The Uefa Champions league gave us so much upon its return from the group stage into the round of 16. There were records set by Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann, penalty misses from Radamel Falcao and Joaquin Correa and the dismantling of Fc Barcelona and Arsenal FC on their respective trips to France and Germany.
Here is an analysis of the good, bad and the ugly.
Good side of the Champions league return
Jamie Vardy scored a consolation goal for Leicester City, a goal that brings hope to a team that is having a horrid domestic campaign.
Antoine Griezmann surpassed Luis Aragones and is currently Atletico Madrid’s all-time goal scorer in the Uefa Champions League.
Paris Saint Germain defeated FC Barcelona much to the delight of football fans that are tired of the clubs play, possession and position philosophy.
Radamel Falcao is back to his best after two years in the shadows in the premier league playing for Manchester United and Chelsea. His chip for Monaco’s third goal made up for his penalty miss.
Manchester City and Pep Guardiola came back twice to win the game. A rejuvenated Sergio Aguero came to the party after conceding his position in the starting eleven to Gabriel Jesus – who was out due to injury.
Bad side of the champions league return
Arsene Wenger and Arsenal lost the first leg of a round of 16 champions league match for the seventh consecutive time and would need to put four answered goals past Bayern Munich to be able to make the quarters after reaching that stage in 2010.
Barcelona’s loss against Paris Saint Germain is the first time in as many games that the so-called MSN (Messi, Suarez and Neymar) failed to score or hit the target.
Cristiano Ronaldo was unable to add up to his three goals in the competition this season and 95 overall and so was Lionel Messi.
The Ugly
FC Porto player Alex Telles was the only player to have been sent off in the round of 16, creating the perfect opportunity for Juventus to come out with two vital away goals.
Coaches Arsene Wenger and Luis Enrique were summoned to call time on their stints as head coaches of Arsenal and FC Barcelona after performances that saw their teams head home with four goal deficits.
After such a splendid week of action, more goals will hopefully be coming through on March 7th, 8th and March 14th, 15th as elimination undoubtedly burgeons on the losing aggregate teams.
