Champions League News: Roma Miracle, Man City Destroyed by Bryant C., 803

Champions League News: Roma Miracle, Man City Destroyed

On April 4th, the first leg of the quarter-final of the UEFA Champions League, FC Barcelona demolished AS Roma 4-1, with two own goals from Roma, from striker Luis Suarez, and from center back Gerard Pique. Barca was one foot into the semi-final spots. However, one week later, AS Roma recovered from the 3 goal deficit to earn a spot in the semi finals, knocking Barcelona out of the UCL. A goal from Edin Dzeko in the 6th minute opened the scoring for the Giallorossi, and a penalty from Daniele de Rossi in the 58th minute continued to pave way for Roma. An 82th minute header from defender Kostas Manolas was enough to seal the game, with Roma winning due to an away goal scored in the first leg of the quarter-final game. This was history for Roma, as the last time they were in the semi finals of the Champions League was the season of 1983-84.

Meanwhile, in the other match of the quarter finals, Liverpool humiliated Manchester City, with an early goal in the 12th minute from Mohamed Salah, a long range goal from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the 20th minute, and a 31st minute goal from Sadio Mane was enough to seal the game. In the second leg of the match, an early goal from Gabriel Jesus in the 2nd minute gave hope to Man City fans, but all was gone when Mohamed Salah scored a goal in the 56th minute of the match, and a late Roberto Firmino goal in the 77th minute completed the match. Liverpool advanced to the semi finals, winning 5-1 on aggregate.

Real Madrid looked like they were already in the semi finals, when they won the first leg against Juventus 3-0, with a Cristiano Ronaldo goal in the 3rd minute, and an insane bicycle kick goal in the 64th minute, and Marcelo finished the game with a goal in the 72nd minute. To add insult to injury, attacker Paulo Dybala was sent off in the 66th minute for a dangerous kick to right back Daniel Carvajal. However, Juventus did not give up easily, and in the second leg of the match, a early header from winger Mario Mandzukic in the 2nd minute, another goal from Mandzukic in the 37th minute, and a goal from Blaise Matuidi in the 60th minute, was enough to tie the game, until the 92nd minute, when a challenge from defender Medhi Benatia on winger Lucas Vasquez gave Real Madrid a penalty. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon received his first red card in his career due to protesting about the referee’s decision on the penalty.
Striker Gonzalo Higuian was subbed off for goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. With a chance to win the game, Ronaldo took the penalty, and scored past Szczesny to win the game for Real Madrid and earn a spot in the semi finals.

In the less dramatic match between Bayern Munich and Sevilla, Bayern Munich advanced to the semi finals, by winning the first leg 2-1, and drawing the second leg 0-0.

On Friday, the UCL semi final draws were announced, with Bayern Munich facing Real Madrid, and AS Roma facing Liverpool.