By Jim James
A draft is one of the main staples of American Sports. Football takes pride in not being “Americanized”, one of the main reasons that the European Super League was so protested last year. However, for now we can experiment, on FIFA 22. Today we’ll remove the top 5 players from every Champions League team and draft them on random teams. Let’s get to removing!
Group A
Man City
K.De Bruyne
Ederson
Ruben Dias
Rodri
Raheem Sterling
PSG
Leo Messi
Kylian Mbappe
Neymar
Gigi Donnarumma
Keylor Navas
RB Leipzig
Cris Nkunku
Peter Gulacsi
Andre Silva
Angelino
Dani Olmo
Club Brugge
Simon Mignolet
Hans Vanaken
Ruud Vormer
Noa Lang
Clinton Mata
Group B
Liverpool
Mo Salah
Sadio Mane
Virgil Van Dijk
Alisson
Fabinho
Atlético Madrid
Jan Oblak
Lui Suarez
Antoine Griezmann
Koke
Marcos Llorente
Porto
Otavio
Pepe
Agustin Marchesin
Mehdi Taremi
Mateus Uribe
AC Milan
Mike Maignan
Franck Kessie
Theo Hernandez
Simon Kjaer
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Group C
Ajax
Dusan Tadic
Sebastien Haller
Steven Berghuis
Antony
Noussair Mazraoui
Sporting
Sebastien Coates
Palinha
Pablo Sarabia
Pedro Goncalves
Antonio Adan
Dortmund
Erling Haaland
Marco Reus
Rapha Guerrero
Mats Hummels
Emre Can
Besiktas
Miralem Pjanic
Rachid Ghezzal
Michi Batshuayi
Valentin Rosier
Alex Teixera
Group D
Real Madrid
Karim Benzema
Casemiro
Tibo Courtois
Toni Kroos
David Alaba
Inter Milan
Milan Skriniar
Lautaro Martinez
Nicolo Barella
Stefan de Vrij
Samir Handanovic
Apoel*
Giorgi Kvilitaia
Lucas Souza
Simone Scuffet
Tornike Okriashvili
Joao Pedro
Shakhtar Donetsk
Group E
Bayern
Robert Lewandowski
Manuel Neuer
Joshua Kimmich
Leon Goretzka
Thomas Muller
Benfica
Rafa
Alejandro Grimaldo
Jan Vertonghen
Nicolas Otamendi
Odysseas Vlachodimos
FC Barcelona
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen
Frenkie de Jong
Memphis Depay
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Sergio Busquets
Dynamo Kyiv
Victor Tsygankov
Vitaliy Buyalskyi
Mykola Shaparenko
Serhiy Sydorchuk
Denys Boyko
Group F
Man Utd
Cristiano Ronaldo
Bruno Fernandes
David De Gea
Paul Pogba
Jadon Sancho
Villarreal
Dani Parejo
Gerard Moreno
Pau Torres
Raul Albiol
Sergio Asenjo
Atalanta
Duvan Zapata
Josip Ilcic
Luis Muriel
Ruslan Malinovskyi
Marten de Roon
BSC Young Boys
Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu
Christian Fassnacht
Fabian Lustenberger
David von Ballmoos
Jordan Siebatcheu
Group G
LOSC Lille
Jonathan David
Benjamin Andre
Renato Sanches
Jose Fonte
Burak Yilmaz
RB Salzburg
Rasmus Kristensen
Mohamed Camara
Zlatko Junuzovic
Karim Adeyemi
Andreas Ulmer
Sevilla
Fernando
Alej Gomez
Marcos Acuna
Jesus Navas
Jules Kounde
Wolfsburg
Koen Casteels
Max Kruse
Max Arnold
Xaver Schlager
Ridle Baku
Group H
Juventus
Paulo Dybala
Wojcech Szczesny
Leo Bonucci
Giorgio Chiellini
Mattigs de Ligt
Chelsea
N’Golo Kante
Romelu Lukaku
Edouard Mendy
Jorginho
Antonio Rudiger
HJK Helsinki*
Nassim Boujellab
Juka Raitala
Roope Riski
Riku Riski
Joona Toivio
Malmo
Anders Christiansen
Ola Toivonen
Sergio Pena
