CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND OF 16 RECAP

UEFA / Soccer

Written by Aaron Cantin

The contenders to hoist the almighty Champions League trophy this season has been cut in half. After the final four games of the Round of 16 this week we have a quarter-final packed with world-class talent. Last week we saw Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Liverpool and Real Madrid book their ticket to the last eight. This week had unexpected results with more evenly matched games. Manchester United was the most notable dismissal following in the footsteps of French powerhouse PSG. The two largest upsets took place this week being Portuguese champions Benfica and Spanish underdogs Valencia also lasting to live another day in the world's greatest annual footy tournament

Source (Background Photo): Reuters

Manchester United 0 - 1 Atletico Madrid (Madrid advances 2-1)

Expensive mediocrity confirmed: Manchester United’s trophy drought completes the fifth season. The last path to a title was ended at an Old Trafford now accustomed to letdowns as United was knocked out of the Champions League in a 1-0 loss to Atlético Madrid on Tuesday.

In a tight and tense game, Renan Lodi made the difference by scoring his first goal in the competition in his 25th appearance, meeting Antoine Griezmann’s cross with a header after being left unmarked at the far post by defender Diogo Dalot in the 41st minute.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the 37-year-old version, returned this season — after collecting trophies at Real Madrid and Juventus — to be the difference-maker. Rather than dazzling, as he did with Saturday's hat trick against Tottenham, Ronaldo didn't manage a single shot against the Spanish champions. United could find no way past the goalkeeper three weeks after a 1-1 draw in Madrid that counted for nothing with away goals no longer carrying an

advantage.

Atlético showed the blueprint to grab a win away, by scoring from one of only three shots on target. Diego Simeone, a two-time Champions League runner-up, leads Atlético back into the quarterfinals like in 2020. Europe is the platform for Atlético to raise its game this season, with the team clinging onto fourth place domestically after winning the title last season.

Not since the 1970s has United gone as long without a trophy with the second-tier Europa League in 2017 the last honour for, historically at least, English football’s most successful club. There’s not much to show for more than $1 billion in transfer spending since the two-time Champions League winner Ferguson retired as manager nine years ago.

Ajax 0-1 Benfica (Benfica advance 3-2)

Unable to win at home yet again, Ajax’s great Champions League run has suddenly ended. Ajax couldn’t halt a 26-year winless streak at home in the knockout rounds of the European competition on Tuesday, losing 1-0 to Benfica to waste a perfect campaign in the group stage.

Darwin Núñez scored late and Benfica reached the quarterfinals for the first time in six years. Núñez found the net with a 77th-minute header off a free-kick from the right side to help Benfica make it to the last eight for the fifth time.

Ajax was one of three teams that won all six group-stage matches, along with Liverpool and Bayern. The Dutch club was in the last 16 for the second time since 2006, though it reached the semifinals the last time it got this far three seasons ago. It didn't win any of its home games in the knockout stage then either, with its last such victory coming against Borussia Dortmund in the 1996 quarterfinals. Ajax had already equalled its most prolific Champions League campaign with 22 goals but struggled to capitalize on its chances despite dominating in Amsterdam. It had 16 total attempts against four by the visitors, which focused on defending well from the start.

Two-time European champion Benfica, which began this year's campaign in the third qualifying round, was eliminated by Bayern Munich in the 2016 quarterfinals. The win extended Benfica’s unbeaten run in all competitions to eight games, though it was coming off a 1-1 home draw against Vizela in the Portuguese league on Friday.

Juventus 0-3 Valencia (Valencia advance 4-1)

With three different coaches in three seasons, the result remains the same for Juventus: three straight eliminations at home in the Champions League round of 16. Europa League champion Villarreal scored three second-half goals in a 3-0 win on Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in 13 years.

Substitute Gerard Moreno converted a penalty in the 78th minute to break the deadlock following a 1-1 draw in the first leg. Then Pau Torres was left unmarked to redirect in a corner before Arnaut Danjuma added another spot-kick as Villarreal advanced 4-1 on aggregate. Including a quarter-final defeat to Ajax in 2019, it's the fourth straight time that Juventus has been knocked out after a home second-leg match.

Lille 1-2 Chelsea (Chelsea advance 4-1)

Much remains uncertain about Chelsea's future, but for now, the reigning champion is through to the Champions League quarter-finals. U.S. international Christian Pulisic converted one of Chelsea’s rare chances and Cesar Azpilicueta added another goal Wednesday to help the embattled Premier League club progress with a 2-1 win at Lille, and 4-1 on aggregate.

Chelsea, whose future has been left in doubt after Britain and the European Union froze the assets of owner Roman Abramovich, did not create much but were clinical against the French league champion. Pulisic cancelled out a penalty from Burak Ylmaz with a goal at the stroke of halftime and Azpilicueta scored the winner in the 71st minute.

Abramovich’s assets were frozen after he was sanctioned over his ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Under the British government action, Chelsea will operate through the end of this season with a special license that among other restrictions prohibit the team from selling new tickets or merchandise or signing new players.

With a comfortable lead from the first leg, Chelsea did not take any risk and was content to patiently wait for an opening with a fluid passing game. The visitors gradually grew into the match and Mateo Kovacic caused real problems to the Lille backline with his bursting runs and quick dribbles.

Lille’s hopes were dashed for good when Azpilicueta beat goalkeeper Leo Jardim at the end of a good spell of possession. Left unmarked, the former Marseille player connected with a cross from Mount and sent the ball into the net with his right knee.

The Champions League quarter-final draw will take place Friday morning.