United States
United KingdomThe last two Champions League last 16 ties were concluded on Wednesday night and we now have the full quarter-final line-up. If you missed who progressed from Tuesday’s games there is a recap here. However, if you wish to know what happened in Wednesday’s tie read on.
Magical Messi sees off Chelsea
Barcelona recorded a 3-0 win over Chelsea at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night to win the tie 4-1 on aggregate. Almost inevitably, Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi was at the heart of the victory.
It took the Catalan giants less than three minutes to take the lead on the night. Messi found himself with room at a tight angle in the penalty area, but somehow found a way to fire a low effort through Thibaut Courtois’ legs and into the net.
Chelsea grew into the game. However, the Blues lack a killer pass and Ernesto Valverde’s side doubled their lead on 20 minutes. This time Messi turned provider. The 30-year-old drew a number of Chelsea defenders towards him before finding Ousmane Dembele in acres of space on the edge of the area. The former Dortmund forward then advanced on goal and fired high past Courtois.
Marcos Alonso came close to getting a goal back for the visitors, hitting the post on the stroke of half-time with an excellent free-kick. Alonso also saw a penalty appeal turned down after going down under a challenge from Gerard Pique.
Fittingly though, Messi wrap the game up on 63 minutes, picking up the ball and leaving Cesar Azpilicueta for dead with a good turn of pace before again firing between the legs of Courtois.
The goal was Messi’s 100th Champions League goal in 123 appearances. He achieved the century in 14 fewer games than arch nemesis Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
In the end, Chelsea paid for a lack of ruthlessness and key pass. Barcelona will take part in a record 11 Champions League quarter-final. Valverde’s team are one of the favourites to lift the trophy.
The last 16 tie between Besiktas and Bayern Munich was virtually over in the first leg when Bayern hammered ten-man Besiktas 5-0. To rub salt into the wound’s the Bavarian giants also won the second leg 3-1 at the Vodafone Stadium.
The German giants took the lead on 18 minutes, as midfielder Thiago met a Thomas Muller cross to score his second goal of the season. The German side doubled their lead straight after the break, as Gokhan Gonul put the ball past his own goalkeeper after good play by Franck Ribery and Rafinha.
The home side got a goal back just before the hour mark, as striker Vagner Love firing low under Sven Ulreich. Bayern added a third with just six minutes remaining, as substitute Sandro Wagner scored a tap-in from a deflected David Alaba cross.
Bayern will be strong opponents for any of the teams in the last eight, as the Bavarian giants have suffered just one defeat in 28 games under veteran boss Jupp Heynckes.
Final quarter-final line-up
The draw for the Champions League quarter-finals will take place at 11 am at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. Here are the eight quarter-finalists:
Real Madrid
Liverpool
Juventus
Manchester City
Sevilla
AS Roma
Barcelona
Bayern Munich
Who are your favourites to win this season’s Champions League?
