We’re a quarter of the way through the UEFA Champions League’s Round of 16, and Wednesday brought us two very different, but memorable results.
[ UCL: Tuesday roundup -- PSG, Benfica lead Chelsea, Zenit ]
Cristiano Ronaldo threw an on-field jab at his critics, while Belgian underdogs Gent came back from near dead in two fun matches in the UCL.
The road sides won, in very different fashions.
Gent 2-3 Wolfsburg -- RECAP
The Belgian side looked destined to be cannon fodder after Wolfsburg raced out to a 3-0 road lead. Julian Draxler danced around the Gent midfield and defense to score the first two, and Max Kruse seemingly salted it away with his goal.
But hold on, folks, the home side wasn’t going to quit. Sven Kums and Kalifa Coulibaly scored in the final 10 minutes -- the second assisted by potential U.S. midfielder Kenny Saief -- to give Gent some hope. Now they’ll need a two-goal win in Germany (or a higher-scoring road win than 3-2).
AS Roma 0-2 Real Madrid -- RECAP
- ZIDANE: Ronaldo was great but “then again so was everyone”
- FLORENZI: “This result was unfair” to i Lupi
For a while, the Stadio Olimpico’s home side mirrored the electric atmosphere of its fans. Buoyed by Mohamed Salah and a stingy, disciplined defense, Roma looked good money to snatch at least a draw from the first leg. But Salah and Edin Dzeko missed big chances while Cristiano Ronaldo and Jese Rodriguez converted a pair of theirs. Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos may’ve been the real stars of the show for Madrid.
Next week’s first legs
Arsenal vs. Barcelona -- 2:45 p.m. ET Tuesday
Juventus vs. Bayern Munich -- 2:45 p.m. ET Tuesday
PSV Eindhoven vs. Atletico Madrid -- 2:45 p.m. ET Wednesday
Dynamo Kyiv vs. Manchester City -- 2:45 p.m. ET Wednesday
