Haaland falls quick towards Madrid once more

The night time had began nicely for Erling Haaland. The Norwegian was the recipient of the Champions League golden boot having scored 12 instances en path to lifting the trophy final season. It was a peculiar time to be amassing the award, coming earlier than being well-marshalled by each Nacho and Antonio Rudiger.

Regardless of mustering simply 21 touches, the expectation was that he would emerge for additional time. There had been one second throughout the first half when he accelerated away from Nacho to remind onlookers that he’s much more than only a finisher to herald Jack Grealish.

Haaland would have 5 makes an attempt of his personal, amassing an xG of 0.68 – larger than any team-mate. He would hit the crossbar and ship one other header over. And but, the Etihad was surprised to see his quantity go up as Julian Alvarez was launched.

Earlier within the contest, Pep Guardiola had changed Grealish with Jeremy Doku in a transfer which paid off handsomely. However changing Haaland? Even with the opportunity of penalties half an hour away, it appeared an odd choice.

And so it emerged, with Guardiola confirming that the striker had requested to get replaced. Haaland’s ultimate act got here with the final contact of regular time as he could not direct one other header on track. Thereafter, Metropolis ran out of concepts with the low street proving simpler for the Madrid defence to navigate.

“You all the time do every thing to try to keep away from going to penalties, that is what they wished, nevertheless it’s tough to take,” Ruben Dias stated afterwards. Metropolis’s designated taker watched on powerless from the sidelines.

Having failed to attain on the Santiago Bernabeu – and throughout the Champions League semi-final towards Actual final season – these lingering doubts over Haaland’s affect on the most important stage will develop.
Ben Grounds

Madrid in some way discover a approach to win

Manchester Metropolis had 67 per cent of the ball and 33 photographs however nonetheless it didn’t show to be sufficient to remove Actual Madrid, the staff Pep Guardiola calls the kings of Europe. In some way, Carlo Ancelotti’s staff discovered a approach to progress – on penalties.

“I do not decide the concepts of Carlo and the way they determined to play,” stated Pep Guardiola afterwards. It was definitely uncommon to see the 14-time champions of Europe defending their penalty field for 2 hours however what was putting was how good they have been at it.

Actual Madrid common 59.4 per cent of the possession in La Liga however this was not the day job. Dealing with Metropolis demanded a unique method. “They defended deeper than earlier seasons,” stated Guardiola. Their focus was outstanding, each motion was tracked.

Dani Carvajal was run ragged by Grealish after which Doku however he was nonetheless vastly spectacular. Nacho got here in for the suspended Aurelien Tchouameni and was very good. Antonio Rudiger erred for the equaliser however was in any other case magnificent and had the ultimate say.

When it went to penalties, the response to Luka Modric seeing the primary Madrid kick saved was noticeable – the remainder of the group rallying him. It was as if nothing, from Metropolis’s dominance to falling behind within the shoot-out, would shake their perception.

Finally, they’d their reward. It was not a swaggering show match for a king, however the resolve needed to be admired. “To win towards Actual Madrid, we now have to be at our greatest,” stated Guardiola. “We have been at our greatest nevertheless it was not fairly sufficient.” Madrid discovered a approach.
Adam Bate

Simply the beginning for Arsenal within the Champions League

One other likelihood of silverware slipped from Arsenal’s grasp in Munich.

It was one other disappointing night time for the Gunners following their defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday, which handed Man Metropolis the initiative within the Premier League title race.

Nevertheless, whereas Sunday’s outcome left the Emirates Stadium flat and deflated as hopes of successful a primary Premier League title since 2003/04 endure a setback, defeat in Europe generally is a essential a part of the constructing and studying course of for Mikel Arteta’s younger aspect as they appear to change into an actual pressure within the Champions League.

“Now we have to undergo the ache,” Arteta stated after the 1-0 defeat on the Allianz Area, which noticed the Gunners crash out of the match 3-2 on combination. “The membership has been with out Champions League soccer for seven years and also you wish to play within the first yr and be within the semi-finals or the ultimate. All of us wished that so badly, however you’ll be able to see in lots of different golf equipment it takes them generally six or seven years to get to that stage. However we have been very shut, that is the truth.”

Manchester Metropolis did not make it out of the group stage of their two appearances within the Champions League. They reached one semi-final of their first eight goes at it. They reached the ultimate of their Tenth crack at it and solely lifted the trophy on the thirteenth try.

The purpose is it takes time and there is not any disgrace in a quarter-final exit by the hands of Bayern Munich, who reached a 14th semi-final within the competitors.

Arsenal’s lack of expertise confirmed on this tie as they handed the initiative to Bayern at a vital time within the first leg once they have been dominant. They switched off for a break up second within the second and so they have been punished. Arteta stated it himself: “There was zero margin.”

However simply as sides have gone by way of it earlier than them in Europe’s premier membership competitors, this younger Arsenal aspect will study from this. Arteta will study from this, and the problem is to maintain constructing, maintain enhancing and happening the trajectory they’ve been, and are available again stronger for one more crack subsequent season.
Oliver Yew

Dier – not Kane – helps Bayern see off Arsenal

A lot – if not all – of the pre-match build-up to the Bayern vs Arsenal tie targeted on Harry Kane. Tottenham’s former captain, prime scorer and icon taking over the previous foe for his new membership the place a league title has slipped from their grasp to the hilarity of some.

He fulfilled the prophecy on the Emirates – even suggesting Spurs followers will need Arsenal to win for the sake of the Champions League coefficient – however was nameless within the second leg on Wednesday.

