, got to the ball, but it still found it's way in. The English side had fought back level.

And that is how the game ended. A brilliant example of Champions League football. All to play for in London in two weeks time. Juve 2-2 Spurs.

FC Basel 0-4 Manchester City

Goals - Gundogan 14', 53' & Bernando Silva 18' & Aguero 23'

We're used to seeing City blow teams away at this point in the season and Basel welcomed the English champions elect with the hopes of stopping them. The first chance of the game actually fell to the home side, a ball over the back to Dimitri Oberlin, the Cameroonian striker beating Ederson to the ball but failing to make any real contact on he ball. This miss would cost the home side as City then turned it on. A corner from City's left was played into the near post, where Gundogan produced a brilliant header, inside the post, no chance for the goal keeper. The away side where one up after 14 minutes.

Less then four minutes later City where doubling their lead. Sterling played the ball across the box where Bernado Silva collected it and played the ball towards the top left hand corner. The Basel keeper made a mess of it, allowing the ball to go through his hand and into the net. City where out to end this tie quickly.

Up stepped EA's Premier League Player of the Month for January, Sergio Aguero to make it three for City five minutes after Silva's goal. Picking the ball up 30 yards from goal, he took one touch to set it before striking the ball into the bottom left corner. Again questions must be asked about the keeper who didn't even move. The Argentine striker is in fine form, and he had put the game beyond Basel inside 23 minutes. The rest of the half played out comfortably for the away side, ending the half 3-0 up.

With all the respect to Basel, City were in a class of their own on the night, as they have been for much of the season. And the goal of the game was to follow, Gundogan getting his second. As he stepped inside a defender and whipped a delicious shot into the bottom right corner. Coolness personified, the tie now surly beyond Basel's reach.

The away side easily could have had more but the game finished 4-0 to the Premier League leaders. A walk in the park for most of the night.

Porto 0-5 Liverpool

Goals - Mane 25', 53', 85' & Salah 29' & Firmino 69'

Portuguese side and hosts Porto have an exceptional home record in the Champions League, and welcomed five time European Champions Liverpool on Valentines day. Both visits to Porto for Liverpool in the past have ended in draws. A record they looked to end on the night. Despite their fierce front line Liverpool always look shaky at the back, and it showed in the opening minutes. A strike from the edge of the box deflected onto the roof of Karius' net with the keeper stranded, however it was a brilliant block by Lovren. However the English side then started to click. Gini Widjnaldum worked his way into the box, and after his shot was blocked he played the ball out to the waiting Sadio Mane. The Senegalese wide man slotted the ball under the goal keeper and into the net. For all their good work at the start of the game the home side were behind.

Porto then looked the side shaking defensively, and they were punished. A poor clearance was picked up by James Milner, who worked his way inside and rattled the post with a curling effort. Only for Mo Salah, the King of Egypt, to pick the ball up on the bounce, flick it over the keeper, then keep it up with his head, committing the defender and tap it into the empty bottom right corner. Quality from the winger, his 30th goal of an incredible debut season for the reds. It was 2-0 to the away side. Porto tried to find their way back into the game throughout the remainder of the half, but with no luck. The half ended with Liverpool in the driving seat.

No team in the world can tear a team apart on the break just like Liverpool, and Porto found that out minutes into the second half. Milner won it back just outside Liverpool's penalty area, and Mane played it into Firmino. A sublime flick out to the right found Mo Salah, who made up 30 yards instantly and played a pass through the defence back into Bobby Firmino. The Brazilian's shot was saved, but Sadio Mane fired in the rebound for his second and Liverpool's third. One foot in the quarter finals.

Liverpool were rolling, and Porto were at 6's and 7's at the back. Mane dispossessing his man in midfield, showing great strength to hold off the challenge before playing a pass into James Milner. The Englishman pulled it back into the on running Roberto Fimino, who mad no mistake this time and fired into the bottom left hand corner. 4-0. Liverpool's front three all on the score sheet. It was getting worse for the home side, the energy really sapped out of the stadium with this goal.

Mane saved the best for last however. A delightful flick over the defender into Danny Ings, the Englishman played it back into Sadio, with all the space in the world. He struck through the ball brilliantly, unstoppable to the keepers left, Mane had his hat-trick, Liverpool had five!

A masterclass from Jurgen Klopp's men who, much like Man City the night before, can almost start thinking about the next round! Porto 0-5 Liverpool.

Real Madrid 3-1 PSG

Goals - Ronaldo 45' (P), 83' & Marcelo 86' - Rabiot 33'

The last side the lift the famous trophy hosting many peoples favourites to be the next. The former most expensive player on the planet versus the current. Real Madrid taking on PSG. Out of form in the League, Madrid's season relies 100% on this competition. And the French league leaders would love nothing more then to end that season. The opening stages played out mostly in midfield, with the first chance coming for the home side. Kroos curling a left footed shot to the goalkeeper's right. The save was made easily enough, only for Marquinios to almost knock the ball into his own net. The ball luckily for PSG went behind for a corner, which came to nothing.

