Champions League | Round of 16 | Review | Part 2 | 2nd leg

Finally Champions League Round of 16 has ended, and we are now left with just 8 teams. Barcelona, Bayern, Roma and surprisingly but deservingly Sevilla have progressed to the quarterfinals. This week of Champions League saw a fighting Roma progress, a ruthless Bayern progress, a clinical Barcelona progress and a passionate Sevilla progress to the quarter finals. This weeks Champions League match were a bit more tensed as out of the 4 games only Bayern's match was a formality. It was an eventful week and now no one can wait any longer for the quarter finals draw.

Here are the talking points and review from this weeks Champions League Round of 16 

5) Roma grind out the result to progress

Roma went into this game with an away goal, having lost to Shakhtar 2-1. They just needed a goal to progress to the quarterfinals, and the did that exactly. Roma broke the deadlock at the 52nd minute thanks to Edin Dzeko and that was it. Ivan Ordets got a red card in the 79th minute and that was pretty much the tie ended. Roma was far more threatening without the ball and worked on counter attack. Shakhtar for all the possession they had, never looked like scoring and threatening to Roma. Roma worked hard without the ball and did super defending to win this match and the tie. They might not be a very strong team, but reaching the quarter final of Champions League will make the whole team proud and happy.

4) Ruthless Bayern and Jupp Heynckes 

Bayern went to Besiktas after winning 5-0 at home. They defeated them 3-1 and 8-1 on aggregate. The difference between Jupp Heynckes and other managers is that he likes to make statements. They were already looking to get through after the 5-0 win, but they did more damage to make a statement. Bayern went into this match with full strength and defeated Besiktas 3-1. City and Liverpool also had heavy victories in the first leg and decided to play safe and qualify to the next round comfortably while Bayern decided to play with a full strength squad and demolish Besiktas. Yes they might be 20 points ahead of the second place team in Bundesliga and do not necessarily need to rest players, but that can also be said for Manchester City. City went into their home game by giving rest to many first team players. That has been the difference between teams in this competition and Bayern. Bayern want to send a message to every team which are going to the quarter final that they don't care who they play.This kind of ruthless approach can only be seen by Jupp's Bayern. Any team being drawn against them will feel nervous. 

3) Sevilla's fairytale continues

When the quarter final draw were made and Manchester United were drawn against Sevilla, it was expected that United will qualify. What transpired over 180 minutes was a determined Sevilla team against a kind of boring and uninterested looking Manchester United. Sevilla were unlucky not to win in the first leg at home due to David de Gea's saves. Questions were raised after the first leg about Manchester United's approach. Still people thought that Jose Mourinho wants to win at Old Trafford and progress to the next round. After a great performance against liverpool in the Premier League this match was expected to be a cakewalk for Manchester United but Jose Mourinho got all of his tactics wrong. He decided to play with Matic and Fellaini and bench Paul Pogba. One of his most crucial mistake was to play Marcus Rashford as a right winger. Ben Yedder's two goals the 74th and the 78th minute defeated United at Old Trafford. Romelu Lukaku got one back for the team but it was too little too late. 

Taking no credit away from Sevilla, as over 180 minutes they were the better team and deservedly booked their place in the quarter finals of the Champions League. Manchester United for all the money that we have spend did not play like a big club in this fixture. 

Mourinho decided to give respect to Sevilla and that cost Manchester United the tie. The players are also to be blamed as they looked 11 strangers playing a match without any clear ideas. Sevilla reaches the quarter final after 60 years and the fairy tail continue. They might be the weakest team in the competition at this moment, but they can have absolute pride about their performance in this competition this season. Every other team will be hoping to draw Sevilla in the quarter finals, but football is a funny game and who knows Sevilla might end up getting through the semifinals as well.

2) Chelsea lost after a valiant battle to Barcelona

Chelsea vs Barcelona was this week's main match in the Champions League. Chelsea went to the Nou Camp with 1-1 draw in the 1st leg. Chances of Chelsea qualifying were slim,as defeating Barcelona at their backyard is not an easy task. Due to individual mistakes Chelsea lost this match 3-0. Messi scored a goal in the second minute of the match to give Barcelona a lead of 2-1 in this tie. After that it was always going to be a Barcelona victory and only a miracle would have saved Chelsea. A goal in the 20th minute by Dembele nearly ended the tie, but Chelsea tried to attack. Conte's tactic weren't wrong as they hit the post twice in this match. 

Chelsea can only have themselves to blame as four different defensive errors costed them this tie. Sometimes luck also plays a role in a match and Chelsea were not having that luck.The fact from this match is this Barcelona team is a different animal altogether. They have a strong defence and can nearly wipe out any opposition on the counter. At the start of the season they might have not been the favourites to win this competition but with the approach of their manager they are surely currently one of the favourite to win the competition and can challenge any team to win it. Even after 3-0 scoreline this match was quite entertaining and as a neutral  that is all we can hope for.

1) Lionel Messi stole the show

Lionel Messi stole this week. He was inspiring and at his best against Chelsea. He has always had trouble scoring against Chelsea but scored 3 goals in both the leg and assisted one. He opened the scoring in the second minute from a very acute angle. Courtois was at fault but it was a good goal. Messi was again at it as he ran across Chelsea's defenders with full pace and saw a pass that not many will see. That pass was then converted by Dembele in the 20th minute. Barcelona led the match 2-0 and 3-1 on aggregate within the first 20 minutes. Azpilicueta gave a pass away to Messi who again buried it in the 63rd minute to get the scoreline 3-0. Barcelona had scored 4 goals in this tie, 3 were scored by Messi and one was assisted by Messi. This was totally a Messi show. 

He is currently having a frightening form, and looks like he can defeat any team single handedly. He is currently playing at another level and that is a worry to any team who will face Barcelona in the quarter finals. His link up play with Dembele is also improving and an every improving defence of Barcelona makes them the absolute favourite to defeat any team at this moment. Main man still remains Messi and with this kind of a form it will be hard to argue that Barcelona can't defeat any team.

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