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[ghostbladejk]

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[realmoneytip]

Dortmund faces Augsburg away on Sunday. If it wins that game, and its final game at home to Mainz next weekend, Dortmund would end Bayern’s 10-year reign as German champion.

Bayern Munich wasted its lead on Saturday as Leipzig dug out from a deficit to win 3-1 in the Bundesliga, allowing Borussia Dortmund the opportunity to move top going into the last end of the week.

Bayern simply had to dominate its last two matches to make certain of asserting its record-expanding eleventh continuous title, yet Leipzig's shock win in Munich gave Dortmund the drive.

Dortmund faces Augsburg away on Sunday. In the event that it dominates that match, and its last game at home to Mainz one weekend from now, Dortmund would end Bayern's 10-year rule as German hero.

It had begun so well for the Bavarian force to be reckoned with, which ruled the initial half hour against the wary guests.

Thomas Müller - making his second back to back begin for Bayern - set up Serge Gnabry for the opener in the 25th moment.

In any case, Leipzig answered with three great possibilities in succession in the 34th, 35th and 36th. Yann Sommer answered with three great recoveries.

Konrad Laimer, who is supposedly set to join Bayern next season, scored a merited balancer in the 64th, then, at that point, Christopher Nkunku scored from the punishment spot in the 76th after he was fouled nearby by countryman Benjamin Pavard.

Dominik Szoboszlai fixed it with one more punishment in the 85th after Noussair Mazraoui was punished for handball.Leipzig merged third spot and gotten its Bosses Association capability place for next season.Bayern faces Cologne away for its last game and must now likewise expect a Dortmund goof.

Hertha Berlin consigned

Hertha Berlin was consigned from the Bundesliga in the wake of surrendering in the fourth moment of injury time to draw with Bochum 1-1.

Previous Association Berlin safeguard Keven Schlotterbeck headed the objective that sent Hertha down to the subsequent division.

It's Hertha's seventh transfer from the Bundesliga. Just Nuremberg (nine) and Arminia Bielefeld (eight) have been downgraded more times.

Hertha required a success to delay the transfer choices to the last day of the time and it was solid for the host group after Lucas Tousart at last made the forward leap with a header to Marco Richter's corner in the 64th moment.

"We weren't consigned today. Today we really conveyed a decent game," Hertha mentor Pál Dárdai said. "We ought to have killed the game, we had five or six great possibilities. We ought not be embarrassed about our presentation. That's what the fans saw."

The two groups hit the post in the last minutes before Schlotterbeck was left unopposed to head Kevin Stöger's corner past Oliver Christensen in the Hertha objective.

It guaranteed Hertha remained last without any possibility completing over the last two. Bochum was undependable yet.

Schlotterbeck and his Bochum partners hurried to celebrate before the meeting fans, while the remainder of the arena was left in paralyzed quiet. Some Hertha fans set off clearly bangers that resonated around Olympiastadion, while there were boos and whistles from certain allies when the group moved toward after the last whistle.click here

"I can barely handle it, it's simply miserable," Hertha veteran Ruler Boateng said with tears in his eyes. "I love the club and came here knowing it's not all blushing. Presently have the opportunity to refocus and reinforce the club, regardless of whether it's in the subsequent division."

[novumtimes]

Score and latest updates from Euro 2024

Good afternoon and welcome to our live blog from day eight at Euro 2024. Poland face Austria at the Olympiastadion in Berlin in the second round of games in Group D. It’s essentially a case of winner stays in contention, as both sides lost their opening matches. Ralf Rangnick’s industrious Austria side went down 1-0 to France on Monday, but will line up as marginal favourites for this encounter. With their high-energy, proactive pressing game, they pushed the pre-tournament favourites hard, with Christoph Baumgartner having a golden opportunity well saved by Mike Maignan. Though they struggled to contain Kylian Mbappe, they looked impressive were unlucky to concede an own goal. RB Leipzig defensive midfielder Nicolas Seiwald stood out, with Borussia Dortmund’s Marcel Sabitzer also showing his flair in midfield. There is great optimism about the national football team in Austria and a fair few pundits have picked them as Euro 2024 dark horses. Time to show their mettle in the German capital, where it’s started tipping down. “We have to win – it is absolutely clear to us,” the former Manchester United manager said. “To beat Poland, we need the same mix of aggression and compact play as we saw against France, but also joy on the pitch, optimism to move up the pitch and score.” Meanwhile, after losing 2-1 to the Netherlands in their Group D curtain-raiser and ranked lowest from the four sides of their groups, at 28th in the world, Poland need all the help they can get. A fit Robert Lewandowski could change the game for them. Their veteran talisman returned to training but is in a race against time to recover from a thigh injury and make the starting line-up. “There is a big difference if you have the best player in the world on the bench or you have him on the pitch,” Poland manager Michał Probierz said of the Barcelona striker yesterday. Lens striker Adam Buksa did a fine job of deputising for Big Lew against the Netherlands, putting Poland in front with his glancing header. Premier League watchers will also be well-acquainted with their back line, given Jan Bednarek (Southampton) and Jakub Kiwior (Arsenal) are at centre-back. With four of the third-placed teams going through into the knockout stages at Euro 2024, every point matters. Kick-off is at 5pm UK time. Team news to come shortly. Source link via The Novum Times

