Real Madrid, Manchester City Leave Fans Breathless After Draw in UCL QF 1st Leg
Apr 9, 2024
MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 09: Brahim Diaz of Real Madrid is challenged by Phil Foden of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 09, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
The crowd watching the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals in Madrid, Spain on Tuesday got to watch one of the most exciting first-leg matches in championship history.
Real Madrid and Manchester City scored a trio of highlight-reel goals in the second half while battling to a 3-3 draw.
3+ - This is only the fourth time in the UEFA Champions League that both teams have scored 3+ goals in the first leg of two-legged knockout stage tie, with the previous instance also being between these two sides (Man City 4-3 Real Madrid in 2021-22). Cinema. pic.twitter.com/lNPhxp3agb
Real Madrid earned a flurry of shots in the final minutes, but a late go-ahead attempt by Brahim Díaz was blocked before it could make it to the net.
The draw still means that Real Madrid earned redemption after losing 4-0 to City in the second leg of last year's quarterfinals, and that fans got to watch a gripping match from start to finish.
Manchester City vs. Real Madrid is becoming one of the most epic matchups every year. Incredible stuff
— The American Cityzen (@CityzenAmerica) April 9, 2024
City fans will now keep an eye out for news of Foden, who left the game early with an injury. The midfielder will be key to Manchester City's hopes of repeating the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble.
Arsenal Fans Relieved After Salvaging Draw vs. Bayern Munich in UCL QF 1st Leg
Apr 9, 2024
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 09: Leandro Trossard of Arsenal celebrates with teammate Kai Havertz after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern München at Emirates Stadium on April 09, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
The 2024 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals matchup between Arsenal and Bayern Munich will all come down to the second leg.
The two sides played to a 2-2 draw in Tuesday's first leg at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, meaning Bayern Munich will have the opportunity to advance with a home victory.
Bukayo Saka scored the opening goal for the Gunners, but Serge Gnabry and Harry Kane answered to put the visitors ahead. Just when it looked like Bayern Munich would steal a road win, Leandro Trossard scored the final goal on a chance created by Gabriel Jesus to salvage a draw.
There was no shortage of reaction from social media, including some relief from Arsenal fans that their side emerged with a draw:
Leandro Trossard sends North London into a frenzy!
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 9, 2024
This is not a bad result at all. We got rightfully punished for our silly moments but also did well in spells. Bayern unlucky to hit the post in the end. Arsenal unlucky not to have a penalty. All to play for and the boys can be proud for digging in after 2-1 down. Onwards.
I’m not sure what people expected but we were never gonna have it all our own way against Bayern in the CL QF. We did well and I’m very sure we have enough for them in Munich. We’ll see
A very high level game of football where our moments of huge quality were cancelled out by our moments of disappointing errors. I still back us to progress.
Arsenal was the side that entered Tuesday's match in better form.
The Gunners are atop the Premier League table and in a fierce battle with Liverpool and Manchester City. They were also coming off consecutive wins against Luton Town and
Brighton & Hove Albion following a scoreless draw with Manchester City.
Bayern Munich, on the other hand, is well behind Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga table and dropped their previous two matches. Still the Champions League was a fresh slate for Kane's side even if this matchup meant the Arsenal fans consistently jeered the former star for rival Tottenham.
Those jeers quickly turned into cheers with a fast start, as Saka opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a beautiful left-footed strike that curled into the bottom corner of the net off a perfectly placed assist from Ben White. Throw in Alphonso Davies' early yellow card, which leaves him suspended for the second leg, and Arsenal couldn't have asked for a better start.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 9, 2024
However, an ugly turnover from the home side ended that momentum. Leon Goretzka took full advantage with a through ball to Gnabry, who buried the equalizer against his former club in the 18th minute.
As if that wasn't bad enough for the Arsenal supporters, Kane capitalized on a penalty kick to put the visitors in the lead in the 32nd minute.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 9, 2024
While the explosive start stalled into a stagnant back and forth for much of the second half with Bayern Munich committing additional defenders to the back end, Arsenal finally found some magic when Jesus knifed his way through multiple defenders and set up Trossard for the equalizer in the 76th minute.
The frustrated crowd came to life with the goal, but Arsenal was unable to capitalize on the additional energy down the stretch despite a controversial ending that almost saw a penalty on Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Bayern Munich also almost scored when Kingsley Coman hit the post in stoppage time, but the final whistle blew with the score still tied.
