PSG vs Real Madrid
If the Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Paris Saint Germain and Real Madrid ended in a draw, it would have been an unfair result for PSG. They dominated the game and did not even give a high chance for the Los Blancos to create a goal threat.
Kylian Mbappe scored a brilliant stoppage-time winner after Lionel Messi missed a penalty earlier in the match. The young French striker was a constant threat for the Real Madrid defence. But the goal stood away in the regular 90 minutes.
PSG was able to get more momentum in the second half after Neymar came into the game for the final 20 minutes. He linked up very quickly with Messi and Mbappe to create more threats.
In the stoppage time, his backheel assist to Mbappe helped the team to get the crucial one-goal advantage.
Madrid finished the game with zero shots on target while PSG had eight, with almost 60% possession.
“It was a great game for us and I’m always ready to help my team, there are no distractions,” said Mbappe, who has now scored 13 goals in his past 13 Champions League matches.
“We have to be humble and the second leg is still open. It will be a hard game but we will have the advantage and are very confident.”
“It’s a narrow win perhaps but it gives us hope for the game in Madrid,” Pochettino said. “I’m happy with the performance and I hope we can continue to give this kind of performance in future.”
Sporting Lisbon vs Manchester City
Manchester City ran riot over Sporting Lisbon in the Round of 16 and have one foot in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. The Portuguese club cannot even have a slim hope of progressing to the next round after conceding five goals from the Premier League club.
Manchester City almost ended the game in the first 45 minutes after scoring four goals in the first half. Riyad Mahrez started the scoring in the 7th minute, and Bernando Silva completed his brace in the first half. Phil Foden also added his name to the score sheet in the first half.
It is the first time an English side has scored four goals in the first half of a Champions League knockout game since Manchester United’s 7-1 thrashing of Roma in 2007.
City’s stunning victory was completed after Raheem Sterling scored the fifth and final goal in the 58th minute.
“It’s a very good performance,” Silva said. “I honestly think in the first half we weren’t good enough to be 4-0 up.
“I’m Portuguese, I’m from the other side of the city. My mum is Sporting, my dad is Benfica. It was special to score here in my hometown.We still have a job to do in Manchester.”