Isaac Kiese Thelin
Niklas Moisander
Results
I did this using random.org, shuffling all the players and the teams, and here were the results
Group A
Man City
Sebastien Coates
Paul Pogba
Michi Batshuayi
Hans Vanaken
Jesus Navas
PSG
Tibo Courtois
Lui Suarez
Lucas Souza
Angelino
Mateus Uribe
RB Leipzig
Mattigs de Ligt
Niklas Moisander
Stefan de Vrij
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
David von Ballmoos
Club Brugge
Neymar
Ruud Vormer
Rachid Ghezzal
Koke
Jonathan David
Group B
Liverpool
Casemiro
Edouard Mendy
Simone Scuffet
Sebastien Haller
Paulo Dybala
Atlético Madrid
Leon Goretzka
Erling Haaland
Mohamed Camara
Memphis Depay
Raul Albiol
Porto
Otavio
Ederson
N’Golo Kante
Robert Lewandowski
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen
AC Milan
Jadon Sancho
Marten de Roon
Theo Hernandez
Pau Torres
Ola Toivonen
Group C
Ajax
Xaver Schlager
Samir Handanovic
Antonio Rudiger
Joao Pedro
Marcos Acuna
Sporting
Fernando
Jorginho
Milan Skriniar
Karim Benzema
Sergio Pena
Dortmund
Rodri
Alejandro Grimaldo
Antoine Griezmann
Rasmus Kristensen
Gerard Moreno
Besiktas
Antony
Odysseas Vlachodimos
Joona Toivio
Victor Tsygankov
Roope Riski
Group D
Real Madrid
Jan Oblak
Sergio Busquets
Pedro Goncalves
Kylian Mbappe
Fabinho
Inter Milan
Mike Maignan
Mats Hummels
Dusan Tadic
Valentin Rosier
Leo Messi
Apoel*
Karim Adeyemi
Sadio Mane
Mehdi Taremi
Wojcech Szczesny
Jordan Siebatcheu
Shakhtar Donetsk
Peter Gulacsi
Benjamin Andre
Toni Kroos
Ismaily
Miralem Pjanic
Group E
Bayern
Steven Berghuis
Mykola Shaparenko
Palhinha
Riku Riski
Gigi Donnarumma
Benfica
Nassim Boujellab
Tornike Okriashvili
Nicolo Barella
Zlatko Junuzovic
Franck Kessie
FC Barcelona
Jan Vertonghen
Jose Fonte
Giorgi Kvilitaia
Rafa
Vitaliy Buyalskyi
Dynamo Kyiv
Burak Yilmaz
Agustin Marchesin
Ridle Baku
Lautaro Martinez
Denys Boyko
Group F
Man Utd
Simon Mignolet
Tete
Dani Olmo
Romelu Lukaku
David De Gea
Villarreal
Taras Stepanenko
Pablo Sarabia
Luis Muriel
Fabian Lustenberger
David Alaba
Atalanta
Simon Kjaer
Ruben Dias
Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu
Cris Nkunku
Noussair Mazraoui
BSC Young Boys
Andreas Ulmer
Jules Kounde
Juka Raitala
Mo Salah
Emre Can
Group G
LOSC Lille
Renato Sanches
Duvan Zapata
Koen Casteels
Bruno Fernandes
Alej Gomez
RB Salzburg
Raheem Sterling
Pepe
Junior Moraes
Antonio Adan
Max Kruse
Sevilla
Giorgio Chiellini
Marcos Llorente
Andre Silva
Serhiy Sydorchuk
Virgil Van Dijk
Wolfsburg
Isaac Kiese Thelin
Ruslan Malinovskyi
Anders Christiansen
Sergio Asenjo
Max Arnold
Group H
Juventus
Christian Fassnacht
Josip Ilcic
Dani Parejo
Alisson
Marco Reus
Chelsea
K.De Bruyne
David Neres
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Joshua Kimmich
Noa Lang
HJK Helsinki*
Thomas Muller
Rapha Guerrero
Cristiano Ronaldo
Clinton Mata
Frenkie de Jong
Malmo
Leo Bonucci
Nicolas Otamendi
Keylor Navas
Manuel Neuer
Alex Teixera
*The team wasn’t in the UCL in real life, they were replacements for teams in the UCL in real life not in FIFA 22 (Sheriff and Zenit).