The two sides will have to decide it at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena on Wednesday, April 17, in the second leg.
You could not have asked for any more mouth-watering matchups in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League. The biggest and brightest stars of world…
Champions League Draw 2024: Bracket, Schedule of Dates for Remaining Fixtures
Mar 15, 2024
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 3: Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's third goal with team mate Phil Foden during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on March 3, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
The 2024 Champions League quarterfinals are set.
Defending champion Manchester City will be taking on Real Madrid in a rematch of last year's semifinal. The two powerhouse clubs combined to go 12-0-0 with a plus-20 goal differential in group play.
The first legs of the quarterfinals will be played on April 9 and 10, with the second legs taking place on April 16 and 17. The first legs of the semifinals will be held on April 30 and May 1, followed the second legs on May 7-8.
This year's final will be played on June 1 at Wembley Stadium in London.
Manchester City defeated Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in last year's semifinal en route to winning its first Champions League title. That also marks the last time these two clubs squared off.
Atlético Madrid and Arsenal advanced to the quarterfinal after both survived scares in the round of 16. Atlético Madrid squeaked by Inter Milan, the 2023 Champions League runner-up, with a 3-2 win on penalties in the second leg of their matchup on Wednesday.
The Gunners were able to avoid a near-disaster against Porto with a 4-2 advantage in a shootout after the two clubs were tied at one on aggregate at the end of regulation.
Mikel Arteta's squad had the best goal differential of any club in group play (plus-12). They are looking to make it to the final for the first time since 2006. Their path to getting there will start with a showdown against Bayern Munich.
Bayern has had little trouble getting to this point. It comfortably won Group A and earned a 3-1 victory on aggregate over Lazio in the round of 16 despite losing the first leg 1-0.
PSG is looking to get back to the final for the second time in four years. Its only previous appearance in the Champions League Final came in 2020 when it lost to Bayern Munich.
In order to get there, PSG will have to get past a Barcelona squad that has found its footing after losing two of its first three matches in group play. Barca is 3-1-0 in its last four Champions League matches, capped off with a 4-2 victory on aggregate over Napoli in the first round of the knockout phase.
Top Winners and Losers After Wednesday's Final Champions League Round of 16 Results
Mar 13, 2024
MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 13: Cesar Azpilicueta and Jan Oblak of Atletico de Madrid celebrates victory after the penalty round during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between Atletico Madrid and FC Internazionale at Civitas Metropolitano Stadium on March 13, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images)
The final eight are set.
Atlético Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are heading to the quarterfinals after the former beat Inter 2-1 on Wednesday (2-2 on aggregate, 3-2 penalties) and the latter defeated PSV 2-0 (3-1 on aggregate).
Below, we'll break down the day's winners and losers.
Winner: Atlético Madrid's Resolve
How about that for a comeback?
Atlético Madrid came into Wednesday's contest trailing 1-0 in aggregate. They conceded first, digging themselves a 2-0 hole.
But they didn't blink, finding a way to force extra time before winning a penalty shootout against Inter.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 13, 2024
What a performance.
Heading into the quarterfinals, Atlético won't want to put themselves in a similar position, given the talented clubs that have advanced. But it's clear that Atlético won't go down without a fight.
Loser: Inter's Penalty Takers
Oh no.
Not only did Inter give up their 2-0 advantage in aggregate, but when presented with a chance to salvage their UCL campaign in penalties they absolutely botched it.
Alexis Sánchez barely forced Atlético goalkeeper Jan Oblak to move. Davy Klaassen didn't fare much better.
Inter with a shocking penalty shootout.
Poor shots from Alexis and Klaassen then Lautaro skies it over the crossbar.
Credit to Atleti. They made Inter seem more ordinary than they have all season.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 13, 2024
Yikes all around. Inter squandered a golden opportunity, and now the UCL quarterfinals will be without an Italian club after Serie A advanced three teams to the final eight last season. At least the Serie A title soon enough will belong to Inter, a small consolation on a tough evening.
Winner: Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho opened the game with the only goal Dortmund would need, and it was class:
Jadon Sancho needed two things before he could get back to his best for Dortmund: fitness and confidence. He’s not quite 100%, but tonight’s showing already suggests he’s getting there.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 13, 2024
But seeing Sancho provide a key, crucial goal for Dortmund was by far the biggest moment of the day for the club. Dortmund will hope to see him build on it come the quarterfinals, assuming the injury that forced him off early doesn't end up being too serious.