[bongaboi]

Real Madrid: 2023-24 UEFA Champions League Winners

 

Dani Carvajal and Vinícius Júnior scored the goals as Real Madrid overcame a spirited Borussia Dortmund 2-0 to win the 2024 UEFA Champions League final at Wembley Stadium.

Edin Terzić had issued a rallying cry to his Dortmund players before the game, saying: "If we are brave then we're going to have a chance." BVB were more than brave in the first half, they were fearless in the face of the 14-time winners and created a host of chances that should have resulted in a half-time lead.

Early sighters from Federico Valverde and the otherwise well-marshalled Vinícius Júnior were as effective as Los Blancos could be, while Dortmund displayed a far greater cutting edge bar the final finish.

Karim Adeyemi was central to their threat. The winger was only denied by a last-ditch tackle from Dani Carvajal after rounding Thibaut Courtois then tested the Madrid No1 from Julian Brandt's pinpoint through ball, Niclas Füllkrug just unable to nod the rebound back towards goal.

In between, Füllkrug himself had prodded against the post from Ian Maatsen's pass, and the half ended with Courtois again called upon, this time to push Marcel Sabitzer's raking drive wide.

A stern-faced Carlo Ancelotti emerged from the dressing room at half-time still in discussions with the often-overworked Jude Bellingham and Toni Kroos, and the German midfielder, playing his last game for the club, took on added responsibility, calling Gregor Kobel into action for the first time with a whipped free-kick.

Dortmund remained unmoved, focused and positive. Though the contest's equilibrium had been restored, it was BVB who continued to prise the more presentable openings, Courtois standing tall to keep out a stinging Füllkrug header just after the hour mark.

Could Madrid find a way to turn the tide? They always seem to find a way – and this time would be no different. The source was perhaps unexpected, but Carvajal, determined to make history by playing in a joint-record sixth winning team in the final, rose highest to head in Kroos's corner.

Now the fear which Ancelotti had warned his players about before the showpiece was gone. Bellingham and Nacho came so close to adding a second before Vinícius Júnior did, receiving Bellingham's pass and sweeping his finish across Kobel to seal a 15th European crown for Madrid.

Matthias Rötters, Dortmund reporter

After a strong first half from Dortmund, Madrid slowly regained a foothold in the contest. BVB were unable to find an answer to the second-half breakthrough from Carvajal. They looked to have the most successful side in this competition on the back foot at times tonight but, once again, it is the La Liga side who are celebrating.

Graham Hunter, Real Madrid reporter

In the amazing moments which won the semi-final against Bayern, it was German-born Joselu who beat Madrid's Bundesliga rivals. This time, it was a brilliant Mannschaft international Kroos, in his final match for Los Blancos, who crossed for a man, Carvajal, who cut his teeth at Leverkusen, to nod Madrid in front and break the deadlock. And the decisive second goal? Set up by an ex-Dortmund man, Bellingham. There was such a remarkable 'Made in Germany' feel to how Madrid won their fabled '15th'.

Carlo Ancelotti, Madrid coach: "You never get accustomed to this. It was a very difficult, much more so than we thought it would be. In the first half, we had to suffer; in the second half, we lost the ball less and played better – but those are all trifling details now. We won. The dream continues."

Dani Carvajal, Madrid defender and Player of the Match: "We sure know how to suffer but, believe me, I'd love to win these matches more easily. I'd been coming up for corners most of the season. Determination is key to my approach – I'd headed one over and I just knew I had to score the second one!"

Toni Kroos, Madrid midfielder: "The decisive thing was that we didn't concede in the first half. The first half really wasn't good from us. Then we got into the game better and scored the goal. We were fully there and the better team. But it took a long time until we were the better team tonight."

Jude Bellingham, Madrid midfielder: "I've always dreamed of playing in these games. I can't put it into words. It's the best night of my life. It's got to be up there in terms of the perfect season. I can't have dreamed it much better than this. I'm so grateful to my team-mates, my family, the team behind the scenes: the physios, everyone there. This is a massive group effort."

