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Valerio Pennicino – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
It’s hard to imagine a better week of Champions League football than we just witnessed.
After Tuesday’s pair of scintillating draws, Barcelona beat PSG in Paris, 3-2, while Atlético Madrid held on for a 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund.
Neither match lacked for drama. Let’s break down the winners and losers from both.
When you get a brace away from home, helping your side clinch a vital lead in the first leg, you get a winner’s section. Those are the rules.
And any time you are mentioned in the same breath as Lionel Messi, you definitely get a winner’s section:
OptaJose @OptaJose
1 – Raphinha 🇧🇷 has scored his first brace with <a href=”https://twitter.com/FCBarcelona?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@FCBarcelona</a> in all competitions (80 games). He is the first Barça player to score a brace in a knockout match in <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChampionsLeague?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#ChampionsLeague</a> since Messi in the semi-finals against Liverpool in May 2019. Decisive. <a href=”https://t.co/bR5luyL9Nz”>pic.twitter.com/bR5luyL9Nz</a>
He was undoubtedly the receipient of some excellent service from his teammates in the build-up. But Raphinha finished with class, and Barca are one step closer to the semifinals because of him.
Loser: Kylian Mbappé and PSG’s Chances to Advance
PSG had a flurry of brilliance in the second half, scoring two goals in two minutes to take a momentary lead.
But other than that, Barcelona often looked the better side on the night. Now, PSG has to travel to Camp Nou and attempt to steal a win to advance. No easy task, that.
To do so, they’ll need a far bigger night from Kylian Mbappé than they got on Wednesday.
Football on TNT Sports @footballontnt
Kylian Mbappe vs Barcelona:<br><br>0/3 shots on target<br>1/4 dribbles completed<br>3/12 duels won<br>3 offsides<br><br>17-year-old, Pau Cubarsi, kept the PSG star quiet as he became the youngest-ever defender to win a <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#UCL</a> quarter-final tie! ✨ <a href=”https://t.co/ZPOo7RBMc5″>pic.twitter.com/ZPOo7RBMc5</a>
PSG’s disappointments in the UCL are well-documented at this point. They appear headed for another one, barring a major change in form before the second leg.
Xavi’s soon-to-be-finished tenure at Barcelona has had its ups and downs, but there’s no questioning that he pulled all the levers with his substitutions and tactics on Wednesday.
ESPN FC @ESPNFC
Xavi’s substitutions and in-game management has made the difference for Barcelona 👏<br><br>🔁 61′ Pedri subbed on<br>⚽️ 62′ Pedri assist (2-2)<br>🔁 76′ Andreas Christensen subbed on<br>⚽️ 77′ Andreas Christensen goal (3-2) <a href=”https://t.co/UBxVvxMfDV”>pic.twitter.com/UBxVvxMfDV</a>
Premier League Panel @PremLeaguePanel
Raphinha’s off-ball threat is very good. He got into so many dangerous shooting areas. Credit to Xavi for maximising it by dropping Lewandowksi deeper. Because Luis Enrique did the exact opposite with Mbappé by using him as a touchline winger, he rarely got into shooting areas.
sm @TacticoModerno
Xavi got everything right tonight.<br><br>The line up, the tactics (inviting pressure, finding runners & lumping it to Lewandowski to hold up), the game management, and the subs.<br><br>A rocket by OD & a momentary lapse in concentration for Vitinha’s goal made it look closer than it was.
It was a good night for Xavi. Another one will see Barca through to the semifinals.
Loser: Dortmund’s Self-Inflicted Errors
Oh Dortmund, what are we doing here?
You can not give teams at this level an easy chance to break with numbers. Those mistakes are killer. You also can’t let an Atlético Madrid side that wants to slow down the game and constrict your attacking space an early lead. It’s a recipe for disaster.
Dortmund at least pulled one back, giving them hope for the return tie in Germany.
But playing from behind against Atlético is not where you want to be.
Winner: Atlético Madrid’s Pragmatic Approach
Look, you may not like the way Diego Simeone has his team play, but there’s no doubting that it often works, at least at home.
Squawka @Squawka
Atlético Madrid’s record under Diego Simeone in Champions League knockout games at the Vicente Calderón and the Metropolitano:<br><br>WWDWDDWWDWWWWDDWW<br><br>◉ Goals: 20<br>◉ Conceded: 5<br>◉ Clean Sheets: 12<br><br>Still undefeated. 😤<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#UCL</a> <a href=”https://t.co/DDKhvoqNyo”>pic.twitter.com/DDKhvoqNyo</a>
Granted, a bit of luck was involved too—Dortmund hit the woodwork twice in this match, including with the last touch of the game. And the German side will feel that it handed Atlético both goals on a platter.
But ultimately, the Spanish side came away with the crucial early advantage. It was a job well done at home.