UEFA Champions League – Quarterfinal – Leg 1 of 2 Review
Champions League – Quarterfinal Leg 1 of 2 Review
Sevilla 1 – Bayern 2
Goals: Sevilla: Pablo Sarabia 32’- Bayern: Gonzalez Jesus Navas 38’ OG, Alcantara Thiago 68’
Venue: Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán (Sevilla)
At the final whistle there was applause and then at one end of this stadium, they began to bounce about, chanting about how proud they were of the team that soon came over to clap them back. At the same time, Bayern Munich’s players headed to the other end. It had not been easy, but they had won 2-1, taking an important lead into the second leg. There is still the Allianz Arena to come, but the reaction from the Sánchez Pizjuán felt final like the fans here knew they had probably reached the end of the road. It is 60 years since Sevilla has come so far and there was a reason to be satisfied even if there was a reason to be a little sad too. For Bayern, this is familiar territory, but the next step will be harder.
Juventus 0 – Real Madrid 3
Goals: Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo 3’, Cristiano Ronaldo 64’, Junior Marcelo 72’
Venue: Juventus Stadium (Juventus)
Cristiano Ronaldo scored another record Champions League goal as holders Real Madrid thrashed Juventus 3-0 in Turin to take full control of their quarter-final tie. Juventus knew the danger Ronaldo possesses from painful first-hand experience after the Ballon d’Or winner scored two goals against them in last season’s Champions League final, but the Italian giants had patently not learned their lesson.
Liverpool 3 – Man City 0
Goals: Mohamed Salah 12’, Alex Oxalde-Chamberlain 20’, Sadio Mane 31’
Venue: Anfield (Liverpool)
For Liverpool, it was one of those nights when perhaps they reminded themselves why the banners fluttering on the Kop included one carrying the message “European royalty”. All three of their goals were scored at that end. They swept Manchester City away during a first-half blitz and will go into the second leg in such a position of strength it is difficult to see how Pep Guardiola’s side can possibly save themselves.
Barcelona 4 – Roma 1
Goals: Barcelona: Daniele De Rossi 39’ OG, Kostas Manolas 57 OG, Gerard Pique 59’, Luis Suarez 87’ Roma: Edin Dzeko 80’
Venue: Camp Nou (Barcelona)
Barcelona will travel to Rome knowing that their Italian opponents will need an extraordinary turnaround next Tuesday. Roma hasn’t been in a European Cup final since 1984 and it seems that their long wait will go on after Luis Suarez’s late goal gave Barcelona a three-goal lead to take into the second leg. That should be too big a hurdle for Roma to overcome. Yet there could have been a very different feel. Roma was in it after Edin Dzeko made it 3-1 near the end, only for a dreadful error from Federico Fazio to gift a goal to Suarez, who had been poor for most of the night. That twist had a feeling of finality to it. Barcelona didn’t flow and Lionel Messi didn’t score, but they ruthlessly capitalized on moments of good fortune and will be confident of going through.
