Vladimir Osipov – about the Champions League matches
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Barcelona beat PSG in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals with a score of 3:2. This happened in Paris at the Parc des Princes stadium. In another meeting there were no surprises, Atletico Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund (2:1). Kommersant FM sports commentator Vladimir Osipov followed the development of events.
The quarterfinal matches of the Champions League this season never cease to delight with incredible scenarios, entertainment and an abundance of goals. When teams score 18 goals in four meetings, it will impress. The next show was given in Paris by PSG and Barcelona.
The Catalans started by opening the scoring in the first half, and in the second the hosts came back and took the lead (2:1). Their main star, Kylian Mbappe, was unable to score, but even without him, PSG has someone to send balls into the net. This time, Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha coped with the task, after which it seemed that Xavi’s team faltered. But it was not to be: when Barça, missing one attack after another, suddenly equalized the score, commentator Konstantin Genich began emotionally declaring his love for the coolest club tournament on the continent.
In the 77th minute, Barça took the lead and never let it slip away. But PSG was considered the favorite in this pair, and many have already seen the Parisians at least in the semi-finals. But Barcelona, which is widely criticized, proved that nothing has been decided here. And football analyst Konstantin Kleshchev is confident that the Catalans are capable of getting past PSG:
“This is a different team, not the one we criticized a few months ago, when it lost to Shakhtar or Antwerp. And already against Napoli, Barca showed the highest class. The current state of Barcelona suggests that the team is approaching, if not ideal, then very good condition. And reaching the final, of course, will surprise many, but anything is possible because Barcelona is improving.”
True, it is worth saying that after the away goal rule was abolished, according to which the team that scored more goals away had an advantage, everything changed, and a victory (3:2) in Paris no longer gives Barca such an advantage as it was earlier. And considering how many teams score, it’s impossible to predict what scenario awaits us in Catalonia next week.
The same can be said about the Atlético-Borussia pair, where it seemed that Diego Simeone’s team should pass the German club without any problems. In the first half everything went according to plan. The Madrid club led (2:0) and earned the admiration of experts. Here’s what Russian coach Andrei Talalaev said about the hosts’ game during this period:
“In my opinion, Atlético played the first half against their opponents close to the ideal of modern football.”
And in the second half of the meeting, this whole ideal scheme broke like a match. Borussia scored and could easily have equalized the score. It didn’t work out, but to say that in Dortmund Atlético will deal with this Borussia without any problems, I’m sure no one will risk it now, and sensations next week are possible in every confrontation. So the second episode is waiting for us, and I’m sure it will be even cooler!
Everything is clear with us – Telegram channel “Kommersant FM”.
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