Four knockout knockouts conclude this week, with Barcelona seeking another miracle against Paris Saint-Germain, Cristiano Ronaldo eager to extend his Champions League campaign, and Sevilla trying to control Erling Haaland to reach the quarterfinals.
We tell you the highlights of what is to come this Tuesday and Wednesday.
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Round of 16 second leg matches
Tuesday March 9
Dortmund – Sevilla
Juventus – Porto
Wednesday March 10
Paris – Barcelona
Liverpool – Leipzig
Sevilla, for the comeback against Haaland
The Spanish press highlighted the great performance of Erling Haaland in the first leg, when two of his shots helped Dortmund win 2-3 in the Sevilla field. “Hammer Haaland,” read the headline of Marca’s chronicle, continuing: “It’s the Norse god Thor with a ball instead of a hammer. Pure power. Bestial.” The Dortmund forward leads the competition’s scoring rankings with eight goals, but Sevilla is far from lowering their arms and promises a battle. A goal in the opening bars for the Spanish team could completely change the meaning of the tie …
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Porto, for all
If the Portuguese newspapers were euphoric after Porto’s impressive victory against Juventus (2-1) in the first leg, coach Sérgio Conçeicão was much more restrained: “It was not perfect because we conceded.” ‘The dragons’ could have achieved 3-0, but instead the advantage of a goal seems scarce, since they are now heading to Turin to face a Cristiano Ronaldo who knows that if his team surpasses this tie, he can equalize in the quarterfinals final Iker Casillas’ record of 177 matches in the UEFA Champions League. If he loses, the 36-year-old will have to wait until fall for his next chance …
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Is another Barça miracle possible?
“You have to play the return leg, but a 1-4 is usually difficult to come back. I can lie to you, but there are few options to pass,” acknowledged Ronald Koeman after the tough 1-4 suffered by Barcelona in the first leg against Paris Saint -Germain. It does not seem very simple that the comeback can take place, but everything can happen in a team with Leo Messi and who can look for inspiration in his duel against the Gauls in 2016/17. Paris, meanwhile, threatens once again with a Kylian Mbappé who signed a performance to remember at the Camp Nou.
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Liverpool, without confidence …
Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané were in charge of putting Liverpool with a clear lead in the tie after the 0-2 first leg, also giving a break to a Jürgen Klopp team that has gone through difficult weeks. “It was the game we wanted, it was the game we needed,” said the coach. The reds’ delicate streak in the Premier League means that their rival can see them as a vulnerable team, as Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann well knows. “We have to go back two goals to reach at least extra time. But everything starts again with a 0-0 and we showed [en el partido de ida] that we have the capacity to match them and create chances. “
