TinaWasa KartomtenPublisher:4. March 2024
This week it will be clear which teams secured the first four places in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The first two return matches of the round of 16 will be played in Spain and Germany on Tuesday evening. Bayern Munich is the superior odds favorite against Lazio, while Real Sociedad is the narrow favorite to beat the French league leader.
Tuesday at 9 p.m.: Real Sociedad – Paris Saint Germain, and Bayern Munich – Lazio
The following day, more Norwegians meet at the Etihad, when reigning champions Manchester City meet before a visit from FC Copenhagen. The tournament’s winningest team, Real Madrid, leads 1-0 before the second leg against RB Leipzig at home at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid.
Wednesday 21.00: Real Madrid – RB Leipzigand Manchester City – FC Copenhagen
13 straight years in the Champions League
Since 2011, Manchester City has been a regular team in the Champions League.
City have been in three quarter-finals and two semi-finals, before in 2021 they reached their very first final and lost.
Last year, the light blue got their revenge, when they won the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.
So far this season, reigning champions Manchester City have won all their matches in the Champions League. The last time they lost a game in the tournament was in May 2022, when they faced Real Madrid in the semi-finals.
Almost two years without a loss
Manchester City have four straight wins behind them, before Wednesday’s return match against FC Copenhagen.
In the Premier League, they are in second place, only one point behind Liverpool. City only lost three of 27 league games this season. In their last 20 matches, City have won 17.
The reigning Champions League champions have a solid record at home, where they have not lost since 12 November 2022. Then it was Brentford who emerged victorious from the league match at the Etihad.
In the Champions League, as mentioned, City have not lost since the final against Real Madrid in 2022.
Haaland and Bobb in scoring form
Erling Braut Haaland set a record when he became the youngest player to score 35 goals in the Champions League the fastest in last year’s season. The Norwegian scored a total of 12 goals in the tournament in his first season as a City player last year.
So far in this year’s tournament, the Norwegian has scored five goals and shares first place with four others.
Another Norwegian who has excelled in a City kit this season is Oscar Bobb.
The 20-year-old has played nine league games and three Champions League games this season. Against Red Star in the last match of the group stage, he scored the last and decisive goal of the match, securing the victory in overtime.
Norwegian top scorer with the outsider
FC Copenhagen secured further advancement in the Champions League when they ended 2023 by winning 1-0 against Turkish Galatasaray. In the group stage, they impressed when they drew against Bayern Munich and won against Manchester United.
Since the Danish Superliga started up again in mid-February, the team from the capital has won two and lost one game. At the weekend they lost 2-0 away to league leader Midtjylland.
Mohamed Elyounoussi has scored two goals in the Champions League this season and is among the club’s top scorers.
Birger Meling also plays for FC Copenhagen, but was injured in mid-October. The Norwegian has been back in the squad for the last three games.
Among the best in Europe
Paris Saint-Germain has for many years been among the very best in Europe. Despite the star-studded football squad and dominance in the French top flight, there is one tournament and trophy PSG have never won – the Champions League.
The French league leaders have participated in the tournament 16 times. In the last two years, they have been knocked out in the round of 16. In 2020, they made it all the way to the final, where they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich.
PSG lead 2-0 before the second leg against Real Sociedad on Tuesday evening. Kylian Mbappé and Bradley Barcola each scored a goal in the second half of the first meeting between the two teams.
Smoked out of the quarter-finals three years in a row
Bayern Munich, like PSG, has been a dominant team in Europe in recent years. Since 2000, they have won the German league, the Bundesliga, a whopping 18 out of 24 times.
Last year, Bayern Munich became league champions for the 33rd time when they won their eleventh straight league victory, which is a record in European football.
Bayern have won the Champions League six times previously, most recently in 2020. In the last three years, they have reached the quarter-finals. That makes Bayern the club that has won the tournament the third most times previously.
In the first round of 16, Bayern player Dayot Upamecano received the match’s first and only red card and at the same time ensured that the home team received a penalty. Ciro Immobile scored from the penalty spot to ensure that Lazio go into the second leg with a one-goal lead.
Matches of the week in the Champions League
This is how the second leg is played in this week’s four round of 16 finals in the Champions League.
Tuesday
Bayern Munich – Lazio kl. 9 p.m
Real Sociedad – Paris Saint Germain kl. 21.00
Wednesday
Real Madrid – RB Leipzig kl. 9 p.m
Manchester City – FC Copenhagen at 21.00