Goals

Esteban Cambiasso might just be the most interesting footballer in the world. His lasting legacy will be as Jose Mourinho’s defensive midfield marshal during Inter Milan’s unprecedented Italian treble in 2009-10, but he’s only added to his legacy since that historic season. 

Lost in all the madness that was Leicester City’s title-winning run last year was the influence of the man who made it all possible in the first place — Esteban Cambiasso.

The Олимп-2 pitch in Rostov-on-Don was frozen. It was wonderfully patchy and Jose Mourinho wondered if you could even call it a field at all. His desire to have the venue changed was laughed off by a UEFA official, Mourinho claiming the official told him “the players are insured, so if something happens, no problem.”

The nail was in the coffin. Then, Barcelona did what only Barcelona could. The Blaugranes scored 3 goals in a span of 7 minutes to shock PSG in what was the biggest blown lead since the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl 51 (sorry Falcons fans), and the biggest blown lead in Champions League history.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a hat-trick, with two of those strikes being assisted by Christian Pulisic, and the 18-year-old American registered his first Champions League goal as Borussia Dortmund eased past Benfica and into the Champions League quarterfinals, winning 4-1 on aggregate.

Dortmund were kicking themselves after throwing away a number of great opportunities in the first leg and found themselves trailing 1-0 in the tie before today’s match. However, those frustrations were quickly forgotten when Aubameyang opened the scoring in the fourth minute.

It is absolute bedlam in the Camp Nou. Barcelona notched their third goal in the 49th minute to bring the aggregate scoreline to 3-4. Iniesta sent what looked to be a harmless ball to Neymar, but the Brazilian hustled his way forward and Thomas Meunier lost his footing clashing into Neymar. It was an odd penalty, but a penalty nonetheless.

A beautifully composed finish from 18-year-old American attacker Christian Pulisic has given Dortmund a 2-1 aggregate lead over Benfica in the Champions League round of 16. Pulisic provided the assist for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and almost had another with a great pass to the striker, but he’s now gotten himself on the scoresheet with a wonderful finish. 

USMNT manager Bruce Arena will have been pleased with the opening weekend of MLS play: Clint Dempsey returned from his irregular heartbeat scare to go 90 minutes and score a goal, Kellyn Acosta scored for FC Dallas, Ethan Finlay did the same for Columbus, Matt Besler and Graham Zusi were strong in defense for Kansas City and with Tim Howard only just returning t

We knew Barcelona wouldn't go quietly into the night, and they indeed have not done that. Luis Suarez scored in the third minute, and now it's on.

That's the start Barcelona needed!

Suarez gets the 3rd minute goal to put them up 1-0 on the night (1-4 agg.). #UCL https://t.co/3nn99ddr7p

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 8, 2017

Chapecoense traveled to Venezuela to play their first-ever Copa Libertadores match, having qualified by virtue of winning South America’s secondary club competition, the Copa Sudamericana, in 2016.

Facing Zulia, the runner-up in Venezuela’s 2016 Primera Division, away and with a squad made up mostly of players on loan, players that did not board LaMia Flight 2933 and one survivor, defender Neto, Chapecoense entered the match as massive underdogs. 

But Chapecoense took the lead off a clever free kick from Reinaldo, a defender on loan from Sao Paulo.

It all started so beautifully for Napoli inside a rocking Stadio San Paolo in Naples in their second leg match against Real Madrid. A mesmerizing buildup led to a really well taken goal by Dries Mertens in the 24th minute.