Champions League: The main plots that have developed so far

Two and a half months after the last time a ball was kicked in the competition, the UEFA Champions League returns this week with the start of the knockout rounds of the 2021-22 edition.

Paris Saint-Germain will take on Real Madrid, while Lisbon’s Sporting CP will serve as host to Manchester City to kick off the Round of 16 on Tuesday with a stellar doubleheader (with ESPN LIVE broadcast and Star+ only for South America except Brazil) followed by the first leg matches of six weight continental crosses to be played over the course of the next eight days.

It’s only been 10 weeks since we last immersed ourselves in the Champions League action, but life moves fast; therefore, it is worth remembering some of the main plots that have been developed so far in this season’s competition.

The group stage was full of topics to discuss and memorable moments. So here’s our favorite moments from Europe’s great club football competition.


Wait: Where is Barcelona?

Barca failed to advance to the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in 17 years after falling apart in third place in Group E. After scoring just two goals in their first five group stage games, their sad fate it was sealed in their last match, when a 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich ensured Benfica’s qualification for second place thanks to their 2-0 win over Dynamo Kiev. Barça was a perennial presence in the decisive rounds since the 2003-04 campaign, when they did not qualify for the Champions League in any instance. Now, the blaugranas will have to settle for playing against Napoli for a place in the round of 16 of the Europa League.

Say hello to Haller

There is an unlikely name at the top of the scoring charts for the 2021-22 Champions League as we prepare to kick off the second phase of the tournament. Ajax center forward sebastien haller He is the leader with 10 goals in just six games played, surpassing figures of the stature of Robert Lewandowski (9), Mohammed Salah (7), Cristiano Ronaldo (6) and Leo Messi. Haller became just the fourth player in history to score in his first five Champions League appearances by adding a staggering nine goals, breaking the mark set in 2019 by Erling Haland (8). Haller, who failed during his spell at West Ham, started his Champions League career in a big way scoring four goals in Ajax’s debut in the group stage against Sporting Lisbon, becoming the first player to score four goals in his first match in the competition since the Ajax legend and the Dutch national team Framework van Basten did it in 1992.

Cristiano’s show in the last minutes.

Despite not showing a production similar to that of Haller, Cristiano Ronaldo boasts perfectly respectable goalscoring figures in the 2021-22 edition of the Champions League, with six goals in five games wearing the Manchester United shirt. This season, the Champions League’s all-time leading goalscorer has a habit of performing his heroic feats late in games, with his 95th-minute strike against Villarreal sealing United’s first group stage win . Later, he converted in the 81st minute against Atalanta to seal a memorable comeback. The Portuguese striker, always given to showmanship, came back to level the score in dramatic fashion in the second leg against Atalanta and then converted in the 78th minute of a 2-0 win over Villarreal in the Red Devils’ penultimate group game. The “Mr. Clutch” of football, undoubtedly.

a proud father

Speaking of United, we saw heartwarming scenes last December, when an 89th-minute substitution occurred in the Red Devils’ last group game against Young Boys. An 18 year old named charlie savage he entered the pitch to make his United first-team debut. To mark the special moment, his father (former United midfielder Robbie Savage) worked as a commentator for the game.

A new Sheriff comes to town

Undoubtedly, the most surprising result of the 2021-22 group stage was the small miracle achieved by the modest Sheriff Tiraspol of Moldova at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium last September. The hit came in the 90th minute, when the Luxembourg international Sebastian Thill converted to unleash scenes of pure pandemonium and debauchery in the Spanish capital. The Sheriff, debuting in the Champions League, held on to beat the 13-time European champions on their own pitch, putting the score in their favor on two occasions that night to achieve the famous 2-0 victory.

The beautiful finish of Thiago against Porto

High-level goals have been scored in the Champions League for industrial amounts; however, surely the most elegant goal of all must be the elegant finish of Thiago Alcantara against Porto. The Liverpool midfielder made a sumptuous connection with a loose ball to send a beautiful shot from 25 yards that overwhelmed Diogo Costa: a goal that looks better and better.

The great draw disaster

Last December, we witnessed a true farce in the style of yesteryear when a “technical problem” forced UEFA to repeat the Champions League round of 16 draw in an unprecedented decision. The initial draw was annulled after the software put in place to guide UEFA officials through the process had a flaw that resulted in crosses between clubs that went against competition rules.

Last December, we witnessed a true farce in the style of yesteryear when a “technical problem” forced UEFA to repeat the Champions League round of 16 draw in an unprecedented decision. The initial draw was annulled after the software put in place to guide UEFA officials through the process had a flaw that resulted in crosses between clubs that went against competition rules.

After seeing the live draw turn into a fiasco amid administrative turmoil, UEFA finally came to terms with the mistake a few hours later. Scrapped the first attempt to repeat the draw e, amidst the displeasure of multiple stakeholders.

No away goal

As the knockout phase comes to life, it is worth remembering that the away goal rule will not be used in club competitions organized by UEFA, following its official repeal last summer. Previously, the away goal rule was used in knockout matches in UEFA tournaments since 1965. From now on, home-and-away matches that show a tie on aggregate after the second match will be settled in extra time and penalty shootouts.

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Champions League: The main plots that have developed so far