Now for the part we’ve all been waiting for: the simulation. I’m sure you’re dying to see how this went. Starting on matchday one, we have Man City vs PSG. PSG looked the better side on paper, but it was Man City who struck first through a 16th minute effort by Riyad Mahrez. However, Luis Suarez equalised 7 minutes later for PSG. The scoring continued in the 30th minute by Joao Cancelo. 2-1 City. This time the next goal would not be by PSG, as 3 minutes later Phil Foden got himself on the scoresheet. A thrill of a first half was capped off by Phil Foden getting his brace. 4-1 City at half-time, an unfathomable scoreline. Would the Man City domination continue or could Les Parisiens claw back? Well in the 67th minute Gini Wijnaldum clawed one back for the visitors, but was cancelled out in the 75th minute when Phil Foden got his hat-trick. 5-2 is the score if you’re having trouble keeping track. That’s how it stayed. A clobbering by Man City sees PSG whimper away wondering where did it go wrong. We also have Atleti vs Liverpool, two relatively even sides, but it was Liverpool getting all the chances early, but they couldn’t make it work, having it be 0-0 at the break. Their tardiness was punished in the 51st minute by Joao Felix, who made it 1-0. 6 minutes later, Erling Haaland doubled the lead for Atleti. 2-0 now. Then a golden opportunity for Erling Haaland from the spot to make it 3, but he couldn’t do it. That miss was punished by, of all people, James Milner in the 73rd, making it 2-1 and putting Liverpool back in it. Even with a barrage of late chances, Liverpool couldn’t find an equaliser, and lost 2-1.We then have Bayern vs Barca, 2 teams who got bodied in the swap. The chances were split in the first part of the game, but in the 35th the inevitable happened and Bayern took the lead, through Eric Chuopo-Moting. It was 1-0 at half-time. Despite numerous chances, Barca couldn’t find an equaliser before Eric Chuopo-Moting put Bayern up 2-0 in the 77th minute. That’s how it stayed, and Barca found themselves defeated 2-0. I have no clue why all the big games were in the 1st matchday but we also have Chelsea vs Juventus. Juventus were all big on themselves after getting a ton of chances early on only for Kai Havertz to crush their dreams by scoring a 1-on-1 and making it 1-0 in the 15th minute (Sound familiar, Man City fans?). In the 22nd minute, KDB doubled Chelsea’s lead only for Chiesa to make it 2-1 2 minutes later. 2-2 was almost achieved several times but Kepa was having none of it, and it stayed 2-1 at half-time. In the 68th minute, Mason Mount put Chelsea up 3-1, and after that, Juve deflated, or at least until Alex Sandro pulled off a piece of individual brilliance in the 78th minute to put Juve back in it. Could they equalise? No. Chelsea scraped a 3-2 victory at Stamford Bridge. That’s how Matchday 2 ends.
No big games in Matchday 2 other than RB Leipzig beating PSG to put Les Parisiens at 0 points and -4 Goal difference after 2 games, and Jonathan David putting his name firmly on the map after scoring a Hat-trick for Club Brugge to beat Man City 3-2. Liverpool also drew 1-1 with Porto, having them only 1 point from 2 games. However, after 2 games, Group A actually looked like this:
- Club Brugge
- RB Leipzig
- Man City
- PSG
Onto Matchday 3, and even though Man Utd only got a point vs Young Boys due to an Edi Cavani brace, they still seemed safe in Group F. Barca also drew to Dynamo Kyiv, putting themselves in an uncomfortable position. Malmo also managed to beat Chelsea, opening the door wide open again in Group H. HJK Helsinki of all teams, led by a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo, beat Juventus 3-1, seriously threatening the balance of power in that group. Club Brugge also beat PSG, and now the threat was huge of them not even qualifying. Even Man City, expected to easily beat RB Leipzig, drew that game. A Leo Messi brace couldn’t even save Inter Milan, they lost 3-2 to Spartak Moscow and were now 5 points from 2nd place.
Matchday 4 starts with a lot of questions. Inter got back on track, beating Shakhtar, but Man City drew again vs Leipzig, putting them still outside the top 2, but all eyes were on PSG, as if they lost, their top 2 hopes were essentially over. Thankfully, it seemed easy enough, routine win at the Parc-de-Princes vs Brugge, but it was a draw. PSG’s first points, but it was still going to be a dogfight to qualify. Also, although they could afford it, Real slipped on an Apoel-shaped banana peel as well.Chelsea continue to limp across the line after a draw to Malmo, and Juventus get back on track after getting their revenge vs Helsinki. Barca get more comfortable after beating Dynamo Kyiv and Bayern show their first signs of weakness after losing 3-2 to Benfica.
