Champions League

In one of the ultimate glamor ties of European club football, it was Real Madrid left back Marcelo who emerged as Wednesday’s Man of the Match in his side’s 2-1 away leg victory over Bayern Munich.

The 29-year-old Brazilian’s day got off to a flyer when opposition winger Arjen Robben was forced off with an injury as early as the 8th minute. The introduction of Thiago Alcantara as his replacement immediately shifted Bayern’s focus to the middle of the park and allowed Marcelo more freedom to get forward on the wing.

It’s 1-1 at halftime in an enthralling UEFA Champions League semifinal between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena, Joshua Kimmich opening the scoring for Bayern in the 28’ before Marcelo’s sweet strike evened things up in the 44’.

Jupp Heynckes has been forced into two early substitutions with both Arjen Robben and Jerome Boateng limping off injured, but Bayern took the lead when Real failed to track the run of Kimmich. The 23-year-old left back then punished Real with a clinical finish. 

The first leg of Liverpool Roma lived up to the billing. After a cagey first half hour where Roma had the better chances, Mo Salah took over. His goal in the 35th minute sparked a Liverpool blitzkrieg.

It's getting silly, folks.

Mo Salah AGAIN. His 43rd goal in all competitions this season. pic.twitter.com/ng4fkRt5Ol

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 24, 2018

The atmosphere outside Anfield is full of smoke, fire and exactly what you'd expect from Liverpool fans. Before the first leg of the Champions League semifinal between Roma and Liverpool, at least this time around Liverpool fans have allowed the opposing players to enter the stadium without incurring significant safety risks. At least off the field.

The scenes outside Anfield looked like B roll footage from a post-apocalyptic Michael Bay movie. 

Mo Salah is on another planet. After a tense first half hour of the match in which Roma had the game's best chances, Liverpool began to threaten with attacks over the top. After a few Sadio Mane missed chances, the PFA Player of the Year stepped up in a big way. Two vintage Mo Salah goals have spotted the Reds with a significant advantage at the half.

In the past 10 years, there have been more U.S. presidents than Ballon d'Or winners. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have enjoyed a duopoly over the award, with five Ballon d'Ors each since Kaka won in 2007. The Mo Salah Ballon d'Or campagin could change that.

FIFA gamers have reason to celebrate, as there's an increasing chance that FIFA 19 will feature the Champions League.

UEFA and Konami, the developer of Pro Evolution Soccer (PES), announced that they have ended their partnership after ten years. During that time PES held the licensing rights to the Champions League and the Europa League. 

Michael Oliver, the referee who took a stand and freed Narnia from the evil grasp of Sauron, returned to Premier League duty on Monday in a 1-1 draw between West Ham United and Stoke City. Okay, fine, Oliver didn’t fight any orcs or free Narnia, but the man did end Gianluigi Buffon’s dreams of winning the Champions league. 

Roma, Juventus 

Oh, Michael Oliver.

Mikey, Mikey, Michael.

Michael Oliver, with a rubbish bin for a heart.

Michael Oliver, with his Citroen Saxo haircut.

Michael Oliver, with the face of an AirFix fanatic, all glue-eyed intricacy and camo paint fumes. 

Michael Oliver, with his absolutely correct refereeing decision in the biggest moment of the footballing season so far.

Michael Oliver, with the target over his head. The bullets are in the post already, Mike.

So it’s Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich and Liverpool vs. AS Roma in the Champions League draw for the semifinals on Friday. What immediately jump out are all the storylines and relationships between the two sets of semifinalists. But there’s more to this matchup than player links. 

Sure, Bayern’s James Rodriguez is on loan from Real Madrid and Toni Kroos once plied his trade for the Bavarians. And yes, Salah transferred to Liverpool from Roma last summer.