Bayern Munich vs. Benfica could have gone a lot better for Bayern, but it also could have gone a lot worse. The hosts beat the Portuguese side 1-0 to give themselves a lead going into the return leg.
#FCBayern line-up:
Neuer - Thiago, Ribéry, Lewandowski, Costa, Bernat, Lahm (C), Vidal, Müller, Alaba, Kimmich | #FCBSLB
Champions League Quarterfinals kicked off today with Bayern Munich facing Benfica and Barcelona taking on fellow La Liga foes, Atletico Madrid. Fernando Torres opened the scoring for Atletico in the 25th minute, however he was sent off with his second yellow card 10 minutes later. Madrid was down to 10 men and Luis Suarez took advantage when he scored in the 63rd and 74th minute. Barcelona would hold on to the lead and win 2 - 1. Bayern Munich got off to a hot start as Arturo Vidal scored on a header in the 2nd minute. His goal would prove to be the winner.
This is what I needed on a Friday: a compilation of Barcelona-like passing from the leaders of the Turkish Super Lig, Besiktas, set to some seriously unexpected (-ly awesome) music.
As you can see, Besiktas can flex their tiki-taka muscle, and have done so with quite a bit of success this year. They are in first place in their league with 63 points, 57 goals scored and only 24 goals conceded.
Gerard Pique is one of the winningest defenders alive. The Spaniard has won the World Cup, UEFA Euro and Champions league, a career treble the likes of which makes the more commonly known treble of the Champions League, domestic league, and domestic cup look pedestrian (he’s won two of those as well, by the way).
The last day of Champions League Round of 16 featured four world-renowned teams. Arsenal traveled to FC Barcelona hoping to make up a 2-0 aggregate deficit, while Bayern Munich and Juventus were tied at two.
Manchester City, Dynamo Kiev, Atletico Madrid and PSV Eindhoven played their second legs in the Champions League Round of 16. With a 3-1 aggregate, Manchester City played comfortably and tied Kiev 0 - 0 at the Ethiad. While down in Madrid, Atletico and PSV played to a 0 - 0 draw. With aggregate being tied 0 - 0, extra time was needed and still not a goal was scored. The PK shootout was nerve racking as each team traded PKs. On the 8th PK for PSV, Luciano Narsingh hit the crossbar giving Atletico the chance to win with a converted PK.
30-year-old Giorgio Chiellini has been around the block a few times. As a central defender for Juventus and the Italian national team, he might as well be charged with upholding all that is holy, right, and effective in defense (I’m imagining him in an Atlas-esque pose, with a giant globe above him emblazoned with the word “Defense”). So when he tells us what it’s like to guard Messi and Ronaldo, we listen. We listen real good.
Champions League Round of 16, Leg 2 continued today with PSG taking on Chelsea and Benfica matching up against Zenit. For PSG, Adrien Rabiot opened the scoring in the 16th minute increasing their aggregate lead, 3 - 1. Diego Costa scored 11 minutes later to pull Chelsea within one, however Zlatan Ibrahimovic put Chelsea away with a 67th minute goal. PSG advanced on aggregate 4 - 2. Coming into Leg 2, Zenit was down 1 - 0 on aggregate and briefly tied the aggregate at 1 on a Hulk goal in the 69th minute.
Fortune favors the bold. Just ask Raul Jimenez.
The mexican international striker's near-wonderstrike hit the post and was rebounded in by Nico Gaitan, sending Benfica through to the Champions league quarterfinals and knocking Zenit St. Petersburg out of the competition.
Leg 2 of the Champions League Round of 16 resumed today with AS Roma needing a big win in Madrid, while KAA Gent only trailed by 1 on aggregate. For Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez scored in the 64th and 68th minutes, respectively. The match would end up at 2 - 0 with Real Madrid advancing on 4 - 0 aggregate. Andres Schurrle's goal for Wolfsburg was a dagger in the hearts of KAA Gent supporters. Schurrle's 75th minute goal put Wolfsburg up 1 - 0. They would advance on aggregate, 4 - 2.