The Champions League returned from its hibernation, albeit not in the most spectacular style. Tuesday’s matches went as expected, with Real Madrid’s 1-0 win over Leipzig, albeit a narrow one, with Copenhagen beaten 3-1 by pacey Manchester City. On Wednesday, when Paris Saint-Germain defeated Real Sociedad 2-0, Lazio’s 1-0 home win over Bayern Munich was the shock of the week.
This week a selection of excellent players from the last 16 matches follows.
Goalkeeper: Real Madrid had to suffer for the win in Leipzig, and they did, apart from the rather questionable decision to rule out an early Benjamin Sesko goal, thanks to a fine performance from Andri Lunin. The Ukrainian has now replaced Kepa Arrizabalaga as Carlo Ancelotti’s first choice in the absence of Thibaut Courtois. Sesko against Lunin was a game that the goalkeeper won hands down, and in the end he made a total of nine saves in denying Leipzig, a more decisive contribution than any of his all-star teammates.
Defender: Much more than just a defender, Achraf Hakimi found himself in the last 16 after creating the most chances of the competition through open play, and his status as one of European football’s most reliable supply lines continued with one stunning pass that Ousmane Dembélé might have done better. Paris Saint-Germain did not have a good time against Real Sociedad – the Moroccan was asked to defend fully in the first half – but a nervously approached assignment was ultimately carried out satisfactorily.
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Defender: Real Madrid’s needs are high at the moment as centre-backs are in short supply due to an injury crisis with David Alaba and Éder Militão recovering from cruciate injuries. In addition to the much more experienced Nacho, Aurélien Tchouaméni, an elite-level defensive midfielder, showed his versatility by taking a step back, just as he did against Girona on Saturday. He was asked to deal with the dangerous Sesko in a much more challenging manner than at the weekend, and ultimately come through for his team.
Defender: It was tempting to portray Bayern Munich’s second defeat in a week as a failure by their striker, but a disciplined victory from Lazio was epitomized by Alessio Romagnoli. Harry Kane was limited to shots from distance and one free-kick, slipping rather embarrassingly. Romagnoli, meanwhile, stood out with some bruising tackles and Bayern did not have a shot on target all match. The Italy international showed the defensive skills his country is still famous for.
Defender: Lazio full-backs Adam Marusic and Elseid Hysaj, a Montenegrin and an Albanian, excelled at dealing with attacks down the flanks of Bayern’s Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sane. Hysaj had a difficult opening in the first few minutes, but pulled through before having to leave the field due to injury. Marusic moved to the left to replace his colleague and, just as he had met Musiala, he kept Sane quiet, causing Thomas Tuchel to withdraw the winger as Bayern became increasingly desperate in the closing stages.
Midfielder: As debuts go, Magnus Mattson had one to remember for Copenhagen. In his first game since joining from NEC Nijmegen, in his new club’s first game after a long winter break, he scored when he got the equalizer through an error by Ederson. His finish from the edge of the penalty area was very well struck. And while City were dominant for much of the match and Copenhagen players were chasing shadows, Mattsson epitomized the efforts that kept the score close. “I am prepared to give everything,” he said about the second leg in Manchester, after having already done so in the home match.
Midfielder: Kevin De BruyneCity’s early attack for City in Copenhagen was ominous, as was his overall performance for the holders. The Belgian still has unfinished business in the competition after limping into the final last season; he missed the group stage completely this season. His goal was generally well taken, drilled in with real venom, and he later managed to be the goalscorer for Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden. That he completed the 90 minutes by scoring the final goal suggests that his fitness remains high, another factor deterring any potential challengers to City’s throne.
Midfielder: There are no bigger shoes to fill in European football at the moment than Jude Bellingham’s, but Brahim Diaz proved himself an admirable replacement. The former Manchester City youngster, after scoring the equalizer in the recent Madrid derby, scored a goal that Bellingham, who is struggling with an ankle problem, would have been proud of. He raced past three defenders before leaning into a left-foot shot. It won a match that at times threatened to escape Madrid, although after seizing his chance and even taking advantage of Bellingham’s signature celebration, Diaz suffered an untimely muscle injury.
Forward: While De Bruyne and Erling Haaland were out of the City team, it was left to Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden to take responsibility and look after Pep Guardiola’s team. With the big two back, Silva and Foden have not let the standards drop, and it is a matter of which of the pair will compete after Copenhagen. Early in the season there were suggestions that Foden would move more centrally, but De Bruyne’s return has seen him move back to the flanks on a more regular basis. His consistency remains great.
Forward: The recent conversation passed Kylian Mbappe wasting his career by staying at Paris Saint-Germain. His future likely lies outside the French capital, but in his likely swan song season he is one of the main reasons why his club has one foot in the quarter-finals. As a centre-forward, he played a week in which he certainly could not finish at the top level. His volley technique for PSG’s first goal set him apart. Later he hit the crossbar. He can do much better, but that turned out to be good enough.
Forward: Another player from Denmark’s impressive production line, Gustav Isaksen provided the key moment in Lazio’s defeat to Bayern Munich by winning a penalty from Dayot Upamecano, a foul that resulted in a red card. Playing from the right wing, Isaksen regularly posed a threat to Raphaël Guerreiro, and might have already opened the scoring had Manuel Neuer not saved with his legs. Ciro Immobile scored the winning penalty, but the 22-year-old, not yet a full Danish international, gave him the opportunity to do so.