The Champions League quarterfinal draw took place on Friday in Nyon, Switzerland and has left some very entertaining matchups with the first legs taking place on the 11th-12th of April and the second legs on the 18th-19th of April:
Atletico Madrid have advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the fourth consecutive season, and for the fourth consecutive season, they look like legitimate contenders for Europe’s greatest club prize.
They have no reason to fear their potential opponents. They’re, of course, well-versed in the battles between themselves, Real Madrid and Barcelona. They finished above Bayern Munich in this season’s group stage (and beat them in the semifinals last year), and the same can be said with regards to Juventus two years ago.
After a difficult November and December that saw him go nine La Liga matches without a goal at one point, Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann is quietly regaining the form that saw him tear up the European Championship and the opening fixtures of La Liga.
Griezmann salvaged a point for Atletico against Deportivo on Thursday after deciding that his two exchanged passes constituted a sufficient buildup and so hammered one from almost 30 yards out. The shot flew over the goalkeeper and into the right-hand corner.
Barcelona climbed to the top of the La Liga table (at least until Real Madrid play Villarreal later today) after defeating fierce rivals Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon, 2-1.
Rafinha opened the scoring for Barca in the 64th minute with a goal that probably took a couple of years off Diego Simeone’s life.
Although it was overshadowed by the 5-3 lunacy that took place in Manchester, Bayer Leverkusen and Atletico Madrid played their own fantastically hilarious game of soccer in Germany Tuesday.
Atletico prevailed 4-2 on goals from Saul Niguez, Antoine Griezmann, Kevin Gameiro and Fernando Torres, but they easily could have had eight or nine. Griezmann probably should have had a hat trick in the first half but was denied by Bernd Leno twice.
In a half dominated by Atletico Madrid, Saul Niguez's goal was unquestionably the highlight. The Atletico midfielder torched his man, cut into the middle on his left foot and rifled the ball into the top corner.
Need a goalazo? Better call Saúl. #B04ATL #UCL https://t.co/bE5SnQx6P5
Fernando Torres, now fast approaching 33 years of age, has proven that form is temporary, class is permanent. This is just ridiculous from El Nino.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the foundation launched by the International Olympic Committee to combat performance-enhancing drugs in sports, has spoken out against Spanish football over its “alarming” lack of drug testing.