Edin Terzić, Dortmund head coach: "We put in a great display and I think we deserved more than losing 2-0. From the first second, we showed the whole world that we weren't just here simply to play a final – but to win it. We did so many things right, but they were ice-cold at the right moment, which is what we lacked today."

Mats Hummels, Dortmund defender: "We had a great match. I’m super proud of the team for how we presented ourselves here. We played bravely, with heart, and played quality football. We only just missed out on scoring a goal. Real Madrid then strike, as they’ve done many times before."

Ally McCoist, TNT Sports

"You've got to have sympathy for Edin Terzić and the Dortmund boys, who performed exceptionally well. We just knew, at some point, Real Madrid would come back into the game. They got their goal from an unlikely source in Carvajal, and Vinícius Júnior effectively ended the match. Madrid are champions once again for a reason."

Key stats

Madrid have won the European Cup for a record 15th time.

Los Blancos have been successful in each of their nine appearances in the final in the Champions League era.

The Spanish side were unbeaten in their 13 Champions League matches this season (W9 D4). This is the first time they have won a European Cup/Champions League final without losing a match during the campaign.

Madrid have only failed to score in one of their last 18 European Cup/Champions League finals. That was in their 1-0 defeat against Liverpool in 1981.

Madrid have not conceded more than one goal in any of their last 11 European Cup/Champions League finals. The last time was in their 3-1 defeat against Inter in 1964.

Dani Carvajal scored for just the second time in the Champions League (group stage to final). His only other goal in his previous 88 appearances came in November 2015 against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Vinícius Júnior became the first Brazilian to score in two different European Cup/Champions League finals.

Luka Modrić and Dani Carvajal have matched Paco Gento's record by playing on the winning team in six European Cup/Champions League finals.

Carlo Ancelotti has extended his record number of Champions League wins as a coach to five – two more than any other coach.

Fantasy star performers

Dani Carvajal: 16 points

Jude Bellingham, Nacho, Toni Kroos, Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy, Thibaut Courtois: 7 points

Line-ups

Dortmund: Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Emre Can (Malen 80), Sabitzer; Adeyemi (Reus 72), Brandt (Haller 80), Sancho (Bynoe-Gittens 87); Füllkrug

Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Nacho, Rüdiger, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos (Modrić 85), Camavinga; Bellingham (Joselu 85); Rodrygo (Éder Militão 90+1), Vinícius Júnior (Lucas Vázquez 90+4)

Madrid will take on UEFA Europa League winners Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup in Warsaw on Wednesday 14 August.

The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League begins with the first qualifying round on 9/10 July; the draw takes place on Tuesday 18 June.

Madrid and Dortmund will enter next season's competition in the new-look league phase, the draw for which takes place on Thursday 29 August.

[topstoryusa0]

