The Uefa Champions League spherical of 16 has arrived. It brings with it a plethora of intriguing and mouthwatering ties. The spherical of 16 additionally marks the primary time in 57 years that the away targets rule won’t be relevant.
Uefa, the mom physique of European soccer, introduced in June 2021 that it had eliminated the away targets rule from the Champions League and its different competitions, this season and past.
The rule was carried out in 1965, with the aim of figuring out the winner in circumstances the place two groups had scored the identical variety of targets on combination over the 2 matches. If one crew had scored extra targets at their opponent’s house floor, then they might qualify for the following spherical.
Nonetheless, from now onwards, if each groups are degree on the finish of each legs of a Champions League tie, extra-time and penalties will happen as required, whatever the variety of away targets a crew has scored.
“It’s truthful to say that house benefit is these days now not as important because it as soon as was,” Aleksander Ceferin, Uefa president, stated on the time.
“Taking into account the consistency throughout Europe when it comes to types of play, and many various elements which have led to a decline in house benefit, the Uefa government committee has taken the proper determination in adopting the view that it’s now not applicable for an away aim to hold extra weight than one scored at house.”
The away aim rule has been a supply of many heartbreaks in seasons previous. Who might overlook in 2009 when Barcelona had been two minutes from being eradicated from the Champions League in a tense second leg conflict versus Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, London?
The ballerina-esque Andrés Iniesta collected a move from Lionel Messi and stroked the ball into the highest nook from exterior the field. His rasping aim secured a 1-1 draw — sending the Spanish aspect into the ultimate on the away targets rule — this after the primary leg in Spain had led to a nil-all stalemate.
Tottenham Hotspur additionally progressed to the 2019 Champions League ultimate after beating Manchester Metropolis on away targets within the quarterfinals after which Ajax within the semifinals.
Let the video games start
The opening spherical of the last-16 sees a humdinger of a conflict as document European champions Actual Madrid conflict with the prolific Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Madrid had the extra assertive group stage. After their shock loss to Moldovan aspect Sheriff Tiraspol of their second recreation of the group marketing campaign, Los Blancos blew previous all the pieces of their option to end on the summit of their group with 15 out of 18 factors. In the meantime, PSG blew cold and warm as they completed second behind Manchester Metropolis of their group, with 11 factors.
The Spaniards, who’re 13-time European champions even have Champions League doyen Carlo Ancelotti within the dugout to assist them plot a frontal assault on the Parisians.
Nonetheless, Los Blancos are sweating over the health of their talismanic French ahead, Karim Benzema. The membership’s high goalscorer this season has been out with a muscular damage over the past three video games and faces a late health check.
After all, the match will mark a reunion for Lionel Messi with Madrid. The legendary Argentine performed in 45 El Clásico matches throughout his time with Barcelona, the joint-most within the fixture’s historical past together with present PSG teammate and former Madrid captain Sergio Ramos.
“There is no such thing as a extra strain on one aspect than the opposite. I respect Actual Madrid, they’re one of many greatest golf equipment on the earth, who’ve received all the pieces. Nonetheless, in my view, there isn’t any favorite. It may very well be a ultimate given the standard of the gamers,” stated PSG supervisor Mauricio Pochettino.
In one other enthralling spherical of 16 conflict, six-time European champions Liverpool will face three-time conquerors of Europe, Inter Milan. The Reds will confront the Nerazzurri for the primary time in 14 years on this season’s final 16. The 2 sides confronted off on the identical stage in 2008, with the English claiming bragging rights over their Italian counterparts.
The fixture additionally marks Liverpool’s return to the San Siro — the place Jürgen Klopp’s males defeated AC Milan 2-1 of their ultimate recreation of the group section in December. The Reds will eye an analogous outcome in opposition to the blue aspect of Milan to set themselves for a attainable place within the quarterfinals. DM
Full Champions League last-16 first-leg fixtures
Tuesday, 15 February 2022
Paris Saint-Germain vs Actual Madrid (10pm)
Sporting vs Manchester Metropolis (10pm)
Wednesday, 16 February 2022
Inter Milan vs Liverpool (10pm)
Crimson Bull Salzburg vs Bayern Munich (10pm)
Tuesday, 22 February 2022
Chelsea vs Lille (10pm)
Villarreal vs Juventus (10pm)
Wednesday, 23 February 2022
Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United (10pm)
Benfica vs Ajax (10pm)