Champions League

Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t make the headlines following Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory against Napoli Wednesday, those all belonged to Casemiro after his stunning, vital volley, but it was a vintage performance from Real’s No. 7. Whether cropping up on the left or right side of attack, Ronaldo was a constant threat to Napoli’s fullbacks, and his assist to Toni Kroos for Real’s second was sensational.

C'mon, y'all knew this was coming. A promising start followed by a catastrophic and frankly hilarious meltdown: this is the Arsenal blueprint, and man, did they follow it against Bayern Munich Wednesday.

A match between Serie A’s leading scorers, Napoli, and the side with the second-highest total in La Liga, Real Madrid, was always likely to contain fireworks. Wednesday’s first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu didn’t disappoint.

Napoli tried to play their attacking game against the Champions League holders, but Real Madrid were simply a class above Napoli with Diego Maradona watching on.

After netting a perfect header in the 53rd minute, Robert Lewendowski showed off his passing prowess by setting up Thiago on this gorgeous third goal for Bayern Munich:

We know Lewandowski can score, but how about THAT pass? #FCBARS #UCL
https://t.co/FKZmF2q6x0

Napoli have played adventurously at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Real Madrid have shown why they’re the defending champions of this competition by extending their lead to 3-1 thanks to a wonder goal from Casemiro.

The defensive midfielder smashed this effort in the 54th minute to give Real a commanding advantage in the Spanish capital. 

It’s not often you see an attempt like this when a goalkeeper is off his line. Our first instinct was to blame Keylor Navas for Lorenzo Insigne’s eighth-minute opener for Napoli in their round of 16 match with Real Madrid, but this is a sensationally instinctive finish from Insigne.

Rather than attempt to chip the goalkeeper, Insigne sends a low, curling shot beyond a scrambling Navas and into the side-netting. Karim Benzema has since equalized for Real Madrid as we approach halftime.

Just 11 minutes into Bayern Munich’s first leg Champions League clash vs Arsenal, Arjen Robben did was he does best. The Dutchman hovered on the right side and darted towards the middle to get the ball on his lethal left foot. He then ripped a perfect shot into the upper 90 past Arsenal goalkeeper, David Ospina.

As much as last night’s result in Paris could be interpreted as a changing of the guard, the five-time European champions Barcelona being entirely dominated by the upstart Paris Saint-Germain, a club whose best performance in the Champions League was a semifinal appearance in 1995, it says a lot about the inarguable staying power of Barca that many are already talking about the approach PSG should take at the Camp Nou.

One of the ties in the Champions League round of 16 that is sure to capture everyone's attention is Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal.

Both teams have been able to find success this season in their respective leagues. Bayern Munich sits at the top of the Bundesliga table with a record of 15 wins, four draws and one loss. Arsenal sit in fourth place in the Premier League with a record of 15 wins, five draws and five losses.

Benfica beat Borussia Dortmund 1-0 at home in the first leg of their Champions League knockout tie Tuesday. Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang should have had a hat trick. Instead, he was subbed off, goalless, in the 62nd minute for Andre Schurrle.

Benfica were not the better team in this match, but they made the most of their only shot on target, which is less than I can say for Dortmund.