September 20, 2024

The World Opinion

Your Global Perspective

Champions League matchups as PSG head to Madrid with edge

English golf equipment Liverpool and Manchester Town are in commanding positions. Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich nonetheless have some paintings to do.

The primary 4 spots within the quarterfinals of the Champions League are up for grabs this week, with lots of the pageant’s identify favorites in motion.

A take a look at the second-leg suits within the spherical of 16:

TUESDAY:

BAYERN MUNICH VS SALZBURG (1-1)

Thomas Muller’s first own-goal in his lengthy Bayern Munich profession has disturbed what will have to were quite simple preparation for the seek advice from of Austrian champion Salzburg on Tuesday.

Muller scored within the mistaken target for Bayer Leverkusen to attract 1-1 in his 407th Bundesliga look on Saturday, when it used to be glaring that conversation a few of the German league leaders is a matter.

Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich, who’s filling in for the injured Manuel Neuer, stated he instructed Muller he had Kerem Demirbay’s harmless-looking pass coated, however Muller used to be already on his option to flip it in.

Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their moment target with Thomas Muller (Supply: Reuters)

Dayot Upamecano additionally produced an error-strewn efficiency in protection, the place any errors Tuesday usually are punished by way of Salzburg’s German ahead Karim Adeyemi, a reported goal for Borussia Dortmund subsequent season.

Salzburg, which held Bayern to a 1-1 draw of their first sport, warmed up for the go back in Munich with a at ease 4-0 win at SCR Altach. Bayern struggled with the Austrian staff’s tempo within the first leg earlier than Kingsley Coman rescued a draw for the Bavarians within the final minute.

LIVERPOOL VS. INTER MILAN (2-0)

There may be expanding speak about a imaginable quadruple of titles for Liverpool, which has already received the League Cup, is within the quarterfinals of the FA Cup and has closed in on Manchester Town within the Premier League identify race.

The Reds’ involvement within the Champions League will have to stretch into subsequent month after past due objectives by way of Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah on the San Siro gave Liverpool a to hand benefit to carry again to Anfield, the place Liverpool is notoriously onerous to overcome particularly on large Eu nights.

Liverpool is unbeaten in all competitions in 2022 and most likely has its most powerful squad in Jurgen Klopp’s reign, with the German trainer having quite a few choices in assault.

Liverpool’s Sadio Mane, middle, celebrates his target along with his teammates towards Leeds United throughout the English Premier League football fit between Liverpool and Leeds United at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. (AP Photograph/Jon Tremendous)

Klopp’s large determination may well be who to begin out of Diogo Jota and new signing Luis Diaz along Sadio Mane and Salah. Inter’s defeat to Liverpool began a run of 4 instantly suits and not using a target for the Nerazzurri.

They went greater than 400 mins with out scoring earlier than finishing their target drought in impressive taste on Friday with a 5-0 win over last-place Salernitana. Lautaro Martinez scored a hat trick in that fit however he hasn’t netted within the Champions League since 2020.

WEDNESDAY:

MANCHESTER CITY VS. SPORTING (5-0)

Conserving a large lead from the primary leg, Town has the luxurious of with the ability to rotate its avid gamers amid a hectic run of fixtures in 3 competitions because the season reaches the trade finish.

Protection is the realm the place Pep Guardiola has few choices, although, with proper again Kyle Walker serving the second one fit of his three-game suspension, Ruben Dias out for as much as six weeks with a hamstring downside and fellow middle again Nathan Ake additionally nursing an damage.

Manchester Town beat Manchester United on the Eithad. (AP Photograph/Jon Tremendous)

It’s up entrance the place Guardiola would possibly make adjustments, with the sport coming 3 days after the Manchester derby within the Premier League with Town beating United 4-1 and the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Jack Grealish on the lookout for sport time after getting back from damage.

Town will achieve the quarterfinals for the 5th instantly season except one thing sensational is produced by way of Carrying, which is much more likely to come back into the fit in damage-limitation mode after its thrashing 3 weeks previous in Portugal.

Since then, Carrying had a house loss to rival Porto within the first leg of the Portuguese Cup semifinals.

REAL MADRID VS. PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (0-1)

Actual Madrid enters the second one leg towards PSG with trainer Carlo Ancelotti having to determine a option to arrange his midfield. Casemiro is suspended and Toni Kroos and Federico Valverde are indexed as in doubt as a result of well being problems.

Valverde is much more likely to be to be had after lacking Saturday’s Spanish league sport towards Actual Sociedad as a result of flu signs, however Kroos is predicted to be out as a result of a muscle damage.

Actual Madrid’s Luka Modric celebrates scoring their moment target with David Alaba. (Reuters)

Casemiro used to be key in Madrid’s 4-1 win over Sociedad, when he performed along younger Frenchman Eduardo Camavinga and Luka Modric. Left again Ferland Mendy is also out because of suspension.

PSG ready for the go back and forth to Spain by way of dropping for handiest the 3rd time in 27 French league suits this season to second-place Great.

Trainer Mauricio Pochettino will probably be hoping to have proper again Achraf Hakimi (thigh), Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes (groin), Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera (eye an infection) again to stand Madrid. A makeshift backline seemed susceptible towards Great.

Pochettino obviously had the Eu sport in thoughts as he rested defenders Presnel Kimpembe and Nuno Mendes. Kylian Mbappe didn’t play because of suspension so will probably be recent to carry his electrical tempo again to stand Madrid and hyperlink up with Lionel Messi.

Attaining the overall identical to in 2020 is the place PSG needs to be in Might and profitable the Champions League, for the Qatari possession, for the primary time.

Champions League Spherical of 16 video games main points:

When are the Champions League Spherical of 16 video games?

The primary legs of the last-16 encounters happened on February 15, 16, 22 and 23 and the go back ties are on March 8, 9, 15 and 16.

Easy methods to watch the 2021-22 Champions League Are living in India?

The Sony Footage Sports activities Community (SPSN) has the suitable to turn UEFA Champions League suits in India.

The place will the stay streaming of the 2021-22 Champions League be to be had?

The suits will probably be live-streamed on-line on SonyLIV. Additionally to be had on Sony Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi) and Sony Ten 4 SD & HD (Tamil and Telegu).