Top Winners and Losers After Wednesday's Champions League Round of 16 Leg 1 Results

Top Winners and Losers After Wednesday's Champions League Round of 16 Leg 1 Results
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1Winner: Kylian Mbappé
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2Loser: PSG
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3Winner: Felipe Anderson
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4Loser: Dayot Upamecano
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Top Winners and Losers After Wednesday's Champions League Round of 16 Leg 1 Results

Feb 14, 2024

Top Winners and Losers After Wednesday's Champions League Round of 16 Leg 1 Results

PARIS, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 14: Kylian Mbappe of PSG celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Sociedad at Parc des Princes on February 14, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 14: Kylian Mbappe of PSG celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Sociedad at Parc des Princes on February 14, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)

Lazio provided the shock of Wednesday's Champions League Round of 16 first leg ties, with Ciro Immobile's penalty sinking an underwhelming Bayern Munich in the Italian capital.

Paris Saint-Germain had their troubles against Real Sociedad, but as ever, Kylian Mbappé led the charge to a 2-0 win that looked unlikely in the opening stages.

Another night, another set of winners and losers.

Winner: Kylian Mbappé

PARIS, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 14: Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint Germain during the UEFA Champions League  match between Paris Saint Germain v Real Sociedad at the Parc des Princes on February 14, 2024 in Paris France (Photo by David S Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - FEBRUARY 14: Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint Germain during the UEFA Champions League match between Paris Saint Germain v Real Sociedad at the Parc des Princes on February 14, 2024 in Paris France (Photo by David S Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

A shake of the head as the half-time whistle sounded. A jubilant celebration as he inevitably netted the opener shortly after the break. We are seeing a man who knows he's surrounded by a team that isn't up to his level.

An outfit that has lost giant names like Lionel Messi and Neymar in a regressive period that will likely be topped off by his own exit in the near future.

Mbappé tried to do it all himself against Sociedad. There were times where he'd burst forwards with pace and then ignore the simple pass in favour of trying to dribble around multiple opponents. It's hard to blame him though; there were chasms between the French superstar and the rest of the forward line in the first half.

PSG improved in the second half, allowing the forward to rely a bit more on his instincts rather than the constant need to impose himself on the game. His goal was a smart one and the turning point for a side that immediately improved after it.

Loser: PSG

Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele (C) fights for the ball with Real Sociedad's Spanish midfielder #08 Mikel Merino (L) during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Real Sociedad at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris, on February 14, 2024. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele (C) fights for the ball with Real Sociedad's Spanish midfielder #08 Mikel Merino (L) during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Real Sociedad at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris, on February 14, 2024. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

But PSG won, right? They won the game, but another poor first-half offered a stark reminder at how the Ligue 1 giants are not ready to win this competition. Mbappé's quality continues to beg the question, 'What on earth happens when he leaves?'

Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil nearly got it so right at the Parc des Princes. La Real were superb in the first-half, bossing midfield, aggressively winning the ball back and maintaining width at all times. Their energy dropped and as Mbappé rose to the fore, Real Sociedad wilted.

The pressure on PSG wouldn't have eased without their main man. It's got to the stage where every goal creates a worry for the future. There is no (likely) signing who directly replaces what he adds to the team. His match-winning magic points to needing a dreaded rebuild, a long and painful process.

Winning and worrying? That's PSG.

Winner: Felipe Anderson

ROME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 13: Felipe Anderson of SS Lazio compete for the ball with Leroy Sanè of Bayern Munchen during the UEFA Champions League match against SS Lazio and Bayern Munchen at Formello sport centre on February 13, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi - SS Lazio/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 13: Felipe Anderson of SS Lazio compete for the ball with Leroy Sanè of Bayern Munchen during the UEFA Champions League match against SS Lazio and Bayern Munchen at Formello sport centre on February 13, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi - SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Juventus fans might have been wondering why their club is reportedly pursuing Lazio attacking midfielder Felipe Anderson.

At 30 years old, the Brazilian isn't going to be a long-term solution for the Old Lady. Those doubts were hushed with his excellent display against one of the continent's best sides, though.

Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri trusts Anderson more than many of his previous managers have seemed to. His energy, doggedness and willingness to run continued to force Bayern into uncomfortable passes that often went astray. He led the charge for the winner and continued to put himself in excellent positions.

Harry Kane dropped deeper and deeper as the match went on to offer extra support against Anderson; always a good sign if you're trying to shut the Bundesliga giants out.

Loser: Dayot Upamecano

Bayern Munich's French defender #02 Dayot Upamecano (R) reacts after he received a red card from French referee Francois Letexier during the UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg between Lazio and Bayern Munich at the Olympic stadium on February 14, 2024 in Rome. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)
Bayern Munich's French defender #02 Dayot Upamecano (R) reacts after he received a red card from French referee Francois Letexier during the UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg between Lazio and Bayern Munich at the Olympic stadium on February 14, 2024 in Rome. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Individual decisions often decide close games. Dayot Upamecano has a tendency to lose control when he's under pressure - and so it proved against Lazio.

Anderson's break forward looked like it was going to end in disappointment, but Upamecano's high challenge provided the home side with a golden opportunity to win the match. His straight red was deserved, and so was Ciro Immobile's goal from the spot.

Bayern will still be confident of progressing in front of their home fans. Upamecano won't be there to help - possibly not the worst result if he's going to leave his team in jeopardy like he did in Rome.

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