Two memorable, but contrasting in quality, goals have lit up the first leg of the Champions League’s Round of 16 with Arsenal’s Mikel Merino capitalising on a comedy of errors and Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvaraz scored a worldie against rivals Real Madrid.
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Alvaraz’s mind-blowing goal was in vein as Real snatched the first leg of the Madrid derby 2-1 but it was seventh heaven for Arsenal as they demolished Dutch outfit PSV 7-1 away from home.
It was just the second time ever in a Champions League match that the Gunners have scored seven goals, and it was only the fifth time they have won by six or more goals.
Merino’s goal was Arsenal’s third, 20 seconds after the half-hour mark, as PSV’s defenders behaved as if they were allergic to the ball.
Once Arsenal got the ball into the penalty area, it bounced around off defenders’ legs, two of the PSV players fell over and there was even some air swings in attempts to clear it before it eventually fell to Merino who buried it in the far corner with a cool left-footed finish.
There was a lengthy VAR check for offside in the build-up among the carnage, but there was no denying Arsenal who were on a roll after Jurrien Timber opened the scoring in the 18th minute, heading home a Declan Rice cross at the back post.
Three minutes later 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri fired a left-footed bullet in at the near-post to double the advantage and continue his stunning rise, having scored in both of his Champions League starts.
Nwaneri became the third youngest player ever to score in a knockout tie in the premier European competition, and he was assisted by fellow teenager, 18-year-old left back Myles Lewis-Skelly – it was the first time two English teenagers have combined for a goal in Champions League history.
The margin was reduced to 3-1 at half time however as Noa Lang converted a penalty for the hosts.
But the contest turned into a bloodbath in the second half with Martin Odegaard scoring two minutes after the resumption, and Leandro Trossard then added the Gunners’ fifth one minute later.
Odegaard ended with a brace as he scored Arsenal’s sixth in the 73rd minute before substitute Riccardo Calafori made it seven in the 85th minute.
The crushing win means next week’s return leg at the Emirates is little more than a formality for the Gunners.
At the Bernabeu, Real Madrid got the victory against fierce rivals Atletico but Alvarez’s stunner was the highlight of the night.
The hosts seized the advantage in just the fourth minute through Rodrygo, but the Argentine equalised in the 32nd minute.
Alvarez received a pass on the left wing, dribbled past a defender, cut back into the penalty area and unleashed a remarkable curling shot into the far corner that left the home crowd stunned.
It is a serious contender for goal of the season, but Real took control in the second half with Brahim Diaz again playing the role of hero with a 55th minute winner.
Diaz also scored the decisive goal away at his former club Manchester City in the first leg of the playoff to reach the Round of 16.
That was a tap-in after coming off the bench, but this was a superb finish after starting on the pitch.
It was not as spectacular as Alvarez’s, but it was impressive nonetheless as he dribbled expertly in the penalty area and slotted home to the far corner of the net.
Diaz then seized the chance to celebrate with the home fans in stunning scenes.
Meanwhile in Germany, French side LOSC picked up a massive result, holding Borussia Dortmund to 1-1 draw.
Dortmund led at half time courtesy of a Karim Adeyemi first half goal, but Hakon Arnar Haraldsson equalised in the 68th minute for the visitors.
The away fans who travelled from Lille made quite the scene to try compete with Dortmund’s famous yellow wall, setting off flares, creating a light show, singing and waving massive flags.
– Late goals put Villa in command –
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery insisted his team still have work to do to reach the Champions League quarter-finals despite a commanding 3-1 victory away to Club Brugge in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday.
Two late goals, including a Marco Asensio penalty, gave Villa the victory in Belgium to puncture the hopes of the hosts who performed so well for so long.
Leon Bailey’s early opener for Villa at the Jan Breydelstadion was soon cancelled out by a Maxim De Cuyper leveller.
Club Brugge had been more than a match for their Premier League visitors, but Brandon Mechele’s 82nd-minute own goal restored Villa’s lead.
Asensio, on as a substitute, then converted an 88th-minute penalty, his fifth goal in four games wrapping up the victory which puts the 1982 European Cup winners in a very strong position.
“Today I am happy but calm,” Emery said.
“We are not in the quarter-finals. There are still 90 minutes to play and we are ready in case we need extra time and a penalty shootout because I know how many difficulties there can be in each match.” If Emery’s team complete the job at Villa Park next Wednesday, their reward will be a quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain or Liverpool.
Villa qualified directly for this stage after finishing eighth in the league phase, but they had lost 1-0 in Bruges in early November, a game from which Emery learned lessons.
“After the match we played here in November, they have been performing very well,” he said.
“They have a very good structure with the ball, and we decided to respect them when they have possession, and the most important thing was how we competed.” That last meeting was decided by a Hans Vanaken penalty after Tyrone Mings bizarrely picked the ball up in his own area.
Mings will be pleased to have played a part in the third-minute goal which put Villa in front in that same box.
He met a free-kick into the Brugge area with a header down for Bailey to score with a controlled finish past goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
Club Brugge have shown this season that they can compete at this level, notably dispatching Atalanta 5-2 on aggregate in the play-offs last month.
– Rashford ineffective –
The hosts were soon level, as Greek international Christos Tzolis collected the ball on the left and laid it back to De Cuyper, who sent a first-time shot into the far corner.
They then almost went ahead as Emiliano Martinez made a vital save to deny Chemsdine Talbi.
Raphael Onyedika tried a powerful strike from range early in the second half, and Emery then sought to stir his subdued side by making a quadruple substitution just past the hour.
Marcus Rashford was among the players to come off, after he was quiet on the left wing in his first Champions League appearance since being sent off for Manchester United in a 4-3 defeat in Copenhagen in November 2023.
One of those coming on was Asensio, another of Villa’s winter signings, who started on the bench despite excellent recent form.
“Their response was fantastic,” Emery said of the replacements, with Jacob Ramsey, Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash also introduced.
On-loan PSG player Asensio almost struck on 68 minutes, meeting a Ramsey assist only for Mignolet to save.
Club Brugge also could have scored again. Captain Vanaken headed narrowly wide from a Tzolis cross and then set up the Greek winger for a great chance which he miscued.
They did not deserve to end up losing by two goals, but that is what happened as Mechele turned a Morgan Rogers cross into his own net.
Tzolis then tripped up Cash in the area, and Asensio blasted in the spot-kick before running away to celebrate in front of the travelling fans.
“We created a lot of chances, but unfortunately we concede an own goal and then of course five minutes later the penalty, and it makes the return much more difficult,” said Brugge coach Nicky Hayen.
“Despite the result I think we played a positive game and we have to remember that when we go there next Wednesday.”
