The Champions League finally returned after almost five months break due to the coronavirus, and Friday’s round of 16 action delivered as expected,
In the two games played, Manchester City saw off the challenge of former champions, Real Madrid, while Lyon qualified for the quarter-finals despite losing on the night. The competition has been on a hiatus since the football season was suspended in March due to COVID-19.
The second legs of four round of 16 ties were yet to be played before the season was suspended, and two of those encounters kicked off proceedings.
At the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City sealed a 4-2 aggregate win, and a 2-1 victory on the night over Real Madrid to book a spot in the quarter-finals.
Raheem Sterling put Pep Guardiola’s side ahead in the ninth minute, capitalising on a rare error from Raphael Varane. However, Karim Benzema drew Madrid level in the 28th minute to give Zinedine Zidane’s side a glimmer of hope.
But those hopes were dashed when Gabriel Jesus scored the winner in the 68th minute following another mistake from Varane.
Jesus goal sealed a 4-2 aggregate win for City having won the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu by the same scoreline at the Etihad.
Meanwhile, in the night’s other game, Lyon suffered a 2-1 defeat at Juventus, but it was the French side that qualified for the quarter-finals on away goals rule.
Juventus went into the game knowing they need to win the by a margin of at least two goals or more after they lost the first leg 1-0.
But they got off to the worst start as Memphis Depay put Rudi Garcia’s side ahead from the penalty spot after Rodrigo Bentancur was adjudged to have fouled a Lyon player in the box.
Replays, however, showed that it was a soft penalty. Nonetheless, Cristiano Ronaldo levelled scores two minutes from time after Juventus were awarded a penalty of their own.
The Portuguese star then fired Maurizio Sarri’s men ahead on the hour mark courtesy of a left-footed shot from outside the box.
But Juventus could not find a third that would’ve sealed their progress into the quarter-final. Lyon’s reward for flipping the script is a clash against Manchester City next week.
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