All to play for: Best of the round of 16 first legs
Friday, February 27, 2015
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We review the standout moments and performances from the first legs, with Arsenal FC stunned, Luis Suárez stunning and defenders making a mark at both ends.
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The UEFA Champions League round of 16 first legs produced some stunning results, memorable goals and unlikely stars. UEFA.com picks the best of the action with commentary highlights from our radio show Matchday Live.
Team: AS Monaco FC
Monaco, ending a near decade-long competition absence, managed only one away goal in topping Group C but trebled that total on Wednesday in winning 3-1 at Arsenal FC. Geoffrey Kondogbia and Dimitar Berbatov made it 2-0 and after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pulled one back late on, Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco restored Monaco's two-goal advantage.
"Football is an art," declared Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim, but it is mathematical science that may concern Arsenal. No team have overturned more than a one-goal first-leg deficit away from home in the UEFA Champions League, and the Gunners need to score three times on 17 March against a side who have conceded just twice in the tournament this season.
Player: Luis Suárez (FC Barcelona)
Suárez never found the net away to Manchester City FC during his time at Liverpool FC, but he put that right on Tuesday, striking twice in the first half-hour to set up a 2-1 away success for Barcelona.
Having received an, erm, playful reception from the City faithful, the Blaugrana forward told UEFA.com: "There are players like me that get even more motivated when the fans boo them." Fresh from that interview our match reporter Simon Hart went on to write: "They were two wonderfully clinical finishes and the message from the Uruguayan international afterwards recalled Dr David Banner's 'don't make me angry' warning in The Incredible Hulk."
Quote: "We missed chances and were a bit suicidal defensively"
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger posits two reasons for defeat by his former club Monaco.
Moment: Marcelo (Real Madrid CF)
Going back to last week's ties and holders Madrid secured a record-equalling tenth straight UEFA Champions League victory, Cristiano Ronaldo's header setting them on their way to a 2-0 triumph at FC Schalke 04. But the real highlight was the second goal, left-back Marcelo brilliantly curling the ball high beyond home keeper Timon Wellenreuther – with his right foot, mind you. Gareth Bale called it "an amazing goal".
Number: 7 (Branislav Ivanović)
Marcelo was not the only defender on scoring form last week. A day earlier Chelsea FC drew 1-1 at Paris Saint-Germain and they led at half-time through Ivanović, the goal set up by centre-backs John Terry and, with a neat flick, Gary Cahill. "Branislav Ivanović seems to choose his moments," said José Mourinho and Chelsea's hero of the 2013 UEFA Europa League final now has seven UEFA Champions League strikes since 2009, more than any other defender.
Ivanović promptly got another goal at the weekend against Burnley FC, his fourth in the last six outings, but he was not forthcoming when our reporter in Paris, Chris Burke, asked him for his secret. "If I say that," the right-back pointed out, "it won't be a secret."
Repayment instalment: Karim Bellarabi (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
Last Friday, winger Bellarabi agreed a three-year contract extension until 2020 with Leverkusen and the player who began the season with the fastest-ever Bundesliga goal was superb in Wednesday's 1-0 defeat of Club Atlético de Madrid. Notably it was Bellarabi's nonchalant back-heel into the path of Hakan Çalhanoğlu that teed up the winner, and Leverkusen are in good shape to finally get through a knockout round of 16 tie at the fourth attempt.
Photo: Borussia Dortmund put to work
Goal: YOUR CHOICE!
Ivanović, Marcelo, Suárez, Çalhanoğlu or Oxlade-Chamberlain: it's your pick in our Goal of the Week poll ...