In the Champions League quarter-finals, PSG made easy work of Liverpool at home, while Harry Kane and Michael Olise shone for Bayern Munich to pick up a vital away win at the Bernabeu.
Kvaratskhelia shows PSG’s class
PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia carried PSG’s mantle of Champions League title holders on Wednesday night when he and his side outclassed Arne Slot’s struggling Reds in a 2-0 victory.
Kvaratskhelia and French youngster Désiré Doué proved unplayable at times, and too much for the traveling men from Merseyside to handle.
Liverpool found themselves on the ropes on plenty of occasions, with PSG’s finishing inaccuracy and key saves from Giorgi Mamardashvili keeping the Reds in the tie.
“When we pressed them high we were ripped apart,” Arne Slot said after the match, quoted on Sky Sports. “The second half of the game for us was more about surviving.
“We’re lucky to only lose 2-0 as they had more chances than they scored, although the first goal felt harsh as we didn’t give anything away.
“It’s very good we’re still in the tie. We can bring them to Anfield with how much a difference Anfield can make for us.”
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Olise and Kane on a different level for Bayern
Luis Diaz’s tidy late first-half finish and Kane’s assertive side-footed placement into the bottom corner to open up the second half was enough for the German side to clinch an important 2-1 away win against Real Madrid.
Legendary goalkeeper Manuel Neuer did have to make notable interventions at times though, keeping out Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe on multiple occasions. The Madrid star did break through in the 74th minute however.
The story of the night, however, came on Bayern’s right-hand side, with Olise giving left-back Álvaro Carreras a Champions League lesson and a night to forget.
“It’s not going to be easy,” Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa said regarding travelling to the Allianz Stadium for the second leg.
“I played there many times and we know the atmosphere in the Allianz is not easy for the opponents. But we are Real Madrid, so we can win anywhere.”
Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany said that he was even more confident of his side’s ability to be more clinical at home.
“The few chances that I feel we should have put to bed, we will be able to score when we go to the Allianz,” he said.
“But I see no reason for us not to go into that next game with full belief and an idea to just go and win the game, although we play against a team with incredible talent.”
Camp Nou controversy
Julián Alvarez’s statement free-kick, a handball incident and a VAR-reviewed red card encapsulated an eventful evening at the Camp Nou.
“You get nothing for being the better team,” Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick said. “We were not lucky today. We had a good first half and then the red card and the goal.
“In the second half we played well with one player less.
“Atletico have high quality in the offence; their strikers are really good, but we have to stay positive. We have the quality to win there. It will be tough, but it is our great goal to reach the final.”
Alexander Sorloth’s goal with 20 minutes remaining leaves Barcelona with a 2-0 deficit to overcome in the second leg at the Metropolitano.
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Arsenal leave it late in Lisbon
Kai Havertz tucked away a Gabriel Martinelli assist in stoppage time to help the Gunners leave Lisbon with a 1-0 lead to defend at the Emirates in the second leg.
“In the end a magic moment from the finishers wins us the game,” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told Amazon Prime after the game.
“Beautiful and that’s the impact you need when you get to this stage of the season. Everybody has to make an impact and they certainly did that tonight.”
The quarter-final second legs kick off on April 14 and 15 respectively.
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