The home side continued to press, Marcelo looking brilliant from left back, and he darted down the left before playing a brilliant ball to the right for Cristiano Ronaldo to run onto. But the man on 99 Champions League goals for Madrid couldn't beat Areola in the PSG goal. Despite their early chances it was Madrid who found themselves behind just after the half hour. A ball played in by Mbappe was poorly dealt with by the Madrid defence, Neymar with a deft flick behind into the onrushing Frenchman Rabio. Who dispatched brilliantly to put the away side ahead.

The goal didn't do much to knock Madrid's attitude to the game, Ronaldo blazing over with his left when he really should have done better. And with minutes to go until half time a cleverly whipper left footed strike from Benzema was denied brilliantly by Areola down to his right. However from the resulting corner Kroos went down under a challenge from Meunier, too easily perhaps, but the referee pointed from the spot. For CR7 to fire expertly into the bottom corner for Madrid's equaliser and his 100th Champions League goal for Los Blancos. Capping off the half at 1-1.

Conceding right on the break seemed to light a fire under the away side, who came out flying in the second half. Mbappe firing across goal from right to left, forcing Navas into a good save. Dani Alves then arrived a fraction of a second too late to turn a cross into the net for his side, PSG were on top in the Bernabeu. However much like when they scored against the run of play in the first half, the hosts hit right back in the second. Substitute Marco Asensio made his way down PSG's right hand side and drilled in the cross. Areola at fault for the first time all game, parried the cross to the one man you don't want a ball to fall to in your box, Ronaldo. Who turned the ball off his knee with seven minutes to play for the holders to take the lead.

Marcelo who was sublime all night then put the nail in the coffin for PSG. Playing the ball down the left, first into Kroos then to Asensio, he struck a first time shot straight at the keeper. But a deflection off of a Paris Saint Germain defender made it unstoppable for Areola. The ball lifted past him and into the net, Madrid had struck twice in four minutes to put the tie massively in their hands. 3-1 to the holders.

There was time for a late Neymar chance, for the Brazilian to blaze over with the last kick of the game. The 12 time champions of Europe have a huge advantage going to Paris in two weeks time. But Rabiot's away goal means that the tie is still very much alive. Real Madrid 3-1 Paris Saint Germain.

All in all week one of the Round of 16 was an example of the elite level of European football. Liverpool and Manchester City both blowing away their opponents away from home. Spurs showing they can hang with the elite, and they don't come much more elite then Juventus. And Real Madrid answering their critics the only way they know how, winning in Europe. Onto week two.

Coming up -

Bayern Munich vs Besiktas

Chelsea vs Barcelona

Sevilla vs Manchester United

Shakhtar Donetsk vs Roma.

What Just Happened? - Real Madrid 4-1 Juventus

A Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Real Madrid secured their 12th European cup and third title in the last fours years, a dominance which even surpasses that of  Barcelona's from 2006 until 2011. Truly a game of two halves we saw the best Europe has to offer on the biggest stage, and a real advert for the Champions League as a whole.

Massimiliano Allegri's side started the strongest, looking organised from back to front, with record signing Gonzalo Higuain stinging Keylor Navas's palms and the star studded defence of Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini keeping Madrid's attackers in particular Cristiano Ronaldo quiet. For all of 20 minutes anyway. A beautifully worked moved by the holders saw Ronaldo combine with full back Dani Carvajal, who pulled the ball back into the perfect position for CR7 to strike into the bottom left hand corner. A slight deflection off of Bonucci made it even more difficult for Gigi Buffon to react to and against the run of play Real were ahead. 1-0.

However the Italian champions didn't let going behind phase them and were instantly back on the attack. Miralem Pjanic came very close to drawing level after his well hit shot was superbly saved by the Madrid stopped Navas, causing the commentators to comment on Real's link to Manchester United number 1 David De Gea and asking the question, 'Do they really need him?' And right on cue the 'curse of the commentator' had another victim. Alex Sandro swung the ball in from the left and it was cushioned into the bath of Mario Mandzukic who managed to control and score a breathtaking overhead kick from just inside the box, over the goal keeper and into the net! Taking nothing away from the finish you have to question the goalkeeping at play here, but a world class goal non the less. 1-1. 

And that was how the first half ended, the literal definition of an end to end game, we had a potential classic on our hands. Now, remember when I said 'game of two halves?' Well...

Zinedine Zidane's team talk at half time must have made it's impact as his side came out all guns blazing in the second half. Unlike the first half there appeared to be a lot of space among the Old Lady's defence and it took 15 minutes for Real to retake the lead. A massively deflected effort from Casemiro, who had managed to mark Paulo Dybala out of the game up until this point, crept past Buffon and into the corner, 2-1.