Loser: PSV's Cinderella Aspirations
The UCL quarterfinals are now loaded with powerhouses, despite PSV's best efforts on Wednesday. And they had plenty of chances, managing 17 shots in total (seven on goal) and four corners.
The scoreline didn't do PSV justice—this was a game within their grasp:
And it will be all chalk in the UCL quarters, with the final eight a collection of absolute powerhouses: Manchester City, Arsenal, PSG, Bayern Munich, Dortmund, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético.
PSV had their chances to crash the party, but there will be no Cinderella at this year's dance.
Top Winners and Losers After Tuesday's Final Champions League Round of 16 Results
Mar 12, 2024
Arsenal's Spanish goalkeeper #22 David Raya, Arsenal's Norwegian midfielder #08 Martin Odegaard, Arsenal's English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka, Arsenal's English defender #04 Ben White and Arsenal's English midfielder #41 Declan Rice celebrate after winning the penalty shoot-out session of the UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg football match between Arsenal and Porto FC at the Arsenal Stadium in north London, on March 12, 2024. Arsenal edged out Porto on penalties to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2010. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
And then there were six.
Arsenal and Barcelona advanced to the UCL quarterfinals on Tuesday, with the Gunners beating Porto 1-0 (1-1 aggregate, 4-2 penalties) and Barca knocking off Napoli 3-1 (4-2 aggregate).
Below, we'll break down the day's winners and losers.
Winner: David Raya
There were some questions being asked by supporters and footy pundits alike when Arsenal signed David Raya this summer given the presence of Aaron Ramsdale at the club.
Consider them answered.
The Arsenal goalkeeper stopped two shots in the penalty shootout, propelling his team into the quarterfinals.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 12, 2024
Arsenal now return to the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time since 2010. It wasn't pretty against Porto, but Raya stood tall.
Loser: Porto's Passive Strategy
It became obvious fairly quickly that Porto's strategy was to defend furiously and hold on for dear life to its 1-0 advantage in aggregate, a desire that Leandro Trossard ended in the 41st minute with the match's only goal.
The pass from Martin Odegaard. The finish from Leandro Trossard. And now the Emirates is ROARING. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/EqexVkG5Wy
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 12, 2024
And so Porto's strategy shifted... to defending furiously, holding on for dear life and playing for a penalty shootout.
Credit goes to Porto for playing excellent defense in both ties, mucking up the midfield and packing the box against Arsenal's superior talent. Tactically, it was the sort of performance that would've left José Mourinho and Diego Simeone grinning from ear to ear. Porto took the approach of a coiled snake, guarding their territory against Arsenal's superior attacking talent and waiting for a moment to strike.
There hasn't been a penalty shootout in the Champions League since the 2016 final...
But playing for the coin flip of a penalty shootout also shows a lack of ambition, and it was Porto who ended up bitten in the end. Porto played their butts off, but the more ambitious side is moving on.
Winner: Barcelona's Youth Movement Leading the Club Back to UCL Contention
The La Liga giants haven't reached the UCL quarters since 2020. They ended that drought thanks to their young guns.
Barcelona reach the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time since 2020 🧉 pic.twitter.com/GyLHjCHwEM
3 - Pau Cubarsí is the first Barcelona player to complete 50+ passes (61/68), 100% of his tackles (3/3) and make 5+ clearances on his Champions League debut since at least the 2003/04 season. MVP. pic.twitter.com/qSkBY2DvRe
Trusting a 17-year-old in such a high-risk game in the UCL against the Italian Champions is not an easy thing to do. It would have been simpler to put Inigo in there. Put Xavi trusted Pau and he delivered. Fair play on Xavi for this aspect of his coaching time at Barcelona
In a game without Gavi, Pedri and Frenkie De Jong, Barcelona needed other players to step up. The trio of López, Yamal and Cubarsí were more than ready.
Loser: Napoli's 2023-24 Trophy Aspirations
Napoli were one of the darlings of the 2022-23 seasons, winning a Serie A title while reaching the UCL quarterfinals.
Not this season. Napoli currently sit just seventh on the Serie A table at 44 points, 31 points behind leaders Inter. They've already been knocked out of both the Coppa Italia and Champions League.
What a difference a year makes.
Winner: Quarterfinal TV Ratings
The UCL quarterfinals already feature some of the biggest clubs in Europe, with Arsenal and Barcelona joining Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, defending champions Manchester City and PSG.
