The Champions League 24-25: Real Madrid Edge Atletico and Villa Triumph
The Champions League 2024-25 has reached the knockout stage of the competition. Only 16 teams remain out of 36. In the first game day of the Round of 16, Real Madrid beat their city rivals, Atletico Madrid, to take a slight advantage into the second leg. A couple of English clubs were in action. Here is a look at what were the results in the first leg.
Ancelotti men take one-goal advantage to Metropolitano
One of the biggest clashes in the Round of 16 saw Real Madrid go up against Atletico Madrid. These two teams have met in Europe before and Real have stood on top. Ancelotti’s men began the match in style. Rodrygo was unstoppable down the right. He took on the defenders in the opening minutes and managed to break the deadlock in the fourth minute. The Brazilian scored a banger from his weaker left foot.
Read Also: Real Madrid Made An Epic Win Against Man City
Diego Simeone opted to play on the counter attack. His team waited patiently and then came a moment of magic from Julian Alvarez. The Argentine scored a spectacular goal to level the scoring. Real Madrid came into the second half with more confidence. Brahim Diaz, who played in place of suspended Jude Bellingham, scored the winner in the 55th minute. Real Madrid kept the ball and secured a well-deserved win.
The Champions League: Goals galore in Netherlands
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal travelled to PSV for their first leg. With so many injury problems this was a tough fixture for the Gunners. The youngsters stepped up to the occasion and did what nobody would have thought. Arsenal netted seven goals past their Dutch opponents and won the match 7-1.
Jurrien Timber, Ethan Nwaneri and Mikel Merino registered their names on the scoresheet inside the first half. Noa Lang scored from the spot to make it 3-1. Arsenal entered the second half with more energy. Martin Odegaard scored the fourth goal in the 47th minute. Leandro Trossard added one more in the 48th minute. Odegaard scored his second of the night before Calafiori scored the seventh goal for the Gunners.
Aston Villa score three in Belgium
Club Brugge hosted Aston Villa in the first game of the night. Villa continued their good form and scored the opener in the 3rd minute. Leon Bailey smashed a half volley past Mignolet. Villa failed to keep their lead for long. Maxin de Cuyper scored the equaliser in the 12th minute. The scores were level at half-time.
Both teams failed to score a goal for the next 70 minutes. Towards the end of the match, Brugge players lost their concentration. A penalty followed an own goal in the 82nd minute in the 88th minute. Marco Asensio scored from the spot to hand Villa a 3-1 win.
Dortmund held at home
Borussia Dortmund and Lille played a 1-1 draw in the first leg. Karim Adeyemi’s first half strike was cancelled by Haraldsson’s equaliser in the second half. Both teams only managed one shot on target in the entire match.
