Kolkata : The UCL 2024-25 Round of 16 Leg 2 was nothing sort of roller coaster. On one hand, Barcelona, Bayern, PSG, Inter Milan emerged victorious, and on other, Liverpool saw woes, facing shocking exit.
Barcelona crush Benfica 3-1 (Aggregate : 4-1)
Teenager Lamine Yamal was once again the star of the show as Barcelona beat Benfica to progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The 17-year-old provided a brilliant assist for Raphinha to open the scoring before topping that with a stunning strike to put Barca 3-1 ahead on the night and 4-1 on aggregate.
Nicolas Otamendi’s excellent header had cancelled out Raphinha’s opener but Benfica’s hopes were ended by Yamal’s brilliance, before Raphinha struck again with a clinical finish into the bottom corner.
While Yamal caught the eye with his brilliant pieces of play, Raphinha also deserves plaudits as his double means he has contributed to 16 goals in the Champions League this season.
Barcelona could have added one more but Frenkie de Jong missed a golden chance to add a fourth on the night, firing wide from close range after a lovely move.
PSG knock out Liverpool
PSG defeated Liverpool in 4-1 penalty shootout and knocked them out of UCL 2024-25.
After the match was tied, PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saved spot kicks from Darwin Núñez and Curtis Jones, while the visitors converted all their efforts.
Dembele stunned the Anfield crowd with his 12th-minute goal against the run of play. Ibrahima Konaté slid in to block Bradley Barcola’s effort but pushed the ball away from goalkeeper Alisson in the process, and Dembélé needed only to knock it into an empty net.
Inter Milan edge past Feyenoord 2-1 (Aggregate : 4-1)
Inter Milan reached the Champions League quarter-finals with victory over Feyenoord at San Siro Stadium.
Marcus Thuram jinked into the box and fired into the top corner as Inter went 1-0 up on the night and 3-0 ahead on aggregate.
Hakan Calhanoglu was penalised for clattering into the back of Jakub Moder and the former Brighton midfielder scored from the spot to give Feyenoord hope.
The Turkey international made up for his error after the break, converting a penalty after Thomas Beelen fouled Mehdi Taremi in the box.
Thuram fired a shot narrowly over the crossbar as he tried to increase Inter’s lead in the absence of captain Lautaro Martinez who was on the bench.
Simone Inzaghi’s side will face Bayern Munich in April as they continue their quest to reach a second Champions League final in three seasons.
Bayern smash Leverkusen 2-0 (Aggregate : 5-0)
Harry Kane made history as Bayern Munich confirmed their place in the Champions League quarter-finals with victory against Bayer Leverkusen.
Kane’s close-range finish in the 52nd minute was his 10th in Europe this season.
Bayern came into the second-leg tie with a 3-0 lead following a commanding performance at home last week, and were again the better side in Leverkusen.
Vincent Kompany’s men posed the greater threat in the first half, with Michael Olise and Kingsley Coman both firing narrowly wide.
Leverkusen needed to come out and attack after the break, but it was Bayern who put the tie beyond doubt when Patrik Schick’s attempted clearance of a Joshua Kimmich free-kick fell straight at the feet of Kane who bundled home from a few yards out.
Xabi Alonso’s side were looking to become only the fifth side in Champions League history to overturn a three-goal first leg deficit, yet it took them 65 minutes to register a shot on target.
Jeremie Frimpong forced Bayern goalkeeper Jonas Urbig into a smart low stop, before Schick headed straight at the visiting stopper moments later.
Leverkusen’s desperation left more space for Bayern to exploit and Alphonso Davies took full advantage by converting Kane’s cross from close range in the 71st minute.
The England captain then spurned a good chance to add a third when he placed wide under little pressure, before he rattled the crossbar with a snap-shot on the turn. Jamal Musiala also struck the post from a tight angle with 10 minutes left after being sent away by Serge Gnabry’s pass.Bayern will face Inter Milan in the quarter-finals.