And two more powerhouses may join tomorrow, as either Atlético Madrid or Inter (leading 1-0 on aggregate) will move on and Borussia Dortmund (tied 1-1 in aggregate with PSV) could also advance.
It would not appear to be the year of the underdog, that much is for certain.
Top Winners and Losers After Wednesday's Champions League Round of 16 Leg 2 Results
Mar 6, 2024
MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 06: Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid celebrates after Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid (not pictured) scores his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between Real Madrid CF and RB Leipzig at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 06, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Manchester City and Real Madrid joined Bayern Munich and PSG in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, with the former drawing 1-1 with Leipzig to advance 2-1 on aggregate, and the latter stomping Copenhagen 3-1 to advance 6-2 on aggregate.
Below, we'll break down the day's top winners and losers.
Winner: Real Madrid's Young Stars
Jude Bellingham (20) and Vinícius Júnior (23) are two of the top young stars in the world and catalysts for Real Madrid's success, so it was no surprise that the pair combined for the goal that ultimately moved Real Madrid past RB Leipzig.
This is still a club with a lot of talented veterans, but Bellingham and Vini move the needle more often than not for Real Madrid these days. They proved it again on Wednesday on a night when Los Blancos didn't play up to their usual standard.
Loser: RB Leipzig's Major Trophy Aspirations
It's been a rough season for RB Leipzig.
Since winning the DFL-Supercup over Bayern Munich, Leipzig was eliminated in the second round of the DFB-Pokal—a competition they won twice in a row before this season—have stumbled to fifth on the Bundesliga table and now are out of the Champions League after the Round of 16.
Finishing was not Leipzig's friend on Wednesday:
I’ve rarely seen as much bad decision making in a Champions League knockout game as Leipzig tonight! Every time they are in a good position, they take the wrong decision! Unbelievable.
🏆🟡⚫️ Borussia Dortmund have now qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
As a result of RB Leipzig’s UCL elimination, Dortmund are now assured of a spot via the ranking pathway and will join FCBayern as Germany’s representatives at next year’s tournament. pic.twitter.com/qUyGN3msK3
There will be no major trophies for the club this season, with Leverkusen holding a 20-point advantage over them in the Bundesliga and running away with that title. Leipzig are now in a fight just to return to the Champions League next season. All in all, a disappointing year for the club.
Winner: The Premier League
The Premier League is often cited as the deepest and most competitive league in world football, so it was something of a surprise when only Manchester City and Arsenal advanced to the knockout phase. Failing to advance any teams past the Round of 16 would have been an abject embarrassment in England.
City—bolstered by an incredibly favorable draw—ensured that wouldn't happen by smacking around overmatched Copenhagen, and if Arsenal are able to overcome a 1-0 deficit to Porto on aggregate, the EPL will have a more respectable 25 percent of the field in the quarters.
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 6, 2024
The defending champions are certainly a threat to win a second consecutive title, and with an incredibly close title race forming a the top of the Premier League, the success of City's season may hinge on its UCL campaign.
Loser: UCL Underdogs
Thus far, the UCL knockout phase has been all chalk, with Bayern Munich, PSG, Manchester City and Real Madrid advancing. If you love a good underdog, this has not been your week.
First four teams through to the Champions League quarterfinals
Granted, clubs like PSV and Porto could balance those scales somewhat next week. But it's also possible that heavy hitters like Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, either Barcelona or Napoli and either Inter Milan or Atlético Madrid will be joining the quarters.
For neutral fans, that has the makings of an epic clash of titans for the rest of the tournament. But hey, who doesn't love a good Cinderella story here or there?
Top Winners and Losers After Tuesday's Champions League Round of 16 Leg 2 Results
Mar 5, 2024
SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN - MARCH 05: Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain poses for a photo with the PlayStation Player Of The Match award after the team's victory in the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between Real Sociedad and Paris Saint-Germain at Reale Arena on March 05, 2024 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Juanma - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
The first two clubs have advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals.
PSG comfortably handled business on Tuesday, beating Real Sociedad 2-1 (4-1 on aggregate), while Bayern Munich erased a shaky first leg to win 3-0 in the second (3-1 on aggregate).
Below, we'll break down the top winners and losers from a day that saw a pair of European giants move on.
Winner: Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane
The two best players in action on Tuesday were fantastic, both notching impressive braces.
Mbappé had Real Sociedad goalkeeper Álex Remiro on absolute skates during his two tallies, showing off his precision and guile:
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 5, 2024
🔴🔵 Mbappé: “I always want to play and do my best in Champions League, I just try my best”.