[ad_1] Morning all. Final evening’s Champions League semi-final was a enjoyable look ahead to a impartial like me, even when I did have a robust desire for Borussia Dortmund over PSG. 1-0 forward from the primary leg, the Germans doubled their lead within the second half with a header from Mats Hummels, and although PSG threw the kitchen sink at it, they couldn’t discover a means by. Hummels produced an excellent piece of defending to disclaim Kylian Mbappe as he was lining as much as take a shot from shut vary, however primarily based on the way in which the remainder of the sport went, even when he had made contact, he’d have hit the bar. So close to, but so, so deliciously distant for PSG, whose continued failure at this stage is one thing that ought to heat the hearts of all soccer followers. I've to say, I like the truth that regardless of the way in which the sport has developed through the years, the place uncooked tempo is commonly thought of enough to offset a number of the technical inefficiencies of recent forwards, a 35 yr previous central-defender could be the person of the match. Typically you need to dig in, and earn your little bit of luck. The xG of three.25 to 0.77 in PSG’s favour tells a few of that story, however that’s additionally what’s nice about soccer. There’s little doubt Dortmund defended with actual coronary heart, but additionally that the opposition did not profit from good probabilities. I believe the end result over the 2 legs was greater than honest. I assume Mbappe must go to Actual Madrid to win a Champions League now. Clearly the monetary side of his transfer to PSG has been extraordinarily beneficial to him, however he turns 26 this yr, and I ponder will he have regrets about what he might need achieved if he’d gone there earlier. I loved this piece about him from Barney Ronay in The Guardian: The final time Mbappe began a sport in Ligue 1 was 5 weeks in the past. It has been not a lot a protracted goodbye as a meandering, earn a living from home sort of season’s finish, prolonged scenes from Kylian Mbappé’s time off. Soccer is a protracted sport. It’s a couple of sustained pitch of efficiency, dragging the moments out of your self. Is that this the way in which his expertise is supposed for use? Additionally, it’s unimaginable as an Arsenal fan to not join with what Dortmund have achieved. They discovered themselves up in opposition to PSG within the group stage, together with AC Milan and Newcastle. A so-called ‘group of demise’, from which Eddie Howe’s staff had been finally the corpse that propped up it up. They had been crushed by the Parisians away from house, and drew 1-1 in Germany. PSV was a comparatively pleasant Spherical of 16 tie, however Atletico Madrid within the quarter-finals was something however. Their 4-2 win at house noticed them by after a 2-1 defeat in Madrid, and two 1-0s in opposition to PSG once more within the semi-finals is a really spectacular method to attain the ultimate. For me, PSG exist in the identical realm as Man Metropolis. A membership whose success is solely constructed on the sort of funding that has skewed the monetary actuality of soccer as we all know it. After they spent £200m on Neymar, it wasn’t merely one membership overpaying for one footballer whose time there was finally a large flop for them and for him, however a deal that had ramifications for all the market. It set a benchmark value for a participant which, whereas clearly ridiculous on the time, had a fabric influence on costs throughout Europe. It raised the bar, each when it comes to charges and salaries, and it was all synthetic. Did the sponsorship offers achieved with corporations and entities linked to the possession that helped fund that switch usher in income commensurate with market worth on the time? Whereas not precisely the identical factor, it’s a query that places you in thoughts of the 115 prices leveled at Man Metropolis by the Premier League final yr. Tax authorities in France have regarded carefully at that Neymar deal, however the harm was achieved the minute it went by. The distinction between Metropolis and PSG is that the previous have very, very sensible folks in cost, particularly of the footballing facet of issues, and so they have a veneer of respectability that the latter don’t. They’ve been in a position to deflect away a lot of what they've achieved and the way they've achieved it, to the purpose there’s only a widespread apathy about their success – even when authorized wranglings have bubbled underneath the floor for years. You see the manifestation of that once you see Liverpool followers speak about how they’d reasonably Metropolis gained the league than Arsenal. A membership that has inflicted a lot ache on them down the years is preferable to at least one extra analogous to their very own as a result of they'll write it off as nothing. Or possibly too it’s as a result of within the desperation for an precise aggressive rivalry, one thing that's on the coronary heart of what makes the sport of soccer nice, Arsenal match the invoice and Metropolis are simply this outlier that doesn’t actually matter. For the document, I’ve at all times stated I took some coronary heart from the truth that Liverpool had been in a position to compete with and push Metropolis so arduous, as a result of it confirmed it’s not 100% pointless to attempt to win the Premier League. So, circling again – it’s nice to see a membership like Dortmund undergo in opposition to a membership like PSG. Underdogs from a monetary perspective, underdogs on paper, underdogs on the pitch, however however they simply chewed the balls off the massive canine and it was enjoyable, enjoyable, enjoyable. Extra of that please, nearer to house, and shortly. The opposite semi this night is poised at 2-2 between Bayern and Actual Madrid, and I’d wish to see a German/Spanish last. Let’s see what occurs. Until tomorrow. [ad_2] https://topstoryusa.com/sports/mats-the-way-to-do-it-tsu/?feed_id=904&_unique_id=663f05903b7f3

[sportsgr8]

Bundesliga: Dortmund Cruises Past Struggling Freiburg

Borussia Dortmund: Borussia Dortmund closed the gap to third-placed Stuttgart after overpowering Freiburg 3-0 thanks to Donyell Malen's brace in the Bundesliga on Friday.The BVB took the reins from the start and came close with 13 minutes gone when Malen tested Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu with an overhead kick from inside the box, reported Xinhua. Malen broke the deadlock moments later after Niclas Fullkrug's square pass inside the box allowed the Dutchman to drill the ball into the top right corner. Freiburg tried to respond but the Austrian international Michael Gregoritsch couldn't beat Dortmund custodian Gregor Kobel with a header in the 21st minute. Dortmund doubled its advantage just before the break as Malen completed a counterattack into the far post corner after Fullkrug's good buildup work. Freiburg's keeper remained busy, denying Fullkrug from close range with a foot save in the 53rd minute and palming away Marco Reus' dangerous header in the 71st minute. Dortmund increased its pressure in the closing stages as Ian Maatsen rattled the woodwork from tight angle before Fullkrug sealed the deal after heading home Julian Brandt's inswinging cross in the 87th minute. With the win, Dortmund cemented its fourth spot in the table while Freiburg suffered its third straight defeat to stay seventh. "We started with right intensity against Freiburg and scored our goals in the right moments. With the lead we were able to focus on counterattacks and score more goals," said Malen. Read the full article

[brandt-fc]

Dortmund's Brandt spotlighted in data analysis: Bundesliga star - and European Championship hope?