Matchday 5, and we have more of the big games. Juve vs Chelsea, i accidentally quick sim, and it ends in a 1-1 draw. Whoopsie. We then have Barca v Bayern, which I don’t quick sim. If Barca wins, all they have to do it beat Benfica and they top the group. However, if Bayern win or draw, its pretty certain that they top the group. Barca looked on top of the world after 28 minutes after Ousmane Dembele got a goal. It stayed 1-0 going into half-time. Barca’s own personal Banana Peel, Eric Chuopo-Moting struck again, however, in the 81st minute, and made it 1-1. However, a goal at the death, the 86th minute, by Sergi Roberto, put the Catalans back in front. Could they keep this lead? Yes. In the 90th minute, Sergi Roberto scored AGAIN to put the game to bed. It stayed like that. Barca 3, Bayern 1. Man U also is going to matchday 6 to see if they qualify after losing to Villarreal. PSG vs Man City was next, and after RB Leipzig demolished Club Brugge, PSG were officially out, 7 points from 2nd with 2 games to play.However, Man City could still qualify. PSG still played like they had something to play for and Marco Veratti scored in the 11th minute, but in the 17th Bernardo Silva equalised. In the 27th, Julian Draxler scored, and Man City were not happy. However, they would be even less happy with what came next, as Veratti scored again to put PSG 3-1 up by Half-Time. PSG hit the bar 5 minutes into the second, and 3 minutes later, got a long shot goal by Leandro Paredes. 4-1. Where was this in the first 4 games? 80 minutes in, Danilo Pereira completed the thumping and made it 5-1. That was full time, and although PSG got knocked out, they could still take pride in thumping Pep’s men 5-1, potentially spoiling qualification for them, and one-upping the Matchday 1 result. Liverpool v Atleti last, and Liverpool needed a win for top of the group and they came out with a vengeance, taking the lead inside 7 minutes through Thiago. Paulo Dybala had a chance to make it 2 from the spot in the 38th minute, and took it. He scored again on the stroke of half time. As I said, Came out with a vengeance. They didn’t stop in the 2nd half either, as a defensive calamity allowed Thiago to bag a 2nd and get Liverpool a 4-0 lead inside 55 minutes. Rodrigo de Paul gets a consolation in the 81st and Liverpool come away with victory in dominant fashion.
Onto the last matchday, and we get the question on everybody’s lips out of the way early. Man City vs Brugge. Any old win from Man City would do it. It is… a 3-3 draw. Man City and PSG are knocked out. A win by PSG against RB Leipzig also sees Man City go down to 4th. Liverpool cement themselves top after AC Milan beat Atlético. Dortmund and Ajax also go through. A 90th minute equaliser by Messi ensures that a deflated, defeated, and eliminated Inter Milan don’t lose at home to Apoel, Real Madrid get top of the group, and Bayern defeats Kyiv. All eyes were on Barca to see if they could beat Benfica and get top of Group E. Scenes as Ferran Torres wins it for Barca in the final seconds, and they get top of the Group. Group F’s turn, where 1st through 3rd were all locked on 8 points. Villarreal vs Young Boys, and a brace by Danjuma ensures Villarreal go through, it was down to a winner takes all match between Man U and Atalanta, in Bergamo. A 77th minute winner came. By none other than Moumi Ngamaleu of Atalanta. Man U were out. In group G, Lille got themselves top of the group with Wolfsburg 2nd. The last group was a corker. Malmo and Chelsea both had 8 and Juventus had 7. If Chelsea and Juve both won they’d go through, however if any don’t there’s a serious threat of not going through. Chelsea vs HJK first, and Chelsea had to rely on Kai Havertz heroics after going down 2-0 from a Ronaldo brace. It finished 2-2. However, this put Chelsea on 9, putting them through, but as I said, limping across the line with just 2 wins and a 4 game winless streak going into the last 16. Malmo vs Juventus next. Juve HAD TO WIN. 5-2. An emphatic win by Juve sees them limp across as well. That concludes the groups, here are the round of 16 ties.
