Mith an expected performance, Manchester City defeated Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League. After the decisive 5-0 win in the first leg at Sporting Lisbon, the team around national player Ilkay Gündogan was content with an unspectacular 0-0 in the second leg against the Portuguese in front of their home crowd.
The clear constellation through the first leg before the change of sides was clearly noticeable for both teams in their limited enthusiasm. Apart from a chance for the home team through Raheem Sterling (39th), there were no chances to score in the first half. Just after the break, Gabriel Jesus scored for the Brits. But because the video evidence revealed that the scorer was offside, the goal did not count. In the second half, too, both teams acted largely uninspired and reeled off their workload more or less listlessly.
The game in Madrid at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu was different. There Real Madrid defeated the challenger from Paris 3: 1 (0: 1). Karim Benzema (61st/76th/78th) scored three times within 17 minutes and thus sealed the elimination of the highly decorated Parisian team in the round of 16 of the Champions League. The opening goal of Kylian Mbappé (39th), who was courted by Real, was not enough for the initially superior guests to progress. “The fans helped us a lot today and believed in it until the end,” Benzema said on DAZN. “My celebration after the third goal was also for them.”
Paris was initially the better team in the second edition of the top game in the round of 16 of the Champions League. The royals couldn’t get the top-class storm of the French under control, especially in the first round. Mbappé, Neymar and Lionel Messi kept getting good chances that Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was able to fend off at first. But then, as in mid-February, Mbappé, who was courted by Real, struck again. After a fine pass from Neymar, the 23-year-old shot into the near corner.
Everything seemed to be on the way for PSG – until Benzema’s big performance followed. First the 34-year-old converted after a blunder by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, then he completed it after superb work from Luka Modric – and just two minutes later he completed his three-time goal with another right foot. At least now the Santiago Bernabéu was upside down. PSG, on the other hand, have to wait to win the premier class for the first time.
