Here’s what happened in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, in case you missed it…
THE RESULTS
• Bayer Leverkusen 2, Atletico Madrid 4: Game report || Match stats
• Manchester City 5, AS Monaco 3: Game report || Match stats
THE STORY OF THE DAY
Football, bloody hell: I hesitate to quote Sir Alex Ferguson, mostly because by now it’s become clichéd to do so. Still, after watching Manchester City and AS Monaco battle on Tuesday night, I couldn’t help but think of the former Manchester United manager’s famous words—“Football, bloody hell”—following the Red Devils’ incredible comeback against Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final.
Man City and Monaco combined to put on a scintillating and breathless display at the Etihad, a game that will instantly go down as a classic in the history of European club soccer’s most prestigious competition. The Blues’ 5-3 win was high on drama and entertainment value, containing more plot twists and turns than the average campy soap opera. At 2-1 down, City looked dead to the world when Monaco was awarded a penalty—and this after the hosts had a clear penalty claim denied earlier on. Radamel Falcao’s stutter-step approach didn’t work, Willy Caballero made the save, and the hosts duly turned around and tied things up.
The momentum swings weren’t over, though—Falcao redeemed himself with a brilliant chip shot to restore Monaco’s lead moments later. At that point, it seemed there was no coming back for Pep Guardiola’s team. But three unanswered goals by City from Sergio Aguero (his second of the night, Leroy Sane (an unheralded hero) and defender John Stones (after he let Falcao easily skip by him on Monaco’s third) sent the Etihad into raptures when earlier in the half it was dead silent as Falcao stepped up to the penalty spot.
This game had it all. There were goals of genuine quality (Falcao’s chip shot foremost among them), a fair bit of controversy, howlers by both goalkeepers, and defensive errors that led to some end-to-end soccer and plenty of scoring chances. Purists will no doubt bemoan the sloppy standard of defending. Mistakes are part of the game, though. And we wouldn’t be talking about this game being an all-time classic had the City and Monaco back lines been better organized. What’s more, these are two sides committed to playing attacking soccer—Monaco is the highest scoring club among Europe’s top divisions. It was naïve to expect a defensive dual.
In the end, what Manchester City and AS Monaco gave all of us was a magical night, a game that won’t soon be forgotten. With an audience of tens of millions watching around the globe, they provided us with an important reminder, especially in these cynical times, of the inherent beauty of 22 players on a pitch chasing a ball and why, more than any other sport, soccer matters the most.
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BEST GOAL
In the 17th minute, Atletico Madrid’s SaĂşl Ă‘Ăguez elegantly skipped past his defensive mark and sprinted down the right. He then cut into the box and fired a curling shot that beat Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno and tucked just inside the back post. Sublime.
BEST MOMENT
After diving to score AS Monaco’s first goal, Radamel Falcao managed to get even more height on his celebration:
BEST TWEET
Manchester City defender Nicolás Otamendi struggled to contain AS Monaco teenager Kylian Mbappé, leading Sam Wallace of The Telegraph to comment…
THE GAME WITHIN THE GAME
Sergio Aguero was the star for Manchester City. But Leroy Sane was also outstanding, as he was involved in the Blues’ build-up play, and asked serious questions of Monaco’s defence.
THE BIG QUESTION
The first leg was sensational. What will the return match in Monaco bring us? And more important…
SIX PACK OF STATS
• Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz is the first player born after the 1999 Champions League final to start in a Champions League game.
• Manchester City’s 5-3 win over Monaco is the highest scoring first leg ever in a Champions League knockout tie.
• With 13 goals, Antoine Griezmann is Atletico Madrid’s all-time top scorer in the UEFA Champions League/European Cup.
• Radamel Falcao on Tuesday scored as many goals in Manchester as he did at Old Trafford in 15 games for Manchester United (15 games).
• Atletico Madrid’s SaĂşl Ă‘Ăguez has scored five goals in the Champions League, more than any other Spanish player since last season.
• Sergio Aguero has scored 27 goals in the Champions League. Only two South Americans have scored more—Lionel Messi (93) and Kaka (30).
Stats courtesy of Opta
THREE STARS
1) Sergio Aguero, Manchester City: In a game with many standout performers, Aguero was the best, netting a brace and setting up the Blues’ important fifth goal.
2) Kevin Gameiro, Atletico Madrid: He set up one goal, earned a penalty—and then converted from the spot—and generally made life difficult for Bayer Leverkusen.
3) Radamel Falcao, AS Monaco: The Colombian’s penalty attempt was laughable, but the two goals he did score were the result of exquisite finishes.
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