Wolfsburg vs Real Madrid
Shakhtar vs Lille
Club Brugge vs Dortmund
Villarreal vs RB Leipzig
Bayern vs Liverpool
Atlético vs Juventus
Ajax vs Atalanta
Chelsea vs Barcelona
Wolfsburg vs Real Madrid first, in Germany. Real got off to a very Madrid-y way, getting a load of chances early on, and Luka Modric even hit the bar inside 29 minutes. However, despite 7 shots, it was 0-0 at half-time. In the 49th, Max Arnold got a chance for the home side from the spot, but it was saved. 10 minutes later, Marco Asensio finally got Los Blancos the goal that they had been so desperately hoping for. However, Real couldn’t break down the defence for a 2nd time, and it finished 1-0.
Then it was Shakhtar vs Lille. The scoring started early with Timothy Weah putting Lille up 1-0 in the 11th minute, and in the 23rd, a chance from the spot by Bruno Fernandes. He converted. 2-0 Lille. In the 31st, Duvan Zapata seized a golden opportunity and made it 3-0. In the 37th, Xeka almost makes it 4, but it stayed 3-0 at half-time. The scoring continued in the second half when in the 57th minute, Duvan Zapata got his 2nd of the night and made it 4-0. The humiliation continued when at 67 minutes in Marlon got sent off for taking down the last man. Or so you would think. 75 minutes in, laziness at the back saw Maycon get a consolation, but that was all the scoring. Lille takes a seeming unfellable 3-goal lead back to France.
The next game is Brugge vs Dortmund. 15 minutes in, the inevitable happened and Dortmund tookn the lead through Bellingham. Julian Brandt scored a screamer on the stroke of half-time and Dortmund were 2-0 up. In the 55th, Griezmann got in on the fun, and scored again 5 minutes later. 4-0 Dortmund. Dortmund hit the post in the 81st, but Brugge and Jonathan David executed a slick counter to get one back for the Belgians. That’s how it stayed, Dortmund with a huge lead.
Then it was Villarreal vs Leipzig. I accidentally quick simmed it, and 49th and 59th minute goals saw Villarreal get a 2-goal lead to Germany.
The next game is the game of the Round. Bayern v Liverpool. The leg in Germany kicks off!
After 5 minutes the deadlock was already broken, by Steven Berghuis of Bayern. 12 minutes later, Palhinha doubled the lead. However, in the 37th minute, Diogo Jota got one back for the visitors, followed up by a loss of focus, and a 2nd goal by Palhinha. Half-Time, 3-1 Bayern. If you were worried about the second half being boring, worry not as Diogo Jota yet again scored 6 minutes in, 3-2, followed by Leroy Sane making it 4-2 minutes later. In the 78th minute substitute Paulo Dybala tried to get the game back for Liverpool, but could they do it? No. After a barrage of chances, Steven Berghuis found himself chasing a long ball in miles of space, and eventually got it past Alisson to make it 5-3, a thriller, and give the Bavarians a 2-goal lead going back to Anfield.
Then Atleti vs Juventus, I game I expect to produce little scoring, but in the 11th minute, Joao Felix got a goal for Atleti. 1-0. Then in the 31st, Rodrigo de Paul made it 2, and in stoppage time, Jan Oblak made a crucial save to preserve the lead going into the break. Atleti continued doing their thing in the second half, with Erling Haaland scoring in the 53rd to make it 3-0. Juve finally started getting their stuff together, as a 62nd minute goal by Alvaro Morata put them back in it emotionally. Then a 77th minute goal by Chiesa actually put them back in it, 3-2. Then in the 87th minute, the ball fell beautifully to Dusan Vlahovic, who whammed it home. 3-3, Juve had come back from 3-0 down. They made a seemingly uncombackable lead into a favorable position going back to the Allianz Stadium.
Ajax vs Atalanta I quick simmed, because I wasn’t too bothered by it, but it turned out that Ajax are probably going to the quarters after a 3-0 victory in Amsterdam.
The last game of the first leg is a corker. Barca vs Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. It was actually boring for a while until Pedri put Barca ahead 39 minutes in. It stayed like that for the first half, but 58 minutes in, Kai Havertz made it 1-1. That’s how it stayed for the rest of the game.