Translation of an article from 26/10/2023

Dortmund's Brandt spotlighted in data analysis: Bundesliga star - and European Championship hope?

Julian Brandt is playing his best Bundesliga season to date. For a long time, the Bremen-born player lacked consistency in his performances. But the Borussia Dortmund attacker, who has just celebrated a special anniversary, delivered just in time for his home European Championships.

Suddenly everything happened very quickly. Emre Can passed the ball between the stunned Bremen defenders and into the penalty area. Right into the path of Julian Brandt, who had cleverly stolen away. The high-class striker took the ball with one touch and struck Werder with the second. Brandt scored with a fine lob over the onrushing keeper Michael Zetterer to make it 1:0 for BVB.

It was to be the only goal of the evening. Brandt of all people - the Bremen-born player who had never played for Werder - was the man of the match. And this match was not just any match, it was the 300th that the attacker had played in the Premier League for Leverkusen and Dortmund. At the age of 27 years and 171 days. In Bundesliga history, only Charly Körbel (27/119) and Eike Immel (27/116) were younger when they made their 300th appearance.

Not only BVB coach Edin Terzic finds this "extraordinary" and calls Brandt "a child of the Bundesliga", who once made his debut for Leverkusen in 2014 at the age of 17.

Brandt in the form of his life

Germany is currently seeing a Brandt in the form of his life - as a glance at the GSN data clearly shows. With a performance score of 64.91, the man who, with his light blonde hair and cheeky grin on his face, still looks like a rascal ten years after his debut, is having by far the best season of his career on Dortmund's left wing (previous best score 61.47).

What is the "performance score"?

Three goals and four assists have already been recorded. His scoring record dates back to his last season at Leverkusen in 2019/2020, when he ended up with seven goals and 15 assists (his goal record is nine). Unlike usual for Brandt, however, he is in outstanding early form this season.

As a rule, he always needs a few more weeks to get up to speed. In his record-breaking season, for example, he only had two assists to his name after eight matchdays. In 2021/2022 it was two goals, in 2022/2023 two goals and two assists each.

Are his days as a sloppy genius numbered?

The strengths of the player from VfL Wolfsburg's youth team, who had to let him go before his first professional appearance, are well known: from offensive one-on-one, technique and passing to creativity and overview. In the 1-0 win against Bremen, he also showed how well he can anticipate and how quick his pace is.

At the same time, Brandt will certainly not become a header monster or a defensive workhorse. More seriously, however, he has lacked consistency in recent years because he hasn't always seemed to be on the ball - a sloppy genius, if you like.

His current explosion in performance may also have something to do with the fact that coach Terzic has deployed him much less frequently in his favorite position as a playmaker this season. In Leverkusen, he once played with the number 10 on his back, but Dortmund's number 19 now mainly plays on the left wing, but also on the right. Mind you, with permission to repeatedly move towards the goal in the center. In data jargon, this is referred to as an "inverse winger", while Brandt himself recently spoke of a "hybrid position".

Brandt is the fourth-best German in the league

In this position, he has no need to shy away from comparison in the league. Brandt is right at the top in almost all relevant statistics. With 3.32 assists per game, he is even the best in the league - as is his involvement in 1.55 Dortmund attacks per game that lead to goals and his 0.59 expected assists, i.e. assists that should (actually) lead to goals.

In Leroy Sané, Mats Hummels, Chris Führich and Leon Goretzka, only four Germans in the Bundesliga currently have a better performance score than Brandt. That should also make namesake Julian Nagelsmann prick up his ears. But is the new national coach also counting on him?

Only 19 minutes on the pitch on the USA trip

Another reason for Brandt standing out could be the upcoming European Championships in his own country. It kicks off on June 14, 2024 with the opening game in Munich. And Brandt will not be allowed to slack off if he is to play a significant role at the home European Championships. Nagelsmann did nominate Brandt, who has 45 international appearances to date with three goals, for the most recent international trip to the USA. However, he only played 19 minutes against the hosts and sat on the bench for the entirety of the subsequent match against Mexico.

Great competition in the German attack

This is not because he has strong competition in his position in the form of Führich (performance score 65.08/2 goals/5 assists). The Stuttgart native, who is a completely different type of player anyway with his long sprints down the left wing, only played nine minutes in the USA. In Nagelsmann's favored 4-4-2, four central midfielders played behind the two attackers and, in Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, two 20-year-olds who have a bright future with the DFB.

And then there is another problem: the "child of the Bundesliga" Brandt, who was awarded the Fritz Walter Gold Medal in 2014, has not been able to build on his strong previous performances in either the Champions League or the national team. Especially with the eagle on his chest, the BVB professional was hardly recognizable. His performance score in international matches over the past five years was just 55.86 points.

