2022 Champions League (Quarterfinals)

1st leg

Liverpool 3-1 Benfica

Liverpool was the better team, the more creative team. And when Liverpool got an early goal on a corner, really felt like it was over already. And when they added another before halftime (beautiful pass of the cross into the box), man, there wasn't really anything to watch. But Benfica was able to find the goal in the 49th minute (ehh, the defender just kinda whiffed on the incoming cross and left a lot of goal to shoot at) and suddenly there was enough  of a game to develop some interest. But Liverpool dominated possession and had the defense to keep Benfica off balance throughout. I thought Benfica's keeper actually made a lot of good saves, though the 3rd goal was his fault (came out to make a play, did not make it, open goal for the forward). Liverpool got the big road win and I don't think it was a fluke, I think Liverpool is clearly the better team, I'd be surprised if Benfica is even able to put up much of a fight in the return match. 

Manchester City 1-0 Atletico Madrid

Atletico played some tight D, bunkered in, never got the counter attack they way they wanted, but there was still plenty of good action in this match. De Bruyne was able to slip through one time, finished it, and that was ball game. That description of bunkered D and very little penetration or counter probably sounds like a dull match but not at all. There were a lot of intricate attempts well parried and some breakaway chances, actually an invigorating game considering how rarely either team came near the goal. Looking forward to the 2nd leg of this one. 

Chelsea 1-3 Real Madrid

Man, this match was much more competitive than the score would suggest. Simply put: Real scored their chances and Chelsea didn't. The first goal was a such a lovely finish (header in the box just under the bar) by Benzema after a series of tick-tack passes from midfield. A few minutes Benzema was able to finished another header (going back behind the goalie's momentum) off a long pass into the box--two breathtaking goals so quickly and Chelsea was shook. Both teams moved the ball well and had shots and when Chelsea were able to find the goal right before halftime, felt like we had a game. But early in the 2nd half, Chelsea gave up one of the goofiest goals I've ever seen: the keeper came way out to settle a a long ball that drifted long past the forward, but you could tell keeper didn't know what he wanted to do with the ball, then clearly misjudged how the driving rain had soaked the ground, poohed a soft pass to the defender, who couldn't keep it away from a charging Benzema, who had a relatively simply open-goal from 40 yards out (a true hockey goal). Man, no idea what that keeper was doing, but he had a bad day. Three goals on the road probably pushes Real into the semifinals, but Chelsea played fine, they had chances and perhaps in better weather on the return match, they'll play loose and get to the goal. Tough climb for Chelsea, but this one's not over just yet. 

Villareal 1-0 Bayern Munich

Bayern is a strangely hesitant squad for a blue blood giant of euro football, so I wasn't shocked that Villareal was able to put points on the board on them. The goal was a whipsaw set of quick passes that left the Bayern keeper laying on the ground wondering what just happened. Not long after, Villareal was able to sneak another drifting cross into the goal, but that was called off-side (correct call). But moments like that make the average fan wonder what's up with Bayern. A bit more action in the 2nd half but all pretty similar stuff. Villareal did well to make their one goal stand up. Bayern is gonna be ready for the return match, this one is still up for grabs. 

2nd leg

Real Madrid 2-3 (agg 5-4) Chelsea

Chelsea came out with more intensity than Real Madrid, got an early goal and when they scored again early in the 2nd half, the match that seemed like a walkover was suddenly a nail biter. Real Madrid finally woke up when Chelsea had a goal waived off on replay in the 65th minute and from then on it was a more even contest. When Chelsea went up in the 75th minute, the fire was really lit under Real, who had been strangely sluggish up til then. Rodrygo came off the bench and scored right away off a brilliant finish (off a brilliant pass from Modric) and the game was good fun from then on with both teams have numerous chances. In Extra Time, Real scored right away off a bad giveaway in the defensive half that Vinicius was able to bring up the left wing and pick out Benzema at the penalty spot for the game winner. Fun game! Crazy action but I can't help noticing that Real is good but certainly not unbeatable, as they sorta halfheartedly slog through a game sometimes. 

Bayern Munich 1-1 (agg 1-2) Villareal

Bayern was the better team from the jump, they were getting the ball into the box with ease, only a matter of time before they scored. Villareal looked reasonably spicy on the counter, but they were clearly going to have to work harder than Bayern to get a goal and it felt like Bayern could score multiple goals. Just after halftime, Lewandowski  was the beneficiary of a bad giveaway in the defensive half and caught the keeper in no man's land to doink one off the inside of the post. From there, Bayern looked well on their way to taking this into over time (where they would be the favorite to win). But in the 88th minute, Villareal shook loose on a breakaway and nailed a goal--not an easy shot, excellent touch to skim it away from the keeper's grasp--to silence the crowd. A stunner. People may see Villareal as a fluke semfinalist but they did what they needed to get here and they're gonna be a tough out. 

Atletico Madrid 0-0 (agg 0-1) Manchester City

Grueling game, Atletico was the better team but they just couldn't find the goal and that was that. Atletico peppered the goal and Man City had a coupla nice chances, but neither team got on the board though it felt like either of them could. Looking back on this quarterfinal match up, De Bruyne had 5 seconds of brilliance and that was the whole series. Hey, man, it isn't all about goals, this was the most competitively balanced pairing and both teams played brilliantly. That said, I'm not sure about Man City, I just haven't seen them find a consistent attack. 

Liverpool 3-3 (agg 6-4) Benfica

Fun game! Felt like it was over early and yet the offense just kept coming. Benfica had two more goals called off for offside--and two of their goals were initially called offside and then restored on replay! Man, the 2nd half of this match was pure furious action. Liverpool felt like they had it won when they scored an early goal and then spent the next 10 minutes or so just working Benfica (it looked like no fun to be playing for Benfica for most of the 1st half).  But Benfica got on the board by halftime and the 2nd half as a wide open lollapalooza. And for Liverpool to find the net on two corner kicks just shows how unpredictable this match was.