The UEFA Champions League for 18-19 was a feisty affair. Liverpool finally ended their drought of a major trophy under Jurgen Klopp, an all-English Final was contested and the law of averages finally caught up with hat-trick heroes Real Madrid. The competition had some humdingers and some stale games. We bring to you the best matches in the Champions League 2018-19.
10. Juventus 3 – 0 Atletico Madrid, Juventus Stadium, Round of 16
Anyone who would have seen a lackluster Juventus at the Wanda Metropolitano a week back would have given them no chance of a comeback in this two-legged tie. But, that’s why Juventus splashed the cash to bring in a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.
CR7 single-handedly guided Juventus past ATM on a night of superb individual football. He scored a hat-trick to overturn a possible 2-0 loss to a 3-2 aggregate victory in favor of Juve.
9. Borussia Dortmund 4 – 0 Atletico Madrid, Signal Iduna Park, Group A
Dortmund had an amazing night of football under new manager Lucian Favre as Reus, Raphaël Guerreiro, Sancho and Witsel scored from open play to doom ATM to their worst defeat in group stages ever.
Four goals to nil served as a wake-up call to Diego Simeone’s side who fared better in other games of the group and progressed to the Round of 16 narrowly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM3iiaErT2s
8. AS Roma 2 – 1 FC Porto, Stadio Olimpico, Round of 16
Roma youngster Nicolo Zaniolo announced himself to the World as Roma went past Porto on a night of frantic football at the Stadio Olimpico.
The game was stretched to the greatest extent, and Zaniolo proved to the most alert striker on the pitch as he put away two well taken chances past Iker Casillas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCtkRi9s2_c
7. Bayern Munich 1 – 3 Liverpool, Allianz Arena, Round of 16
After a dull 0-0 draw at Anfield, Liverpool traveled to Munich looking to do the impossible – beat Bayern at home and progress to the next stage. It went pretty easy for Jurgen Klopp’s side, as the former Borussia Dortmund manager masterminded a stunning 3-1 win over Bayern.
Sadio Mane was the shining star on the pitch, especially in the way he took his first goal, seeing of Niklas Süle
and chipping over Manuel Neuer. A dream night for the Reds.
6. Liverpool 2 – 0 Tottenham Hotspurs, Wanda Metropolitano, Final
If one man needed it the most, it was Jurgen Klopp. If one club needed it the most, it was Liverpool.
After losing out on the Premier League title to Manchester City by just a point, Liverpool met Spurs in an all-English affair at the Spanish capital in the Final of the Champions Legaue.
A second minute penalty from Salah and Origi’s late strike ensured Liverpool took the trophy home, unlike the last time in Kiev when they lost out to Real Madrid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh-urHELBAg
5. Liverpool 4 – 0 FC Barcelona, Anfield, Semifinal
One of the best games in Liverpool history, let alone Champion League history.
After a Lionel Messi masterclass at Camp Nou left Liverpool’s CL dreams hanging by a thread, the Reds came back pounding at a vocal and scintillating Anfield to win 4-0 and dump favorites Barcelona out of the tournament.
Georgino Wijnaldum and Divock Origi scored a brace each as Liverpool romped home with a 4-3 aggregate victory.
4. Ajax 2 – 3 Tottenham Hotspurs, Johan Cryuff Arena, Semifinal
Tottenham found an unlikely hero in Lucas Moura as they traveled to Ajax, the giant-killers in the Champions League 2018-19.
Having conceded two early goals to Hakim Ziyech and de Ligt, Loura scored a hat-trick, including one in stoppage time to guide Tottenham to the Champions League Finals at the Johan Cryuff Arena in Amsterdam.
3. Real Madrid 1 – 4 Ajax, Santiago Bernabeu, Round of 16
Probably the greatest of Eric Ten Hag’s achievements in the 2018-19 season was the catapulation of holders Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, a humbling defeat, a fall from grace for a side who were three times champions standing.
Ajax played a crisp fluid brand of football to pump four past Real Madrid Sergio Ramos-less defense to come away with a 4-1 victory.
2. Paris St. Germain 1 – 3 Manchester United, Round of 16
A Champions League night to remember for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s young boys at the Parc des Princes as they thumped Paris St. Germain 3-1 thanks to goals from Romelu Lukaku and a injury time penalty winner from Marcus Rashford.
PSG had a 2-0 lead from the first leg, a game that they thoroughly dominated and then crashed to a 3-1 defeat, ending up on the wrong side of away goals column to be shown the exit door. The fact that Neymar missed this game due to injury didn’t matter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX5I-Qh4NX4
1. Manchester City 3 – 4 Tottenham Hotspurs, Etihad Stadium, Quarterfinal
A classic Champions League night unfolded at the Etihad stadium as Tottenham Hotspurs came all the way from 1-0 down to win 3-4 at the home of Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola’s side made their share of mistakes, but it was outstanding grit and determination from Spurs and Son who lit up the scene with some scintillating first half strikes.
VAR intervened in extra time to rule out Raheem Sterling’s winner for City and after Fernando Llorente had put Spurs level on goals with City.