Twitter reacts as Manchester City & Real Madrid book place in Champions League quarter finals
We have been treated to some incredible Champions League upsets over the past few seasons, but on Tuesday night the super clubs finally got one over the little guys.
Manchester City and Real Madrid both progressed, as expected, past Borussia Monchengladbach and Atalanta with 2-0 and 3-1 win respectively. Although the results were predictable, there was still lots of fun to be found in both games.
Things got off to a rip-roaring start when City put any notions of an upset to bed with two quickfire goals. The first came after just 12 minutes and what a strike it was. Latching onto a pass from Riyad Mahrez, Kevin de Bruyne unleashed an unstoppable, 'weak foot' drive past Yann Sommer. The ball clipped the bar as it went in as well, adding even more style points.
A Kevin De Bruyne rocket! ?
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 16, 2021
Goal ? for Man City in all competitions this season ?
And what a goal it was! pic.twitter.com/PVAWWoulwK
De Bruyne’s “weaker” foot is an underrated aspect of his skill-set - that goal vs Gladbach and the assist vs West Ham recently both sensational pieces of technique.
— Premier League Panel (@PremLeaguePanel) March 16, 2021
25 - Kevin De Bruyne has scored 25 goals from outside the box in all competitions for Manchester City, the most of any Premier League since he joined the club. Thunderous. pic.twitter.com/RMVhAUqM9e
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 16, 2021
City's second goal wasn't half bad either. Coming just six minutes after the opener, Phil Foden broke free in midfield and played a delicious through ball to Ilkay Gundogan. The German made no mistake with the finish, doubling his side's lead and all but confirming their place in the quarter finals.
Another class Man City goal! ??
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 16, 2021
Phil Foden with an exquisite turn, driving run and no-look pass ?
İlkay Gündoğan finishes the move off with composure and Pep Guardiola's side are on the rampage! pic.twitter.com/cDde81A4cA
Phil Foden has always known where the gaps are. ?pic.twitter.com/W555cVETfB
— 90min (@90min_Football) March 16, 2021
Phil Foden is a generational talent.
— Nwanneka OmecheMcfc (@nwanneka_omeche) March 16, 2021
Our Star Boy ??. pic.twitter.com/sdY77RLFRe
20 - Phil Foden has been directly involved 20 goals in all competitions this season (11 goals & 9 assists), at least eight more than the closest U21 player for a Premier League club (Bukayo Saka, 12). Gifted. pic.twitter.com/qiBBSDaBfI
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 16, 2021
Apart from the trophies and playing style, Pep Guardiola’s next biggest legacy in English football is going to be his development of Phil Foden
— ⚡️?? (@Priceless_Silva) March 16, 2021
Following City's flying start, most people's attentions turned to Madrid.
After Atalanta's Robin Gosens missed a golden opportunity early on, Real were gifted a goal just after the half hour mark. Marco Sportiello passed the ball straight down the throat of Luka Modric who then rolled it for Karim Benzema to convert.
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️
— 90min (@90min_Football) March 16, 2021
70 Champions League goals for Karim Benzema. One away from Raúl in 4th place on the all time list. ? pic.twitter.com/NdYWUgvzTO
Atalanta’s passing is so bad I cba
— M?? (@TacticalCFC) March 16, 2021
So far this has been a veerrrry comfortable game from Madrid besides two early "scares." Gonna need to do the full deep rewatch to confirm but the shift to this asymmetric back four looks to have confused Atalanta's press (and besides that Gasperini's men have just been bad).
— Ted LassOm (@OmVAsports) March 16, 2021
Horrible goal for Real there. Poor from Atalanta. #RMAATA
— Lee (@SupaSaiyajinLee) March 16, 2021
After the break, the visitors somehow managed to play even worse. First Vinicius Junior failed to finish his fine solo run. Minutes later the Brazilian would redeem himself by winning a penalty.
Sergio Ramos converted from 12 yards because, well, that's just what he does isn't it?
The next time someone says: "everything but the finish" - think of this.
— 90min (@90min_Football) March 16, 2021
Vinicius literally does everything, but score. ?pic.twitter.com/6EMiWW9Uq0
we need to implement this when fans are allowed back in the stadium so that vinicius can score pic.twitter.com/1RPVZl7E6o
— ghxddxr ? (@ohmyghxddxr) March 16, 2021
Been saying it for 3 years but all Vinicius needs to do is work on his finishing, literally all he needs to do. Once he gets there and plays like he does today he’s a world class player.
— Xav Salazar (@XavsFutbol) March 16, 2021
?2015: The last time Real Madrid were knocked out of the Champions League with Sergio Ramos on the pitch.@marca pic.twitter.com/4NhbaRV38j
— Madrid Xtra. (@MadridXtra) March 16, 2021
15 - Only Roberto Carlos (16) has scored more UEFA Champions League goals than Real Madrid skipper Sergio Ramos (15) among all defenders in the competition. Galacticos. pic.twitter.com/KE1SfZQsZP
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 16, 2021
Atalanta did at least manage to pull one back when Luis Muriel bent a free kick over the wall and past Thibaut Courtois.
Seconds later though, Real restored their two goal advantage. Oh dear.
No clean sheet for Real Madrid. Credit to Luis Muriel for an excellent free kick, right into the top corner. He is a wonderful player.
— The Real Champs (@TheRealChampsFS) March 16, 2021
Atalanta pull a goal back with Luis Muriel scoring a free-kick, really good technique to curl the ball over the wall and into the net before Real Madrid make it 3-1 with Marco Asensio being played in and he fires home but Marco Sportiello should have saved that at his near-post.
— Josh Bunting (@Buntingfootball) March 16, 2021
that muriel free kick really got my hopes up. asensio closed that right down lol
— Milotic FC (@milotic_fc) March 16, 2021
Vinicius was all sweat blood and tears to grind out this result for Madrid, finally proved to Zidane how he deserves to start next game just for Asensio to come on in the final minutes, score within 1 touch and throw a “one chance, bang” on his head.
— Xav Salazar (@XavsFutbol) March 16, 2021
Marco Asensio has scored his first Champions League goal in over two years.
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 16, 2021
His last #UCL goal came in Real’s 4-1 defeat to Ajax in March 2019. pic.twitter.com/9vQ1WwzaKS
Ah, but what about the second half of the Manchester City game we hear you ask. Well, not a lot happened to be honest.
The Cityzens now turn their attentions to which team will have the pleasure of knocking them out in the quarter finals this year...
Pep Guardiola ?? Over thinking in quarter finals
— Daniel Igelugbo Kal_El???? (@Kal_El_IG) March 16, 2021
The greatest club in the world has entered the quarter-finals.
— Blanco (@blancos_ultra) March 16, 2021
Vamossssss
As routine as it can be for us to get to the quarter finals of the champions league………our tournament actually begins from now…. Come on city!!!!!!!!!! @ManCity #WNRH
— CityzenFoster (@Manuelfoster1) March 16, 2021
I want to see a Man City vs Madrid or Psg vs Madrid. We need exciting quarter finals!!
— ??? (@ayeesquared) March 16, 2021