What a fantastic night of Champions League football that was. If anyone is in any doubt how good Europe’s flagship competition really is, then surely they must have disappeared after watching a goal fest on Tuesday.
The last eight of this competition invariably delivers the very best football, and there were so many Champions League 2024 highlights in the 3-3 draw between Real Madrid and Manchester City that it’s impossible to pick the biggest moment.
Then we had a brilliant ding-dong battle at the Emirates where Arsenal drew 2-2 with FC Bayern and an old friend (or foe) made his mark as Harry Kane scored for the Bavarians.
When the quarter-final draw was made, Real Madrid vs Manchester City was the tie of the round, and boy did it deliver. We saw three spectacular goals, three other goals, and an advantage for Manchester City to take back to the Etihad Stadium.
The Sky Blues will certainly fancy finishing the job on home ground.
Pep Guardiola’s treble chasers made a perfect start when Jack Grealish was tripped in the first minute and Bernardo Silva deceived Andriy Lunin at his near post with a clever free-kick. The Santiago Bernabeu fell silent, but the famous old stadium was bouncing within quarter of an hour as Los Blancos took a 2-1 lead, albeit with a heavy slice of luck.
On 12 minutes, Eduardo Camavinga’s shot took a wicked deflection off Ruben Dias to wrong foot Stefan Ortega. Two minutes later, the City keeper could only stand and watch again as Rodrygo’s shot bounced off Manuel Akanji and into the net.
If the first half goals irritated the keepers, they could only admire the three that came in the second half. Well, maybe they could a few hours after the final whistle.
Man of the Match Phil Foden scored a beauty to level at 2-2, firing an unstoppable shot from 20 yards into the top corner. It was the England midfielder’s sixth goal from outside the box this season.
And then defender Josko Gvardiol scored his own spectacular goal, cutting inside and curling another stunner beyond Lunin and into the far corner.
But the La Liga leaders were not done, and when Federico Valverde snuck in at the far post, he caught the sweetest of volleys to level the tie.
So it’s advantage City. And Guardiola spoke after the game to allay any fears that Foden was injured after he hooked the midfield ace late in the game, saying: “He was grumpy with me for making a substitution. That means he’s okay.”
The Champions League 2024 betting odds back City to retain their European title, although there is still plenty of work to do, but they will have Kevin De Bruyne back in the side. The Belgian master pulled out just before the game feeling ill, and his return will surely spell more trouble for Real Madrid.
Kane returns to haunt Arsenal
The Champions League is Bayern’s one and only chance of silverware this season, and they left North London with a 2-2 draw. Like Manchester City, the result makes them favourites to go through. And former Tottenham Hotspur talisman Harry Kane was among the goals as he converted a first half penalty to put the Bavarians ahead by 2-1.
Bukayo Saka had given the Gunners an early lead with a brilliant finish, but former Arsenal star Serge Gnabry levelled for the visitors soon after.
And when Leroy Sane was felled by William Saliba, the Emirates fell silent as the referee pointed the spot and Kane, who had been booed from the moment he stepped on the pitch, slotted home, cool as you like, to give Bayern a first half lead. It was Kane’s 15th goal in 20 games against the Gunners, and Arsenal fans must be sick of the sight of him.
Super subs Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard combined to make it 2-2 when the Brazilian teed up the Belgian forward, who clinically swept his finish past Manuel Neuer.
But there was another close call at either end. Kingsley Coman, who scored the winner when Bayern won the Champions League in 2020, beating PSG 1-0 in the final, almost nicked it at the death, but his shot hit the post.
And then Saka claimed a penalty when he felt a contact from Neuer but to no avail, so maybe the England winger should have stayed on his feet.
So there you go folks. We’re halfway through the Champions League first leg quarter-finals, and there is still plenty to settle.
So keep it here at SBOTOP for all the previews, updates, and the very best Asian Handicap Betting offers for the second legs.
If the next six games are anything like the first two, don’t blink or you’ll miss something.
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