“Luis Enrique? It’s all very good with him. Great relationship, no issues. People can think different about it but really, all very good”. pic.twitter.com/b8u8fciSZW
33 goals in 33 games for Bayern: Harry Kane again, strokes ball in after Provedel pushed away Sane strike. 37 goals in 38 games for club and country this season. #FCBLAZ
Two superstars, two braces. The game's brightest talents have a way of rising to the occasion on the UCL stage.
Loser: La Liga's Dominant UCL Run
Spain's top flight was the only league to advance four clubs into the knockout phase of the Champions League, while Serie A and the Bundesliga each had three.
But La Liga's dominance through the group stages is in serious peril now. Real Sociedad are gone, while Barcelona is even on aggregate with Napoli (1-1) and Atlético Madrid has to dig itself out of a 1-0 hole against Inter Milan.
Only Real Madrid will head into the second leg with an advantage, up 1-0 against an RB Leipzig side that is no pushover. La Liga's presence in the quarterfinals could be far more sparse than what it offered in the Round of 16.
Winner: PSG's Quest to (Finally) Live Up to Expectations
In recent years, PSG has boasted one of the most expensive and talented rosters in club football, but it hasn't translated to European glory. The Parisians shockingly failed to advance past the Round of 16 in the previous two UCL campaigns, were ousted in the semifinals in the 2020-21 season and came agonizingly close to finally earning a first Champions League title in 2019-20, finishing as runners-up.
Mbappe 34 goals in 34 games this season. He’s quite good , isn’t he ? Never much doubt PSG would progress at Real Sociedad tonight. Vitinha , the ex Wolves man , has developed into an impressive midfield technician.
Reaching the quarterfinals is hardly enough for PSG, but another failure to advance past the first round of the knockout phase would have been an utter calamity, especially in what is expected to be Mbappé's final season at the club. If nothing else, Tuesday's performance was promising, though stiffer challenges await.
Loser: The Title Path for Other Contenders
Bayern Munich and PSG remaining in the field undoubtedly makes the path to UCL glory tougher for the other top contenders likely to advance to the quarters, including Manchester City (3-1 lead in aggregate over Copenhagen) and Real Madrid.
Both clubs will be at home in the second leg on Wednesday.
It's also a loss for fans who enjoy a good upset, though if your idea of a compelling UCL is seeing the biggest clubs in the world clash once the field is whittled down to eight and beyond, then Tuesday's results are a major win.
It doesn't get much bigger than Bayern and PSG, after all. Bring on the clash of titans.
Champions League Reveals New Format for 2024-25; League Play Replaces Group Stage
Mar 4, 2024
A picture shows the official ball with the logo of the Champions League before the UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg football match Inter Milan vs Atletico Madrid at the San Siro stadium in Milan on February 20, 2024. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP) (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)
The Champions League is going to look different in the 2024-25 season.
It announced changes to the format on Monday, and the 32-team group stage will no longer be used. Instead, there will be a 36-team league phase from UEFA's three men's club competitions in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League.
Teams will be drawn against eight different opponents and will play four home games and four away games. That is not the case for the UEFA Conference League, though, as each team will face six opponents:
An exciting new era for European club football awaits 🤩
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 4, 2024
The most direct path to qualify for the round of 16 is finishing in the top eight positions, as those teams will advance directly into that round and avoid the knockout playoff round. Those teams that finish in the Nos. 9 through 24 positions will participate in that knockout competition that will determine the other eight spots in the round of 16.
Finishing anywhere from 25th to 36th position will eliminate teams.
There will be home and away legs in the knockout stage outside of the championship game, which will be a single-elimination final.
"The new system will ensure fast-changing and unpredictable standings," the announcement said. "More matches between equally ranked teams competing for crucial points with fans able to enjoy top clashes right from the first match day."
These changes mean there will be four additional teams than typically participate with the present format of eight groups of four clubs. Every team being in a single league also increases the stakes even through the final match day of the league phase since clubs will be battling for position.
Everything isn't changing, though, as qualifying for Champions League still depends on where teams finish in their domestic leagues from the previous season.
The new format for the UEFA Champions League will take center stage when competition begins on July 9. It runs through the final, which is scheduled for May 31, 2025.
The first-leg fixtures in the Champions League Round of 16 are nearly complete with Tuesday's matches in the books. Inter Milan holds a slim lead on Atlético…
