Champions League

After Sadio Mane and his pals ended Porto's 24-match unbeaten streak at home in destructive fashion Wednesday, one would think the Porto fans would be, like, mad or something.

But they weren't. Or, at least, if they had any anger they pushed it down deep inside themselves to be let out later at (to pick a profession at random) a tow-truck driver. Instead, the Porto fans cheered their team following an embarrassing loss just as loudly as they would have following a big win.

Real Madrid vs PSG was electric. Two of the richest soccer clubs in the world faced each other in the most expected clash in the Champions League round of sixteen. And it was absolutely high voltage.

Of course, soccer fans around the planet were also itching for the Cristiano Ronaldo vs Neymar duel. 

Liverpool are red,

Porto are blue

The Reds won 5-0

And are (almost) certainly through

Sadio Mané gives Liverpool that all-important away goal!
https://t.co/PBVGc4p3t4

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 14, 2018

Roses are red

Away goals are cool

That was a bit of a shitshow

Porto's goalkeeper is not very good

In an individual matchup that was billed by many as the past of football versus the future, it was Cristiano Ronaldo — seven years the senior — who once again delivered while Neymar’s myriad of mazy dribbles led to naught. 

In the age of the meme, the superstars of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain delivered pretty on-brand performances. 

Ronaldo struggled mightily in the opening 44 minutes, putting a free kick from just outside the box over in the 26’ before wasting a wonderful opportunity only two minutes later.

What crisis in Madrid? All’s well for Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid after an impressive 3-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie on Wednesday. While there’s still a second leg to play in Paris, the Real Madrid vs PSG fixture is now the defending champions’ to lose.

With all the big stars on display for the Real Madrid vs PSG match on Wednesday, leave it to Brazilian left back Marcelo to steal the show in the opening moments of the game. Marcelo went from screaming bloody murder to providing one of the sweetest passes of the match in about 20 minutes’ time. But for a face block, Cristiano Ronaldo would have opened the scoring. 

Paris is supposed to be the most romantic city in the world. The City of Lights, with its Eiffel Tower, Gothic architecture and delicious bread, is the ideal place for couples in love to spend Valentine’s Day. But these PSG fans either didn’t get that memo or just care more about their football club than their significant other.

After Tottenham’s impressive rally to salvage a fantastic 2-2 draw against Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday in Turin, Italy, many of the plaudits went to Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen.

After Gonzalo Higuain scored twice in the first 10 minutes for Juventus, it looked like this Champions League knockout tie was done and dusted. However, after Higuain missed a good chance on the counter to make it 3-0, Harry Kane made it very much a game.

Would you believe me if I told you Manchester City hammered an opponent with an assist from Kevin De Bruyne, a goal from Sergio Aguero and 75 percent possession? Yes, Aguero got his 29th goal of the season, De Bruyne his 19th assist and City out-passed Basel 779-211 at St Jakob-Park en route to a routine 4-0 Champions League Round of 16 first leg victory.