Europe's most successful club just grew and grew in confidence and Juventus's fabled defence looked shook and out of place, which lead to the one man they'd of hoped stayed quiet getting in on the act once again. Again a sweeping move from back to front saw Luka Modric making a run inside of Alex Sandro before pulling the ball into the six yard box and perfectly into the path of Cristiano Ronaldo who made no mistake and dispatched the chance with customary ease. The quality in run made by Modric for this goal cannot be over looked as he spotted a gap in the defence and provided the movement which created the opportunity, latching onto another impressive ball by Dani Carvajal (who managed to outplay the three other highly rated full backs on show on the night) before playing an inch perfect ball towards the near post for Ronaldo to score. Two goals in three minutes had driven the wind out of the Italians. 3-1. 

After the third goal went in we didn't see too much in terms of chances for either side for 20 minutes, Juventus switched to a more traditional back four and managed to compete in midfield for the first time in the half, but they appeared to be running on empty. A collection of misplaced passes and half arsed runs pretty much demonstrated Juve's performance in the second half. I've already mentioned Dybala being marked out of the game up until this point and that continued, with the Argentinian looking disinterested and frustrated. Also Dybala's countryman Higuain continues his run of failing to perform in the big games. After a very impressive season coming into the final the striker failed to make any sort of impact, in a game where Juve needed an outlet Gonzalo failed to provide anything. And then we get to the one sour point of the game. A ball was played down Real's left for Cuadrado to chase but Sergio Ramos, who had been hugely impressive all night, made a perfect tackle to send the ball out for a throw in. However when the Juventus winger went to rush to the ball to take the throw in quickly Ramos dropped to the floor and proceeded to roll around acting as if Cuadrado had stamped on his ankle. The replay shows the smallest of contact between the two players, a contact so small that the camera doesn't initially pick it up, instead focusing on the Colombian Cuadrado pushing past Ramos to get the ball. The linesman who is standing inches away from the incident does nothing to help the referee who sees Ramos's play acting and sends Cuadrado off for a second bookable offence, which was followed by the Madrid captain rising to his feet instantly to gesture 'off' to his opponent. Respect to the Juventus player who leaves the pitch immediately when many would have continued to argue with the officials and the players, but the team that were trailing were now down to ten men.

Playing with a man advantage made the end to this game is easier for Madrid, and they added to their advantage in stoppage time when Marcelo broke down the left with ease and much like two of Real's previous goals, cut the ball back into the danger area for substitute Marco Asensio to finish with his left into the bottom right hand corner of the net. The reaction of the Juventus side tells the whole picture, as Asensio wheels off in celebration they collapse, exhausted and out of ideas. 4-1. 

The final whistle blew and a stark contrast can be seen between the two sides on show. For the champions, celebrations can officially begin. Cristiano Ronaldo dropped to his knees and screamed up at the heavens, in the process of winning his fourth Champions League winners medal he becomes the first player in the history of the UEFA Champions League to score in three finals. Gianluigi Buffon however appeared visibly distraught, this is probably the last opportunity for the the veteran Italian goalkeeper to win the trophy that has eluded him his entire career. The 39 year old however showed his class as he congratulated the winners one by one, a true legend and he deserves to be remembered both as a world class goalkeeper but also as a world class human being. Special mention has to go to the scorer of Madrid's second goal, Casemiro. He may not have known much about his goal but his performance from start to finish was stand out. The task of marking Dybala was one not many could handle, but the Brazilian midfielder made it look easy and provided the solid foundations needed for Madrid's win and particularly their excellent second half performance. 

Real Madrid become the first side since AC Milan in 1990 to retain the European cup and the first since the Champions League era began, and Zinedine Zidane continues to make management look as easy as he made football look, winning his second Champions League in his second year as Real Madrid manager. Easy. The decision to start Isco over Garath Bale may have appeared obvious, with the Spanish play maker in form and Bale carrying a calf injury coming into the preporations for the final. But with the reported pressure from the board and the draw of starting Bale in his home country looming over Zidane's head he managed to pull through and make a big statement in the process. A statement that was justified as Isco was again, world class and Bale off the bench had the legs to cause the opposition defence nightmares. Allegri's management all season has been nothing short of perfect but it appeared to be just one game and one team too far for his side. The switch in system midway through the second half came way too late, when it was obvious Real were dominating far too easily in midfield the change was needed and it ultimately cost them. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and I'm certain Juventus will come back next season just as strong... before losing in the final again for what will then be the 8th time.

As Sergio Ramos lifted the famous trophy into the Welsh night sky it became even clearer that this Real Madrid side, although not as pleasing on the eye as the 2011 Barcelona or the 1970 Brazilian side or simply as good as the 1950's Real Madrid side which won 5 out of the first 5 European cups. This group of players, this team is one of the best we have seen in quite some time and you have the wonder what is next? We'll have to wait and find out, but as of this moment in time no side have ever won the Champions League three times in a row, who where the first side to ever be crowned European champions three times in a row? Los Blancos.