It was eight o’clock in the morning on Monday in Argentina when the draw that established the crosses of the best 16 teams from Europe. It had been what everyone expected: a confrontation between Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) and Lionel Messi (PSG). However, the morbid had to wait: an error in the balls of the draw made it necessary to repeat the same. Unusual where you look at it.
What happened is that minutes after the draw, the Atlético de Madrid (playing against the mighty Bayern Munich) protested an unusual mistake with the balls and the draw had to be held again at one in the afternoon, Argentina time.
In the draw, teams from the same country cannot face each other, or who have shared a group in the previous phase. In the balls, badly arranged, this type of crosses could occur, which caused everything to be reprogrammed.
After the mistake that went around the world, the UEFA blamed the software and the draw on Nyon, Swiss, was realized again. “Following a technical problem with the software of an external service provider that instructs the judges on which teams are eligible to play each other, a material error occurred in the draw for the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League. As a result of this, the draw has been declared void and will be done in full at 15:00 CET (14:00 GMT). ”, Was the official statement that UEFA issued through its social networks.
Who were favored and harmed by the new pairing?
In principle we will talk about Atletico Madrid from Diego “The Cholo” Simeone. In the first draw he had to face the Bayern Munich, perhaps the best team in the world, which has a very oily machine, with players of the highest level and an impressive team performance. In the second, he will play against Manchester United. That, despite having brilliant names like Cristiano Ronaldo, does not give the feeling of utopia that the German team offered.
Even the biggest winner in history was disadvantaged: the Real Madrid. It turns out that the team led by Carleto Ancelotti went from facing the Benfica of Portugal, al Paris Saint Germain from Messi, Mbappé, Neymar Y Say Maria. Although, in Spain they give Merengue as a candidate, in principle the crossing against the Parisian galactics suggests a more difficult scenario for the White House.
Above this server spoke of a morbid that should wait, the wait was only a few hours. The Argentine star will once again face his lifelong rival, and he has been a big stone in the shoe for the meringues for many years. Is that Messi scored 26 goals in 45 games. On average, more than half as much per match played. The ex Barcelona wrote down 18 goals to him by Liga (in 28 parties); It also made him 6 in the Spanish Super Cup and 2 in the Champions League.
The crosses of the knockout stages of the Champions League
SALZBURGO (AUS) vs BAYERN MUNICH (ALE)
SPORTING DE LISOBA (POR) vs MANCHESTER CITY (ING)
BENFICA (POR) vs AJAX (HOL)
CHELSEA (ING) vs LILLE (FRA)
ATLETICO DE MADRID (ESP) vs MANCHESTER UNITED (ING)
VILLARREAL (ESP) vs JUVENTUS (ITA)
INTER (ITA) vs LIVERPOOL (ING)
PSG (FRA) vs REAL MADRID (ESP)
The Europa League also had its draw
The second biggest club tournament in Europe left some interesting crossovers. With clubs used to playing the highest competition, it makes it more colorful and attractive to the public.
Barcelona, recently eliminated in the group stage of the Champions League, fell to the Europa League, but this Monday was not favored in the draw carried out by UEFA. Through the playoffs for a passage to the round of 16, the team now led by Xavi, must face Napoli. A tough rival the team of Luciano Spalletti, who until three dates ago was leading Calcio and today, suffering from several injuries, appears in fourth place.
Both teams have a recent showdown. In the 2019/20 season they met in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Lionel Messi’s Barsa, today at PSG, beat Napoli in the series and advanced to the round.
Other interesting clashes occur in this competition: Red Bull Leipzig (ALE) against Real Sociedad (ESP); Porto (POR) will host Lazio (ITA); Borussia Dortmund (ALE) will play against the legendary Rangers of Scotland.
The remaining crosses will be: Sheriff vs. Sporting de Braga; Atalanta Vs. Olympiacos; Sevilla vs. Dinamo Zagreb; Zenith Vs. Real Betis.
They will wait in the round of 16: Olympique de Lyon, AS Monaco, Eintracht Frankfurt, Spartak Moscow, Galatasaray, Red Star, Bayer Leverkusen and West Ham.
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