Second legs now, and we start with Dortmund vs Brugge, and Dortmund held a 4-1 lead and were at home. A comeback hope was trounced early by Gerard Moreno in the 17th minute, 1-0 Dortmund, 5-1 on Aggregate. However, Jonathan David got one back for Brugge 3 minutes later. Was there a hope? No. 29 minutes in, Julian Brandt put Dortmund up 2-1 on the night, 6-2 on aggregate. However, Belgian hearts got more hope on the stroke of half-time, with Adamyan scoring to make the aggregate 6-3. Objectively however, this was not at all where Brugge wanted to be. Antoine Griezmann burned the last dying embers of hope in the 50th minute, making it 3-2 in the game and 7-3 on aggregate.Then in the 55th, Odoi was sent off and Brugge were down to 10 men. Griezmann scored again in the 64th, making the aggregate 8-3. Gerard Moreno got his 2nd in the 84th, making it 5-2 on the night. 9-3 on aggregate. However, Manuel Akanji got a red card when he really shouldn’t have in stoppage time, and the game ended 5-2, 9-3 on aggregate.
Then it’s Villarreal vs Leipzig, and the Yellow Submarine hold a 2-goal lead going to Germany, could they hold on? Well, in the 16th minute, their lead was put in danger by Emil Forsberg, 1-0 Leipzig, 2-1 Villarreal on aggregate., and Poulsen almost equalised in the 29th. Keyword almost. In the 39th minute, Arnaut Danjuma eqalised on the night and restored Villarreal’s lead. Oops. It was 1-1 at half time, and Emil Forsberg got his brace late on and got it back down to one again. However, 3 minutes later, Villarreal got a penalty and a chance to put the tie to bed. David Alaba seized the opportunity, leveling the scores, yet again. 2-2 on the night, 2-4 Villarreal on aggregate. That’s how it finished.
Real Madrid vs Wolfsburg. Real held a 1-0 lead going into the home leg. Any hope of a comeback was splattered inside 4 minutes when Mbappe did what Mbappe does, slice through the defence like a hot knife through butter. 1-0 Real, 2-0 on aggregate. That’s how it stayed for the rest of the half. Wolfsburg got a bit of hope in the 64th minute after a Jonas Wind goal put them back in the tie. However, Marco Asensio put the tie to bed 9 minutes later. 2-1 in the game, 3-1 Real on aggregate. Mbappe got a misery compiler in the 85th, and that’s how it ended. Aggregate: Real 4, Wolfsburg 1.
Speaking of 4-1, that was the lead LOSC Lille took back home after the first leg vs Shakhtar in Ukraine. They had a chance to see out the lead and get to the Quarters. However, Toni Kroos scored in the 10th minute to get Shakhtar an early goal. Then Fernando scored and Shakhtar had 2 of the 3 needed by 25 minutes in. Then in first half stoppage time, Fernando completed the comeback. 3-0 Shakhtar, 4-4 on aggregate. Lille were up 4-0 at one point, and they have completed collapsed. However, in the 68th, Duvan Zapata scored to make it 1-3, 5-4 on aggregate, and the fans heaved a huge sigh of relief.Then in the 76th minute, Renato Sanches scored to get it across the line for Lille. Shakhtar showed signs of growing back to like 12 minutes later by Toni Kroos, but it was too little too late. 4-2 Shakhtar on the night, 6-5 Lille on aggregate.
Atalanta vs Ajax next up, and Ajax held a 3-0 lead going to Bergamo, and they don’t seem like the type of team to collapse with a lead like that, right? Well, after half an hour Brian Brobbey put Ajax up on the night, and 4-0 up on aggregate. That’s how the first half ended. In the 76th minute, Mohamed Ihattaren had a chance to make it embarrassing from the spot, but it was saved. He was quickly forgiven as Klaiber scored from the ensuing corner. Moumi Ngamaleu got a consolation in stoppage time, which is how it ended. 2-1 Ajax on the night, 5-1 on aggregate.
From now on it’s the good games. We start with Barca-Chelsea at the Camp Nou. In the 28th minute, Pique brought down the last man and got sent off, the task now harder for the Catalans. It was 0-0 at half-time, 1-1 on aggregate. Still everything to play for. Barca’s lack of a man was punished 77 minutes in by Kai Havertz who broke the deadlock and gave Chelsea an aggregate lead. In the 90th minute, Kai Havertz sealed the tie. Full time, Barca 0-2 Chelsea on the night, 3-1 Chelsea on aggregate.