Does Brandt bring consistency to his performances?

However, with his current GSN index of 82.98 and a possible score of 84.59, Brandt is scratching the surface of world class. He is also so interesting for the national team because he can actually play all positions in the offense (apart from center forward). If he manages to even begin to show his potential in the national team, Nagelsmann will not be able to ignore him.

Source: EM-Hoffnung? Julian Brandt von Borussia Dortmund in der Datenanalyse | NDR.de - Sport - Fußball

[horriblehistorieschild]

MATSI YOU OLD FART I LOVE YOU!!!!! 2-1!!!!!!!

[topsportnews]

ONANA'S OLD TRAFFORD EXCITEMENT

United ended our Tour 2023 campaign with a narrow 3-2 defeat against Borussia Dortmund on Monday, with Onana featuring during the second half in Las Vegas.Having recently joined from Italian side Internazionale, the Cameroonian is yet to play at the Theatre of Dreams during his career, and it’s something he says he can’t wait to experience. With the Reds having a weekend double-header live on…

[ncaabasketballreport]

Does Haaland make Man City favourites? Is VAR getting worse?

With this season's Champions League quarterfinalists now set, our writers answer some of the big questions arising from the round of 16 second legs.With this season's Champions League quarterfinalists now set, our writers answer some of the big questions arising from the round of 16 second legs.    8:00 AM ET This season's Champions League round of 16 is done and dusted with some European heavyweights falling by the wayside like Liverpool, who have reached three finals in the last five years, and a Paris Saint-Germain side featuring Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi. Friday's quarterfinal draw will feature plenty of European heavyweights such as defending champions Real Madrid and recent winners Chelsea and Bayern Munich. Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City are also in the hat along with Portuguese side Benfica, while Serie A has three clubs in the last eight: AC Milan, Inter Milan and Napoli. Our writers Mark Ogden, Julien Laurens and James Olley answer some of the big questions arising from this round of games. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

What caught your eye from the round-of-16 second legs?

Ogden: The poor standard of refereeing, and VAR, has really stood out during the round of 16, and it is even more noticeable because the Champions League generally operates to a much higher level than the domestic leagues in Europe. Two English teams, Chelsea and Manchester City, have been the biggest beneficiaries of some bewildering decisions, with German sides Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig on the wrong end of them. Chelsea were fortunate to be awarded a penalty during their 2-0 second-leg win against Dortmund when defender Marius Wolf was judged to have handled the ball. Referee Danny Makkelie didn't point to the spot until the VAR suggested a review on the pitchside monitor. Wolf was so close to the ball that he couldn't move out of the way, but Makkelie awarded the penalty when he should have dismissed the VAR review. Leipzig suffered an even heavier blow during their 7-0 defeat at City. VAR once again intervened in a penalty incident, calling on referee Slavko Vincic to review an apparent handball by Benjamin Henrichs. The reality was that Henrichs had his back to Rodri, whose header brushed his arm and fell to a City player without deviating in movement. It was incredibly soft, but once the penalty was awarded, Erling Haaland put City 1-0 ahead. Moments later, Timo Werner was booked, despite being on the receiving end of a foul by Ederson which could have resulted in a red card for the City goalkeeper. Yet VAR did not intervene. Two huge decisions which, had they gone Leipzig's way, could have resulted in a much different outcome. VAR and the referees have to be better in the quarterfinals and beyond.

Editor's Picks

2 Related Laurens: It is probably the most obvious answer (and, I promise, I tried to find something else to be more original) but nothing can beat Haaland's quintuple against RB Leipzig. He might have got six goals had he stayed longer on the pitch, but Pep Guardiola took him off after 63 minutes. The Manchester City striker became only the third man in Champions League history to score five goals in the same game, after Messi and Luiz Adriano, and by becoming the youngest-ever player to reach 30 Champions League goals. For his club, he is now the top scorer in a single season with 39 goals, beating the old record of Tommy Johnson from 1929. Haaland still has as many as 19 more games to play before the end of the season. It is still an amazing achievement; Haaland had eight shots on the night, all on target, scored five goals with an xG (Expected Goals) of less than three. He was so aggressive in the box, so alert, so on it. He looked possessed at times. It was just incredible. Olley: If Graham Potter makes a success of his time at Chelsea, he may well look back on their second leg win over Dortmund as the turning point. Managers often talk about uniting the fans and making their home stadium a difficult place for visiting teams, but in Potter's case he did so in the knowledge this game served as something of a referendum on his management. An unconvincing win over Leeds United a few days earlier had at created a modicum of momentum heading into the game but, make no mistake, defeat against Dortmund would have ramped up the pressure on Potter. Dortmund were depleted -- Karim Adeyemi, Youssoufa Moukoko and goalkeeper Gregor Kobel all missed out injured while Julian Brandt was forced off after just five minutes -- but Chelsea produced a committed and defiant display, overcoming their goal-scoring problems to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit with a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge. The players showed they were behind Potter and although it will be some time before the majority of the fans are convinced the former Brighton & Hove Albion boss is the right man to lead them back to former glories, this win buys him time with a Champions League quarterfinal as proof of progress. They surely aren't good enough to lift the trophy in Istanbul, but, then again, most people felt that way before they won in 2012 and 2021... play1:09 Pep's idols: Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods ... and Julia Roberts? Pep Guardiola reveals his biggest failure at Manchester City was when his idol Julia Roberts went to visit Manchester United instead of his club.

