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Match report – Participant rankings – Arteta response – Video
Phew, we’re by means of. I used to be on a knife edge questioning if we’d cling onto our slender first leg lead, however truthful play to the lads, they did it!
Mikel Arteta rang the modifications for final evening’s second leg with PSV, with Ben White, Jakub Kiwior, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney and Raheem Sterling all known as into the beginning XI. It’s only a disgrace he couldn’t discover room for Riccardo Calafiori, in any other case Operation: All The Left Backs would have come to fruition.
We began effectively sufficient. Zinchenko selecting up a ball Sterling did effectively sufficient to win within the opposition half, earlier than driving on and firing house an incredible effort from simply exterior the field. He considered celebrating, then didn’t, too respectful of the … *checks notes* … 652 minutes and 6 begins he made for the Dutch membership in … *checks notes* … the 2016-17 season. When it comes to the non-celebration celebration, I feel he may simply be taking it a little bit too far.
They equalised by means of Ivan Peresic, a pleasant end from the Croatian after some sloppy play in midfield and on the again, whereas on the different finish Lewis-Skelly nearly restored the lead however noticed his effort come again off the put up. Sterling did effectively down the best hand aspect, beating his man and placing in a cross, to permit Declan Rice the prospect to place us again in entrance – and he duly obliged with a convincing shut vary header. Sterling himself may have scored after being put by means of on the break by Zinchenko however on his left foot he couldn’t apply the end simply earlier than the break.
The second half felt very very like two groups going by means of the motions. Rice acquired booked, Calafiori and Leandro Trossard had been despatched on, PSV scored once more after Jorginho acquired caught on the ball in midfield, and Sterling once more had a possibility however noticed the keeper equal to his effort. He was decided to contribute although, and with simply seconds of harm time remaining he slid in to make a sliding problem together with his arse that noticed him choose up a yellow which suggests he’s suspended for the primary leg of the quarter-final.
Would there be a couple of minutes for younger striker Nathan Butler-Oyedeji? To be truthful, it was tight, simply the 6 aim margin, so you may perceive how the supervisor may really feel a bit insecure. Ultimately, no. He placed on three senior gamers, I assume hoping one among them may assist us get a winner that might have been value in extra of €1.5 in prize cash to the membership. He not often makes emotional selections, that Mikel Arteta.
So, a draw, and over the 2 legs – all jokes apart – we had been by far the higher aspect and deserved to undergo. It was gained in Eindhoven, put to mattress in London, then all eyes had been on Madrid. Afterwards, the supervisor stated:
Total, I’m very glad as a result of we have now the second consecutive season within the Champions League quarter-finals. We have now to worth that and recognise that it is rather tough to do it. We’ve performed it constantly and now we wish to make the subsequent step, which goes to be actually tough, however we’re very able to enjoying.
As quickly as our sport was over, I converted to the one between Atletico Madrid and Actual Madrid which in the end went to a penalty shoot-out. The principle speaking level is the actual fact VAR dominated out Julian Alvarez’s penalty for a double-touch, one thing which actually doesn’t appear in any respect evident within the video footage.
Atletico Madrid’s disallowed penalty. I slowed it down and nonetheless battle to see the double faucet.
If you happen to’re disallowing that, you then actually WANT to disallow it. Doesn’t sit proper with me.
Pray for Arsenal.
[image or embed]— kimmoFC (@kimmofc.bsky.social) March 12, 2025 at 11:05 PM
He undoubtedly slipped simply earlier than he hit it, however I’ve to say that’s an absurd strategy to have a penalty in a shoot-out chalked off. If that occurred to us, I’d be so sad, particularly when it’s as questionable at this. However when it comes proper right down to it, Atletico made up for that when Jan Oblak saved from Lucas Vasquez. Then Marcos Llorente, a person who seems to be like he ought to be evaluating enterprise playing cards with Christian Bale in American Psycho, cracked his penalty off the bar, earlier than an unconvincing – however profitable – effort from Antonio Rudiger noticed Actual undergo.
The main focus will probably be on the controversy, for apparent causes as a result of it was so weird, nevertheless it wasn’t all about that. Actual Madrid and this competitors have an unbelievable relationship, which should harm Atletico who – since 2014 – have been overwhelmed by their metropolis rivals in two finals, a semi-final, a quarter-final, and a final 16 sport. Think about the ache of that? That appears merciless and strange punishment.
Anyway, it units up an thrilling, glamorous quarter-final for us to take pleasure in. There will probably be loads of time to sit up for these video games correctly, however the final time we confronted Actual Madrid within the Champions League was in 2006 when that Thierry Henry aim, and that Cesc Fabregas efficiency, despatched us by means of to a quarter-final towards Juventus. If lightning may strike twice, I’d be effectively up for being zapped.
For a bit extra on final evening and the opposite ties of the Spherical of 16, we’ll have an Arsecast for you a bit in a while, so stick round for that. For now, have a very good one.
