After which there have been eight. With the conclusion of the spherical of 16 of the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League, eight groups now stay in competition. The groups are Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Actual Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester Metropolis, and Paris Saint Germain. With every spherical, the stakes enhance as groups know they’re simply three steps away from the final word prize. First, nevertheless, is the matter of the quarter-finals, a stage the place many nice clashes have taken place.
Through the years, the Champions League has given us some glorious quarter-final video games which have etched their title within the golden pages of soccer historical past.
So, with out additional ado, listed below are the highest 5 quarter-final video games in UEFA Champions League historical past..
Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 AC Milan 2003-04
Again in 2004, AC Milan have been the definition of soccer royalty and boasted a squad stacked to the brim with expertise. Within the 2003-04 season, the Rossoneri boasted a crew that consisted of gamers like Dida, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Cafu, Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorfm, Gattuso, Kaka, and Andriy Shevchenko, amongst others. So once they beat Deportivo La Coruna 4-1 within the first leg of the quarter-final, everybody anticipated them to complete the job within the second leg.
Nevertheless, what occurred was top-of-the-line comebacks within the event’s historical past. Walter Pandiani, who scored Deportivo’s solely aim within the first leg, added one other within the return fixture. Nevertheless, panic solely set in after Juan Carlos Valeron scored from a header after a horrendous mistake by Dida in Milan’s aim. And the comeback was full when Albert Luque scored the third within the forty fourth minute.
Deportivo have been forward on the now scraped away objectives rule, however they didn’t relaxation on their laurels and went on so as to add a fourth within the 76th minute to cap off a historic night time for Los Blanquiazules. They’d be eradicated within the semi-final by eventual winners Porto.
🇪🇸 Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 AC Milan 🇮🇹pic.twitter.com/fgRTIB4IRT
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) April 19, 2023
Chelsea 4-4 Liverpool 2008-09
Some of the thrilling quarter-finals clashes in Champions League historical past occurred between Chelsea and Liverpool within the 2008-09 Champions League. With a spot within the semi-final at stake, Chelsea performed some good soccer and gained the primary leg 3-1 away at Anfield, placing themselves in a commanding place for the return leg at Stamford Bridge.
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Nevertheless, Liverpool got here out all weapons blazing and scored two objectives from useless ball conditions courtesy of Fabio Aurelio and Xabi Alonso. On combination, Liverpool have been going by, however Chelsea began the second half like Liverpool, scoring two fast objectives by Didier Drogba and Alex. Frank Lampard added one other, and it appeared the tie was over. Liverpool, although, had different concepts as they scored two objectives in two minutes. The Reds wanted only one extra to qualify, however Lampard extinguished their hopes with a neat end that ended the sport at 4-4.
Chelsea 4-4 Liverpool. A #UCL epic 12 years in the past right this moment! 🍿🍿🍿 pic.twitter.com/ncZynDrCzL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 14, 2021
Juventus 0-3 Actual Madrid 2017-18
The 2-legged tie between Actual Madrid and Juventus had all of the options of a traditional thriller sport. Nevertheless, the sport is remembered even in any case these years resulting from Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored maybe essentially the most astonishing aim within the event’s historical past. Actual Madrid traveled to Turin within the first leg and took the lead within the third minute by Ronaldo. Nevertheless, it was his second aim that caught all of the limelight as he executed an ideal bicycle kick, hitting the ball at an astounding top of two.38 metres. Barcelona added one other to place the tie to the mattress.
Cristiano Ronaldo INCREDIBLE Bicycle kick vs Juventus. Arguably one of the best aim in UCL historical past pic.twitter.com/U38uVV42KX
— Janty (@CFC_Janty) February 5, 2023
It appeared that Los Blancos had virtually one foot within the semi-finals, however Juventus produced considered one of their finest away performances within the return leg to take a 3-0 lead on the Santiago Bernabeu. Nevertheless, with seconds remaining in regular time, Madrid gained a penalty, which Ronaldo duly transformed to assist his crew qualify for the semi-final.
Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich 2019-20
Barcelona, lately, have suffered a number of setbacks each on and off the sphere. Nevertheless, none come near their humiliating defeat by the hands of Bayern Munich within the 2019-20 Champions League season. As a result of COVID-19 pandemic, all of the video games have been scheduled to be performed in Lisbon. And with no house benefit for any crew, all video games have been performed as a one-legged tie.
Barcelona have been drawn towards Bayern Munich, a crew that they had overwhelmed on combination on the earlier event within the 2014-15 season. Many anticipated one other tight conflict, however what adopted was one of many heaviest one-sided clashes within the competitors’s historical past.
Thomas Muller opened the scoring contained in the third minute, however Barcelona hit straight again after David Alaba turned a cross into his personal aim. After that, Bayern hit three unanswered objectives to take a 4-1 result in half-time. Barcelona pulled on again by Luis Suarez, however Bayern added 4 of their very own.
Purpose Bayern Munich. Philippe Coutinho. 2-8.
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 14, 2020
The worst sight of the night time was when Phillipe Coutinho, a participant on mortgage at Bayern from Barcelona, made a substitute look for the Germans and scored two objectives. The sport ended at 8-2, Barcelona’s worst defeat within the Champions League.