Tuesday night’s Champions League last 16 second leg ties saw Manchester City and Juventus both progress to the last eight of Europe’s elite competition. Here is the story of what happened in those clashes:
City hit Schalke for seven at the Etihad
Manchester City recorded a 7-0 victory over German team Schalke at the Etihad Stadium to progress to the last eight with a 10-2 aggregate victory.
The home side should have taken the lead on 14 minutes, as Raheem Sterling to Sergio Aguero through on goal, only for the Argentinian forward to clip the post with his effort.
However, the Citizens took the lead on 35 minutes and it opened the floodgates. Jeffrey Bruma fouled Bernardo Silva in the penalty area and Aguero rather cheekily chipped home the resulting penalty kick. Three minutes later the striker added his second goal from a Sterling cross.
Just before half-time former-Schalke star, Leroy Sane added a fourth after good play by Oleksandr Zinchenko. Sane saw a second goal ruled out by VAR early in the second period, but turned provider for Sterling on 56 minutes, as the England international produced a fierce first-time finish. Sane was also involved in the fifth goal on 71 minutes, pulling the ball back to Bernardo Silva, who made no mistake with the finish.
Substitute Phil Foden added the sixth on 78 minutes, latching on to Sane’s pass before rounding Ralf Fahrmann and tapping into an empty net. The goal made the youngster City’s youngest ever Champions League goalscorer. Gabriel Jesus completed the rout with six minutes left on the clock, scoring at the near post.
Schalke were truly woeful at the Etihad Stadium. However, City produced the sort of scintillating display that they have become famous for under Pep Guardiola. The Citizens remain one of the favourites to lift the Champions League trophy this season.
Ronaldo hat-trick bails out Juventus
Cristiano Ronaldo fired home a hat-trick for Juventus at the Allianz Stadium, as the Bianconeri recorded a 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid. The victory meant the team from Turin progressed to the quarter-finals of the competition 3-2 on aggregate.
Juventus thought they had taken the lead after just four minutes through Giorgio Chiellini. However, the goal was disallowed on VAR review after it was ruled that Ronaldo had kicked the ball out of Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak’s hands.
The Bianconeri did score a legitimate goal on 27 minutes that put them right back in the tie. Federico Bernadeschi beast his full-back and Ronaldo headed home at the far post to half Atletico’s aggregate lead.
Ronaldo missed a good chance before half-time. However, the former Real Madrid star redeemed himself early in the second period. The Portuguese star latched onto a cross from Joao Cancelo and his effort crossed the line, despite the best efforts of Oblak in the visitor’s goal.
The tie looked to be heading into extra-time until four minutes from the end when substitute Angel Correa pushed Bernadeschi in the area and the referee had no hesitation in giving the spot-kick.
Ronaldo so often the man for the big moment stepped up and scored his 25th goal against Atletico in 32 appearances. The goal sealed the victory, with Atletico unable to muster the away goal would have taken them through to the quarter-finals.
Who has the better chance of winning the Champions League, Manchester City or Juventus?