In reality, it was one other former Tottenham participant in Eric Dier who had the most important say in Arsenal’s exit.

It was a congested, tight battle within the midfield, and Dier was efficient there in addition to in his defensive position. He was prime in Bayern’s staff for tackles (4), interceptions (3) and whole passes (76, with 93.4 per cent accuracy).

Dier additionally got here beneath the highlight pre-match for his feedback on Ange Postecoglu, however confirmed confidence and big-game maturity for Bayern Munich.

Together with Kane, the pair now face the problem of Actual Madrid within the semi-finals. Extra of the identical from Dier and consistency from Kane may assist Bayern one other Champions League ultimate at Wembley.
Charlotte Marsh

Dembele relishes position as scourge of Barcelona

Barcelona ran out on the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys armed with a 3-2 triumph from their first assembly in Paris and when Raphinha capitalised on Lamine Yamal’s skilful method work to fireplace within the opener, they’d sight of the final 4.

However that every one modified within the twenty ninth minute when defender Ronald Araujo was despatched off for tripping winger Bradley Barcola on the sting of the world, VAR confirming the on-field choice for a pink card.

PSG did not look again. The strain constructed on the house objective and Barcelona self-imploded. Joao Cancelo, culpable for Ousmane Dembele’s objective earlier than the break, then introduced down the identical participant contained in the field as Kylian Mbappe accomplished a powerful turnaround.

Xavi had hoped his Barcelona farewell would finish with silverware at Wembley following a 13-game unbeaten run since he confirmed his summer season departure again in January. However right here he was dismissed for kicking pitchside water bottles as hopes of a fairytale ending went down the drain.

For Dembele, jeered all through by the house supporters, this was the type of efficiency which made him Barcelona’s second-most costly signing when he joined for £135m in 2017.

When the 26-year-old moved to PSG final summer season, he was earmarked as Mbappe’s alternative, however he’s solely simply beginning to replicate the attacking output required to be talked about in the identical breath because the participant who, with 48 objectives, has equalled Zlatan Ibrahimovic because the Tenth-highest scorer in Champions League historical past.

For now, PSG are more than pleased to have them each looking for their Holy Grail.
Ben Grounds

Xavi blows lid however Barcelona have themselves responsible

Xavi Hernandez berated the referee and stated his efficiency price Barcelona an opportunity to combat for a spot within the Champions League semi-finals – however there was little in the best way of injustice to the Catalans’ elimination.

Barcelona have been in management once they have been diminished to 10 simply earlier than the half-hour after final man Araujo was proven a pink card for a foul on Bradley Barcola.

Xavi complained bitterly to referee Istvan Kovacs. “I instructed him his efficiency was a catastrophe.” A frank admission, however Barcelona have been incapable of managing the sport.

Joao Cancelo, who was deemed surplus to necessities by Pep Guardiola at Manchester Metropolis, demonstrated why he’s higher at going ahead than defending in two moments which price Barcelona the tie.

First, he fell asleep on the far put up to permit Dembele to cut back the deficit earlier than he then fouled the identical participant within the 61st minute with a sliding sort out to concede a penalty that Kylian Mbappe fired into the highest nook to maneuver the guests in entrance within the tie.

Barcelona’s exit from the Champions League despatched Atletico Madrid to the inaugural 32-team Membership World Cup in the USA subsequent yr as Spain’s second consultant. All-in-all, a bleak night time for the Blaugrana.
Ben Grounds

Sabitzer reminds Man Utd of what would possibly of been

Marcel Sabitzer confirmed glimpses of his apparent expertise throughout final season’s six-month mortgage keep at Man Utd, albeit not sufficient to persuade supervisor Erik ten Hag to show his short-term keep at Outdated Trafford right into a everlasting transfer final summer season.

Nevertheless, given the Austria worldwide’s spectacular show to assist his aspect edge by way of to the Champions League semi-finals after a 5-4 combination win over Atletico Madrid, possibly United and Ten Hag erred in that call.

The 30-year-old joined Borussia Dortmund as an alternative in July and has thus far contributed six objectives and eight assists in 34 video games in whole, together with two assists and a objective to assist see off Atleti in a rousing quarter-final on Tuesday.

And simply when his aspect wanted him, Sabitzer first produced a beautiful cross from the left flank which Niclas Fullkrug headed house, earlier than scoring the winner minutes later with a attribute long-range strike.
Richard Morgan

Defence proves Atleti’s Achilles heel for as soon as

When Angel Correa thumped Atleico 4-3 forward on combination with simply 25 minutes left to play on the Westfalenstadion, this pulsating last-eight tie appeared to have taken its ultimate twist.

Nevertheless, there was all the time this nagging feeling that this Atleti aspect didn’t have the same old DNA of most Diego Simeone groups in that they’d appeared defensively weak all through the 2 ties.

And because it proved as again roared Dortmund to attain twice themselves in fast time and the post-match stats stated all of it because the guests conceded 4 or extra objectives in a Champions League knockout stage recreation for simply the second time, whereas additionally they gave up 5 photographs on track within the first half of a Champions League knockout stage match for the primary time since Might 2017.

Finally, that was to show decisive as Simeone’s males simply couldn’t maintain on for one more semi-final look.
Richard Morgan

Advert content material | Stream Sky Sports activities on NOW

Stream Sky Sports activities stay with no contract on a Month or Day membership on NOW. Immediate entry to stay motion from the Premier League, EFL, F1, England Cricket and a lot extra.

Get Sky Sports activities on WhatsApp!

Now you can begin receiving messages and alerts for the most recent breaking sports activities information, evaluation, in-depth options and movies from our devoted WhatsApp channel!