Now it was Liverpool-Bayern. We all remember the 5-3 spectacle in the 1st leg, could we see a game of similar quality at Anfield? Well, 13 minutes in, Berghuis scored, and seemingly sealed the tie, 1-0 Bayern, 6-3 on aggregate. 28 minutes in, Eric Chuopo-Moting doubled Bayern’s advantage on the night. The tie was now seemingly beyond reach. However, 4 minutes later Dybala had a chance from 12 yards. A penalty. He converted and got one back for Liverpool. At 39 minutes though, Berghuis got his brace. Liverpool were right back where they started. Half time it was 3-1 Bayern, and Liverpool needed a miracle. A miracle they wouldn’t get, as a dull second half sees Bayern win 8-4 on aggregate.
Last game of the RO16, Juventus vs Atlético. 3-3 was the result in the first leg, after a 3-goal comeback from the Old Lady. However, 24 minutes in, Erling Haaland scored to put Atleti up. Haaland scored again 11 minutes later, 2-0 Atlético, 5-3 on aggregate. However Juve wouldn’t let the lead get to 3 as Locatelli scored on the stroke of half-time. Atleti would get a third though through Joao Felix, and won 3-1 on the night, 6-4 on aggregate.
Quarter-Final Matchups
Bayern vs Chelsea
Lille vs Real Madrid
Atlético Madrid vs Dortmund
Villarreal vs Ajax
Bayern vs Chelsea first. The 2 most recent winners go at it. Let’s begin!
14’ Eric Chuopo-Moting breaks the deadlock. Bayern lead. 1-0.
Half-Time, a slim lead for the Bavarians.
66’ Hakim Ziyech equalises. 1-1.
90’+1’ Kevin de Bruyne scores from a penalty. 1-2.
Chelsea take a 2-1 lead back to Stamford Bridge. Bayern are in serious danger
Lille vs Real Madrid next. Real has to win here, right? The leg in France commences!
15’ Mbappe puts Los Blancos on the scoresheet. 0-1.
26’ Vini doubles Real’s lead. 0-2.
41’ Mbappe gets another goal. 0-3.
56’ Asensio gets in on it. 0-4.
73’ Mbappe gets his hat-trick. 0-5.
87’ Weah gets a consolation. 1-5.
A demolishing of Lille by Real Madrid, they’re going to the semi finals.
Atlético vs Dortmund now. The penultimate game of the first leg.
50’ Gerard Moreno scores. Dortmund lead. 0-1.
70’ Goal by Haaland, it’s level. 1-1.
Full-Time, and it’s level going back to Germany.
Villarreal vs Ajax lastly. Let’s see what happens.
5’ Klaiber sent off. Ajax down to 10.
51’ Klassen scores, Ajax in front. 0-1.
55’ Iborra equalises promptly. 1-1.
71’ Lisandro Martinez puts Ajax back in front. 1-2.
Ajax take a lead back to Holland. 2-1 is the final score.
Second legs now.
Dortmund vs Atleti first. It’s all even steven so far, let’s see how it goes.
6’ Gerard Moreno puts Dortmund in front early from the Penalty spot. 1-0 (2-1).
14’ Grimaldo doubles Dortmund’s advantage, Atleti in trouble. 2-0 (3-1).
19’ Haaland scores, Atleti back in it. 2-1 (3-2).
38’ Lodi equalises. It’s all square. 2-2 (3-3).
Half-Time, and if the first half is as good as the 2nd, we’re in for a treat.
80’ Julian Brandt puts Dortmund ahead. Is this finally the dagger in the heart? 3-2 (4-3).
86’ Griezmann seals it for Dortmund. 4-2 (5-3).
Ajax vs Villarreal. Ajax has a lead, can they see it out and play their 2nd Semi Final in 4 seasons?
14’ Klassen puts Ajax in front on the night. 1-0 (3-1).
27’ Brobbey makes it two on the night and seals the tie, surely. 2-0 (4-1).
36’ Iborra gets one back. 2-1 (4-2.)
44’ Klassen gets Villarreal right back where they started. 3-1 (5-2).
Ajax have a commanding lead at half time, can they see this out?
54’ Alberto Moreno gets one back. 3-2 (5-3).
72’ Villarreal hit the post.
