Manchester City and Monaco played out a classic Champions League tie at the Eithad Stadium, in which Pep Guardiola’s side came out 5-3 winners in their Last-16 tie.
At one stage in the game, City were on the ropes and their Ligue 1 opposition looked like they were going to score every time they ventured forward. But they dug deep and managed to turn the tie on its head inside the final 20 minutes of the game to take a two-goal advantage to France in three weeks.
In the other game, Atletico Madrid travelled to the BayArena to take on Bayer Leverkusen and Diego Simeone’s side scored four away goals to take control of the tie.
Antoine Griezmann and Fernando Torres were both on the scoresheet as the Spanish outfit look favourites to progress through to the quarter-finals.
Manchester City fight back to take lead to Monaco
Eight of the 14 goals scored in the two games in Tuesday’s Champions League games came in Manchester as City, who could be the sole English team through after Arsenal were thrashed by Bayern Munich last week, overcame Monaco in an epic contest. Raheem Sterling handed the hosts the lead on 26 minutes, but Radamel Falcao and Kylian Mbappe turned the game around. Falcao missed his second penalty of the tournament to put the visitors in control before Monaco ‘keeper Danijel Subasic’s mistake handed Sergio Aguero his first goal of the night.
Falcao, who will be well known to football fans in Manchester, was oozing confidence and showed that when he chipped Willy Caballero to but Monaco back ahead, but City fought back once more. Aguero, who was looking to get back to scoring ways, volleyed home to level the tie once more before John Stones and Leroy Sane gave the Premier League side a two-goal lead – the tie is far from over and the return leg will be on March 15.
Atletico Madrid score four away goals against Leverkusen
There were six goals at the BayArena, quite dull compared to what went on at the Etihad, as last season’s Champions League runners-up Atletico Madrid also came out with a two-goal cushion to their name. Saul Niguez struck home before Griezmann doubled the lead during a dominant half for Simeone’s men.
Leverkusen were fortune to go into the break with the scoreline at 2-0, but pulled one back three minutes after the restart when Karim Bellarabi rounded off a flowing break forward.
Kevin Gameiro was brought down in the penalty area and the French international made no mistake from the spot, striking home down the middle, but the hosts gave themselves hope once more when defender Stefan Savic turned into his own net unknowingly when Atletico’s ‘keeper pushed a low cross into his direction. Substitute Torres scored in the 90th minute to ensure the Spanish giants would come out of the game with a substantial advantage going into the second leg – which takes place at the Vicente Calderon.
