The UEFA Champions’ League group stages finished in December last year. 16 teams qualified from 8 groups which consisted of four teams each. The teams which finished first faced off against second placed teams from other groups. For this stage, teams from the same country could not compete with each other.)
Allsportspk continues its new series of recapping the results of UEFA Champions League matches after they take place. The UEFA Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in the football world and is held every season. The reigning champions are Real Madrid who have won the tournament back to back in the last two years. The current tournament started on the 12th of September 2017 and will finish on the 26th of May 2018.
This is a recap of the sixth round of matches of the last 16 stage in the UEFA Champions League:
Tottenham Hotspur versus Juventus
Score: 1-2 (Juventus win 4-3 on aggregate.)
Venue: Wembley Stadium
Recap:
Football is a cruel game at times and it was certainly cruel to Tottenham against Juventus.
After mounting a comeback from two goals down to draw two all in the first leg, Spurs came into the home leg confident. They started strongly this time as well, unlike last time. The London team dominated most of the first half and made their dominance count with a crucial goal from Son. Even after the break, Mauricio Pochettino’s side gave a good account of themselves. However, two lapses in concentration lead to two goals in five minutes. First Higuain and then Dybala broke through the Spurs defense and put Juventus in charge of the tie. Spurs were shell shocked for a few moments before they picked themselves and threw all they had at Juventus. They came close and, had it not been for Cheillini’s incredible tackle and later on the post, Harry Kane may have yet scored another vital goal.
In the end, this brilliant Spurs side once again faltered when they needed to remain composed. Juventus on the other hand never panicked and, once again, experience carried a team to victory in the Champions League.
Squads:
Starting XI of Tottenham: Lloris, Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Son, Kane.
Substitutions: Vorm, Rose, Wanyama, Lucas, Lamela, Sissoko, Llorente.
Starting XI of Juventus: Buffon, Barzagli, Benatia, Chiellini, Alex Sandro, Khedira, Pjanic, Matuidi, Douglas Costa, Higuain, Dybala.
Substitutions: Szczesny, Rugani, Lichtsteiner, Asamoah, Marchisio, Sturaro, Bentancur.
Manchester City versus Basel
Score: 1-2 (City progress 5-2 on aggregate)
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Recap:
Manchester City strolled their way through their home leg against Basel but suffered a rare defeat as the Swiss side pushed them hard.
Gabriel Jesus tapped home an opener for City after eight minutes as the hosts flew out of the blocks, but it was to be manager Pep Guardiola’s best moment as the visitors caused a minor shock. Mohamed Elyounoussi silenced the City fans with a 17th-minute equaliser, and Michael Lang grabbed the winner with 19 minutes remaining.
This was City’s first home defeat since December 2016.
Squads:
Starting XI of Manchester City: Bravo, Danilo, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko, Gundogan, Yaya Toure, B Silva, Foden, Sane, Jesus.
Substitutions: Ederson, Walker, Aguero, De Bruyne, Adarabioyo, Otamendi, Diaz.
Starting XI of Basel: Vaclik, Lacroix, Frei, Suchy, Riveros, Zuffy, Serey Die, Lang, Elyounoussi, Bua, Oberlin.
Substitutions: Salvi, Petretta, Kaiser, Stocker, Manzambi, Van Wolfswinkel, Ajeti.