Full-Time, Ajax are through!
Chelsea-Bayern next. The defending champs hold a lead going into the home leg.
45’ Sane equalises with the last kick of the half. 0-1 (2-2).
Half-Time, and it’s all to play for. Let’s see it!
70’ Sabitzer puts Bayern in front. 0-2 (2-3).
Full-Time, and a comeback win by Bayern sees them defeat the reigning champs.
Real-Lille next, and the second leg seems nothing more than a formality, however, Mbappe is suspended, so that will put a damper on Real scoring many goals.
32’ Luka Jovic scores, and Real lead on the night. 1-0 (6-1).
37’ Bruno Fernandes gets a consolation from the spot. 1-1 (6-2).
One all at half time.
66’ Xeka gets another consolation. 1-2 (6-3).
70’ Goal by Bruno Fernandes. It couldn’t happen, could it? 1-3 (6-4)
74’ Nope, they couldn’t. Asensio calms the hearts of the Madrid faithful. 2-3 (7-4).
83’ Vini scores, it’s just embarrassing now. 3-3 (8-4).
87’ Asensio gets his brace, Real just won’t stop. 4-3 (9-4)
An emphatic win by Real after looking like maybe they could collapse, they didn’t and they go to the Semis.
Semi-Finals matchups:
Ajax vs Bayern
Real Madrid vs Dortmund
Ajax vs Bayern first. Can Ajax upset Bayern?
13’ Brobbey scores. Bayern stunned. 1-0.
18’ Berghuis equalises. We all saw this coming, didn’t we? 1-1.
24’ Nicklas Sule sent off. Bayern down to 10.
36’ Eric Chuopo-Moting scores, Bayern lead. 1-2.
Half-Time, it’s 2-1 Bayern.
62’ Gravenberch scores a stunner, it’s level. Ajax aren’t going down without a fight. 2-2.
69’ Palhinha gives Bayern the lead again. 2-3.
Full-Time, and it’s not as comfortable as they would have liked, but Bayern go back to the Allianz with a lead.
Real Madrid vs Dortmund at the Bernabeu. Mbappe’s back, so let’s go!
17’ Penalty from Fabinho saved. Still 0-0.
21’ Goal Mbappe. Madrid lead. 1-0.
38’ Malen equalises. 1-1.
Half-Time, it’s level in Spain.
58’ Gerard Moreno scores. Dortmund go in front 1-2.
79’ Brandt scores, Dortmund extend their lead. 1-3.
83’ Fabinho gets one back. 2-3.
Dortmund will take a 2-3 lead back to Germany, but will they hold on? It’s 2nd leg time.
18’ Modric scores, it’s level. 0-1 (3-3).
37’ Fabinho scores, Real lead.0-2 (3-4)
42’ Gerard Moreno scores, it’s level again. 1-2 (4-4)
A brilliant first half sees the teams level, but will we see a winner or extra time and maybe penalties?
51’ Mbappe puts Real back in front. 1-3 (4-5).
66’ Gerard Moreno ties it again. 2-3 (5-5).
78’ Fabinho misses another penalty.
81’ Bellingham scores. 3-3 (6-5).
What. A. Game. Dortmund go through to the final in very entertaining fashion!
Bayern-Ajax. The Bavarians hold a 3-2 lead going into the home leg as well, but can they keep it?
19’ Berghuis scores, Bayern lead. 1-0 (4-2).
Half-Time, and I can’t see Bayern being toppled now.
51’ Berghuis makes it 2. 2-0 (5-2)
69’ Choupo-Moting gets in on the action. 3-0 (6-2).
90’ Berghuis gets his hat-trick. 4-0 (7-2).
A convincing win from Bayern sees a Der Klassiker Final.
The Final now. I’ve been working on this since Monday, so this is what 3 days of work has been leading towards. I hope the game doesn’t crash.
22’ Goal Dortmund. It’s Julian Brandt! 0-1.
Half Time, and it’s Dortmund who lead. Can Bayern get an equaliser?
59’ Of all people to get the equaliser, it’s Marcel Sabitzer. It’s level! 1-1.
84’ Goal, by Julian Brandt! Is that the sealer? 1-2.
It is the sealer. Dortmund win the Champions League!
What an experiment. Dortmund win it, upsets galore, and pure madness throughout the entire Football World. I’m Jim James, until next time.