Now the quarterfinalists are all set; which team is your favourite to lift the trophy in Istanbul?

Laurens: Pep Guardiola can be as sarcastic as he wants about the Champions League and what a failure he is and will always be, even if he wins the competition for the next three years. He can talk about Julia Roberts, Richard Gere or any Hollywood actor as much as he wants. His team are once again the big favourites of this Champions League, and not winning it would be a failure -- again. City have everything, really: the manager, the squad depth, the superstars, the clutch players, the winning mentality, the experience of going far and the motivation of not yet winning it. They should have won it already and they will surely eventually do so. This year is their year. The rest of the field is not at their level, not even Bayern Munich, Napoli or Real Madrid. Time is running out for Kevin De Bruyne, who turns 32 in June. Riyad Mahrez and Kyle Walker are already at that age, while Ikay Gundogan is out of contract this summer. Bernardo Silva could be leaving at the end of the season, too, a year after pushing for a departure. The most important thing is that surely Pep and City have learned from their past mistakes in the Champions League: the 2021 final loss, the semifinal of last season and all the previous quarterfinal disappointments. If they can do that, they will finally be ready to achieve their ultimate aim. play2:29 How good has Victor Osimhen been? Steve Nicol, Craig Burley and Alejandro Moreno offer high praise for the Victor Osimhen after Napoli advance to the next round in the Champions League. Ogden: This may be a case of heart overruling head, but Napoli have been the most exciting team in this season's Champions League and it would be great for the game if Luciano Spalletti can take the club all the way to glory in Istanbul. They certainly have the players, and it's not just about top scorer Victor Osimhen. Kim Min-Jae, Piotr Zielinski, Hirving "Chucky" Lozano and Giovanni Simeone have all had outstanding seasons, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has arguably been the breakthrough star of the 2022-23 Champions League. The big challenge for Napoli, who are nailed on to win Serie A this season for the first time since 1990, is to hold their nerve and play their own game against a European superpower such as Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. If they stick to what has served them so well, Napoli can beat anybody, but the top clubs usually find a way to win the Champions League. We haven't seen a surprise team win the competition since Jose Mourinho's FC Porto in 2004, so maybe this is Napoli's time. Olley: It should, in all probability, be Manchester City but I can't say that a team clearly stands out from the rest at this stage. Mark makes a compelling case for Napoli -- and an 18-point lead at the top of Serie A gives them the chance to do what other clubs can't, which is rest players in the league to keep everyone fully fresh for the latter stages of the Champions League. City have been knocking on the door for years but, even though they thrashed Leipzig in midweek, they have not been anything like their fluid best for much of the season. The jury is out as to whether this Bayern Munich is as strong as previous incarnations -- although we must all take note when club legend Lothar Matthaus says this group may be their best-ever squad. And then we come to the team that mask their own weaknesses and exploit others better than anyone else: Real Madrid. With little conviction, given Napoli's form, City's individuals and Bayern's pedigree, perhaps Real's knowhow can help Carlo Ancelotti trump his rivals once more. play2:35 Nicol: Only thing for Liverpool is they didn't get embarrassed Steve Nicol, Craig Burley and Alejandro Moreno react to Real Madrid beating Liverpool 6-2 on aggregate to advance in the Champions League.

After Haaland's five-goal haul, what's the most impressive individual performance you've seen live in the Champions League?

Olley: Messi scoring all four as Barcelona beat Arsenal 4-1 at Camp Nou in April 2010. Maybe the Gunners made the mistake of taking the lead. At that stage, Arsenal led this quarterfinal tie 4-2 on aggregate but what came next was a true force of nature. Messi took it upon himself to deliver the kind of virtuoso performance that epitomises his glittering career. The first goal was a fierce drive as the ball fell to him on the edge of the box, the second a close-range finish lifted over Manuel Almunia. His hat-trick goal was sublime; sent racing clear, he scooped a left-footed shot over the onrushing Almunia with embarrassing ease, prompting that worshipping celebration from an awe-struck Barcelona crowd. The fourth came with a drop of the shoulder, panicking defenders contorting themselves in ever more desperate shapes, and a shot saved by Almunia but drilled through his legs on the rebound. This was a high-pressure occasion but here was a 22-year-old making the game look so breathtakingly, devastatingly simple. Perhaps Wenger put it best: "He made the impossible possible." The image that lingers in my mind came just after the final whistle. Messi was given the match ball and as Arsenal's players looked crestfallen, Barca supporters stood in disbelief, the little magician at the centre of it all simply spun the ball in his hand wearing a beaming smile, so fresh-faced he looked ready immediately to do it all over again.

