Oh sure, the little Champions League was kinda entertaining this week, what with Roma beating Barcelona and Real Madrid holding off Juventus. But the 6-5 FC Salzburg comeback against Lazio in the Europa League on Thursday made all the drama from Tuesday and Wednesday look like child’s play.
Four minutes and 32 seconds elapsed from the time referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot to the moment the ball struck the back of the net from the force of another epic Cristiano Ronaldo penalty kick.
After a really funny Santiago Garcia own goal and three red cards (Fernando Gonzalez, Pablo Barientos and Rubens Sambueza), Necaxa are officially Clausura Copa MX champions.
Toluca's Garcia is going to feel pretty badly about himself for a while after this own goal, but we're sure he'll get over it eventually. At least he kept the entertainment value at a high level. It was the only goal of the match.
Ruben Neves does not belong in the second division. Not after scoring this. After this, one of the four teams left in the Champions League should scoop him up and let him play out the rest of the season with them.
What a hit, son.
If we’ve just witnessed Gianluigi Buffon’s final UEFA Champions League game, it was somewhat fitting given the plethora of fresh hells this competition has provided him with over the years. For half an hour, it looked like the footballing gods were finally smiling upon Italy’s favorite son — Juventus had miraculously turned around a three-goal deficit at the Bernabeu, and Buffon had recorded five vital saves to make it happen.
We interrupt this year’s Champions League to inform you that this year’s competition has been canceled. In lieu of a tournament to determine the best team in Europe, UEFA has installed a series of challenges to show how amazing Cristiano Ronaldo is. Forget Real Madrid vs Juventus, Roma vs. Barcelona or Liverpool vs. Manchester City, all we really need is CR7.
Ronaldo haters, turn away now.
Juventus arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu needing a miracle to overturn a three-goal deficit on the road at Real Madrid. By halftime on Wednesday, the Bianconeri were well on their way to a second straight Italian miracle thanks to two Mario Mandzukic goals against Real Madrid.
On Tuesday, it was AS Roma rallying from three goals down to stun Barcelona. After losing 3-0 in Turin, Juventus was up against it against the two-time reigning champions.
An extremely strong contingent of Guadalajara supporters inside Red Bull Arena watched their side hang on for the narrowest of victories on Tuesday night, Chivas doing just enough to retain their 1-0 first leg advantage over New York in the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals despite being outshot 20-1 in the second.
It’s no secret: as Messi goes, so too does Barcelona. Accordingly, the Catalan side’s shock elimination to Roma in the Champions League quarterfinals — Roma pulling off an incredible three-goal comeback to win 4-4 on aggregate via an away goal — isn’t all that shocking.
Who are we kidding, it's f*cking insane.
The Italian side nullified the world’s best player over 180 minutes of action and thoroughly outplayed the runaway La Liga leaders at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday night.
Pep Guardiola set up his Manchester City side to attack like the beasts of hell were after them, and it paid off immediately with Gabriel Jesus capitalizing on a Liverpool mistake and slotting the ball past Loris Karius two minutes in.
This is exactly the sort of start Manchester City were looking for, as any knowledgeable football expert will tell you. City still need two more to draw leven with the Reds, but they are looking very feisty thus far.
Strap in, everyone!