The Champions League returned his week with the first slate of games from the round of 16. Here are the five things we learned.
English teams dominate
Three of the five English teams present at this stage of the competition have taken a huge step to making the quarterfinals. It would take a collapse of epic proportions for two of the five — Liverpool and Manchester City — to miss out on their tickets to the next stage. The combined scoreline of the three games involving English teams was 11-2 in their favor.
Whether it’s the constant challenge in the domestic league or the superior player talent pool or a combination of these factors, all three English teams in action this week looked better prepared and much more in form than their continental counterparts.
If there was ever a time to defend the busy winter schedule that English teams are subjected to it would be now. Evidently, the English teams are better prepared, sharper and closer to their potential than their opponents.
It’s unclear whether this run of form can be sustained or whether the English teams are peaking too soon. At the moment, however, the signs the Champions league may return to England for the first time since 2012 are very promising.
Unai Emery may not be the manager PSG need
When you invest a billion dollars in player transfer fees, it’s reasonable to expect to get over the proverbial hump and challenge for Europe’s most prestigious trophy. The Champions League is the trophy PSG were built to win. With their world-class players good enough to put them in a position to advance against Europe’s best teams, it becomes incumbent on the coach to manage the game in a manner that doesn’t compromise the advantage already created. This is the second time Emery’s team has blown a chance to go for the jugular and take the next step against Europe’s best (albeit the loss against Real Madrid wasn’t as dramatic as their defeat to Barcelona last season)
Without any doubt, PSG’s greatest assets are their attacking players. The likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe may not need much tactical instruction to dominate through pure speed and skill, but the coach still needs ensure his side isn’t exposed without the ball. Being bold and ambitious as a coach may be admirable, but jeopardizing your club’s chances of winning the only trophy that would validate the enormous investment made in the squad reeks of naivety. Barring a remarkable comeback in Paris, Unai Emery should be relieved of his duties, as he’s proving unable to overcome the challenge of slaying European giants.
Spurs showed they belong among Europe’s big boys
Speaking of slaying European giants … Things looked pretty bleak for Tottenham as they fell behind 2-0 to last season’s runner-up Juventus inside of 10 minutes. The hosts had given up only one goal in their prior 15 games, so hot takes about Spurs failing to come through with a strong performance on the big stage (a.k.a “being Spursy”) were coming out fresh out of the oven.
Tottenham showed resilience and character. They didn’t panic and calmly went about their game plan, managing to exploit whatever weaknesses were to be found in Juventus’s tactical alignment.
In particular, Mousa Dembele and Christian Eriksen stepped up their game and were essentially the difference makers, as Juventus’s game plan seemed to focus on neutralizing the usual suspects — Harry Kane and, to a lesser extent, Delle Alli.
Juventus had a chance to restore their two goal lead but Gonzalo Higuain missed a penalty, allowing Tottenham to creep back in the game for good. What we’re left with is a 2-2 tie, an excellent result for the visitors, who now find themselves in the driver’s seat following a nightmarish start to the two-leg series.
Liverpool are well suited for a Champions League run
Obviously this season’s challenge for a Premier League title is over for any club not named Manchester City. Liverpool have shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season only to be betrayed by defensive errors and some controversial refereeing decisions.
The rigors of the Premier League grind have taken their toll on Jurgen Klopp’s squad who have dropped too many points to challenge for the domestic title.
On the European front, things look a lot more promising, especially following the 5-0 trashing administered to Porto on the road. With a starting XI, and especially an attacking trio as gifted as anyone’s in Europe, the Reds can focus on the next round of the Champions League. While their apparent lack of depth cost them a title challenge in England, playing every other week affords Klopp and his staff the luxury of managing the squad in such a way as to maximize its potential during the remaining European mid-week games.
With the addition of Virgil van Dijk Liverpool have addressed their biggest need, a steadying, dependable presence at the center of the defense. Obviously a lot can go wrong between now and the latter stages of the Champions League, but looking at Liverpool’s most recent body of work it’s easy to feel optimistic about their European campaign prospects.
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Pumping crowd noise at the Bernabeu is beneath Real Madrid
Real Madrid are arguably the most prestigious club team in the world. Real Madrid have the richest of histories at the club level and arguably the most impressive pedigree among all club teams. Their stadium is an iconic venue, home to many legendary nights. As such, having a part time master of ceremonies/DJ trying to rally the crowd is lame and cheapens the experience.
Pumping in noise and resorting to artificial methods of rallying the crowd during the most important night of their season, against a team essentially built to beat them is an affront to the world’s game. A Real Madrid-PSG affair has enough fanfare, excitement and tension without the need for a miked up MC in the vein of Jersey Shore parties. My Castillan Spanish may be a little rusty but I’m pretty sure I heard MC 2 Real (Madrid) shout out the equivalent of “All the fellas in merengue make some noooiseee … ” We just can’t have that.
Letting the game take its course and allowing the home fans to cheer and chant according to their own, natural rhythm is part of what makes these games special. The lines between a weekend block party on the outskirts of the Bernabeu and a grandiose Champions League night should never be blurred.