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The beautiful game lives here. Stream top leagues, tournaments and teams.Sign up for ESPN+ SATURDAY, MARCH 18 (all times ET)o Almeria vs. Cadiz (9 a.m.)o Augsburg vs. Schalke 04 (10 a.m.)o Middlesbrough vs. Preston NE (11 a.m.)o Borussia Dortmund vs. K?ln (1 p.m.)o Man City vs. Burnley (2 p.m.)o Atletico Madrid vs. Valencia (4 p.m.)o Miami FC vs. New Mexico Utd (7 p.m.)o Sacramento Republic vs. Charleston Battery (7 p.m.) SUNDAY, MARCH 19 (all times ET)o Sheffield Utd vs. Blackburn (9 a.m.)o Ajax vs. Feyenoord (9 a.m.)o Brighton vs. Grimsby Town (10 a.m.)o Real Sociedad vs. Elche (11 a.m.)o Man United vs. Fulham (12 p.m.)o Leverkusen vs. Bayern Munich (12 p.m.)o Barcelona vs. Real Madrid (4 p.m.) Ogden: I was at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2017 when Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat trick to give Real Madrid a 3-0 semifinal first-leg win against Atletico Madrid, but it was about more than merely scoring three goals, which he has achieved an incredible 62 times so far in his career. It may seem unlikely now, six years on, but at the time the game was billed as a clash between Ronaldo and Atleti's rising star Antoine Griezmann, who was enjoying an outstanding season for Diego Simeone's team. There was genuine belief that Atleti could avenge the Champions League final defeats of 2014 and 2016 against their city rivals, with the France forward inspiring them to the final and outshining Ronaldo in the process. But Ronaldo was having none of that. It seemed as though he was given extra motivation to prove he was still the king of Madrid and he dominated the game. He also recorded two landmarks by netting his 50th goal in the Champions League knockout stages and equalling Messi's record of seven hat tricks in the competition. Laurens: I could pick any moment from Karim Benzema in the knockout phase last season; I was there for all of it. I had never witnessed anything like it before. He scored 10 goals in the six games that he and Real Madrid played on their way to the final at the Stade de France. Read the full article

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Revived Chelsea beat Leicester City

Chelsea's mini-revival continued with a third victory in a row as they consigned struggling Leicester City to a fifth consecutive defeat. Buoyed by their Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea started brightly and Ben Chilwell volleyed in from a tight angle against his old club. Chelsea's Joao Felix and Leicester's Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall hit the woodwork in the space of two minutes, then Felix had a goal ruled out by the video assistant referee for offside. Patson Daka rifled home an excellent equaliser after Ricardo Pereira won the ball off the dawdling Felix outside the box. But Kai Havertz pounced six minutes into first-half injury time with an excellent dinked finish from Enzo Fernandez's clever aerial ball. Mykhailo Mudryk thought he had his first goal for the Blues after the break but his effort was disallowed for offside. Mateo Kovacic sealed the win as he volleyed in from Mudryk's header. The sliding Foxes, who ended with 10 men following Wout Faes' late dismissal for a second booking, now just sit one point outside the relegation zone. Read the full article

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Euro round-up: Atletico Madrid hold Real Madrid as Borussia Dortmund top Bundesliga; Napoli win again in Serie A | Football News

Ten-man Atletico Madrid dealt a blow to Real Madrid’s LaLiga title hopes as they held the defending champions to a 1-1 draw at their Santiago Bernabeu stadium. After substitute Angel Correa had received a straight red card in the 64th minute for an elbow to the chest of defender Antonio Rudiger, Jose Maria Gimenez gave Atletico the lead when he netted a header from an Antoine Griezmann free-kick…

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Sebastien Haller: Borussia Dortmund striker scores first goal after return from cancer treatment

CNN  —  It was a straightforward header from close range that put Borussia Dortmund 3-1 ahead in the second half of its league game Saturday, but the simplicity of the goal should not mask its significance. Sébastien Haller’s goal was his first since returning to play three weeks ago, having needed to take time off from the sport to undergo treatment for testicular cancer. He happened to score…