After a two-month sabbatical, the Champions League resumed this week and did not disappoint, with favorites making their moves and some of the world’s top players going head-to-head.
In total, ten goals were scored, with Manchester City scoring half of them in Lisbon against Sporting, and Paris Saint-Germain edging Real Madrid in the best of the last-16 first leg matches.
Liverpool and Bayern Munich, two of Europe’s biggest clubs, have also put themselves in pole position to reach the quarter-finals, despite the usual VAR snafus and rule changes.
Kylian Mbappe dominated the build-up to the best of the Champions League last-16 ties this week, as his current club Paris Saint-Germain met Real Madrid, who appear to be on the verge of signing him on a free transfer this summer.
However, when PSG, who had dominated the game up to that point, were granted a penalty on 62 minutes, it appeared as though Lionel Messi would steal the show, as he has so frequently in his illustrious career. However, the 34-year-old fluffed his lines and telegraphed his effort, allowing Thibaut Courtois to comfortably save to his left.
It felt like a turning of the guard when Mbappe, who had been a threat throughout with his scorching pace and direct running, gave PSG the win they deserved with a magnificent solo goal in the final minute of added time.
In truth, loyal PSG viewers have seen this all season – Messi fading and being eclipsed by Mbappe – but seeing it on the grandest stage was proof.