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Champions League: Chicharito saves Real Madrid; Juventus repels Monaco
Real Madrid beat Atlético Madrid for the first time this season, again in the competition that counts the most. It had been seven winless attempts for Real against its city rival since last season's Champions League final, but its narrow 1-0 win sent Carlo Ancelotti’s team into the Champions League semifinals on Wednesday, while a goalless draw did the same for Juventus.
Contentious but scoreless first halves in both games gave way to much of the same in the second. That worked fine for Juventus, which qualified for the semifinals after Arturo Vidal’s penalty gave it a 1-0 win in its home match last week.
Real pressured throughout its match against crosstown rival Atléti, but to win, it needed an assist from Arda Turan, who saw his second yellow card of the match in the second half. Not long after, Javier Hernández scored the only goal across the teams’ two matches.
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We’re four matches total from the most anticipated club match of the annual soccer calendar. Some thoughts on the last quarterfinal matches of this Champions League:
Player of the Day: Jan Oblak, Atlético Madrid
After losing young and upcoming goalkeeper Thibault Courtois back to parent club Chelsea in the offseason, Atlético signed Oblak to fill in the void. The 22-year-old Slovenian has come on strong as the season has progressed, emerging from Miguel Ángel Moyà’s shadow.
Insider Notes: Guardiola's job is safe; Will Guzan finally start at Wembley?
He showed his chops again in a high-pressure situation at the Santiago Bernabéu, stopping all but one shot and snagging multiple crosses from Real’s wide men. His best save of the night came on Cristiano Ronaldo’s one-on-one near the end of the first half after Mario Mandžukić’s poor giveaway outside his own penalty area.
Oblak followed up with another important intervention on Hernández’s close shot after Arda Turan saw his second yellow card.
The ferocity with which he charged off his line, recklessly yet intelligently, showed the confidence world-class goalkeepers exude every week.
Even though he couldn’t keep Real out forever, through no fault of his own, his performances put Atlético in the position to have success in this competition. Without him, like Courtois last year, Diego Simeone’s team has nowhere near the chance it did.
Moment of the Day: Chicharito wins it for Real
On his seventh attempt on goal, Chicharito couldn’t miss from point-blank range with the excellent Oblak drawn out of position. The Mexican blasted shot after shot toward Oblak but couldn’t get an effort to fall until the 88th minute.
Watch: Chicharito puts Real Madrid through to Champions League semis
Eventually, he benefited from Ronaldo’s run into the right side of the penalty area that took Oblak off his line. Ronaldo squared the ball with a falling effort, giving Chicharito one final chance to get his just reward for his bullish efforts in a surprise start.
He wouldn’t have even started the game if Gareth Bale or Karim Benzema were fit, and he hadn’t scored in the Champions League since playing for Manchester United against Braga in November 2012.
Hernández play particularly efficiently, missing the goal completely on a couple occasions with close-range efforts.
But it finally happened for him, and Real goes through as a result.
Takeaway of the Day: Strong defenses make for tense matches
Tuesday’s matches didn’t provide much in the way of the typical Champions League drama. Both Barcelona and Bayern Munich put on the attacking shows that have personified those clubs, rolling over their opponents.
Champions League: Bayern Munich blitzes Porto; Barcelona finishes PSG
Perhaps Bayern’s performance could count as drama, if its revenge hadn’t come so swiftly and severely. Nonetheless, the predictable thing happened in both games: Barça continued to score against Paris Saint-Germain at will at Camp Nou, and Bayern picked apart Porto.
Rather than the same attacking outbursts, Wednesday’s games supplied the tension that comes with close matches in Europe’s premier competition.
It’s a high-risk approach for the teams absorbing pressure: one mistake could be deadly, as Arda Turan’s red card was. But disciplined performances such as those from Simeone’s team and, as much as he’s admonished, JoséMourinho’s offer a look into some of the best coaching minds in the modern game. Unlike Mourinho, Simeone doesn’t have nearly limitless cash reserves to fund his efforts.
Despite coming up short at a very late stage once again, Simeone showed why he deserves the accolades he has received. He and fellow FIFA World Coach of the Year finalist Ancelotti went head-to-head in another epic battle of clashing styles, and despite being the clear underdog on paper, Atlético nearly prevailed again.
In Monaco, Juventus put on a classic Italian performance to keep Monaco out. Despite Giorgio Chiellini’s record first-minute yellow card, the five-back Juve held strong and progressed into the final four in a year where it hasn’t had much of a challenge in Serie A, where it is set to win its fourth straight title.
How Juventus, Real shape up for the semis
Juventus won’t be favored against any of the other three semifinalists, but any team that takes Maximilliano Allegri’s side lightly does so at great risk. Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp, whose club Juve eliminated, summed it up well: “They are a complete football team, who defend well and passionately and are incredibly dangerous in transition.”
Options abound for Jurgen Klopp after his Borussia Dortmund departure
The Turin club showed that ability on Wednesday, keeping Monaco at bay all game despite the ball being closer to Gianluigi Buffon’s goal for most of the game. Juve didn’t look all that troubled, extending its excellent record of losing just six of its 23 Champions League away matches that were scoreless at halftime.
On the other hand, Real Madrid will always be a plausible winner, no matter its opponent.
The star-studded Galácticos showed their depth on Wednesday, starting Sergio Ramos in midfield and eventual hero Hernández up top, pounding on the Atlético door until they knocked it off its hinges.
However, the likes of Bayern and Barcelona won’t concede as much possession as Atléti. If Real can’t find a way to increase its attacking efficiency, whether it’s through players returning from injury or those typically on the bench, an 11th European title probably won’t come this year.
GALLERY: Tifos around the world
Best soccer tifos from around the world
Galatasaray fans display a sensational "Rocky" tifo ahead of their clash against rival Fenerbahce. It didn't inspire a victory, though. The Turkish rivals played to a 0-0 draw.
Borussia Dortmund fans channel their 1963 cup triumph over Benfica ahead of the teams' second leg in the Champions League round of 16 at Signal Iduna Park.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva fans turn to Moses for tifo inspiration, with his splitting the Red Sea illustrating how "impossible is nothing" in their Europa League series against Besiktas.
Fans of Tunisia's Club Africain display this pointed tifo at a friendly against PSG, whose Qatari owners have pumped millions and millions into the club.
U.S. fans in Columbus, Ohio, make a "One Nation, One Team" statement ahead of the USMNT's World Cup qualifying match against Mexico on November 11, 2016.
Germany fans display their heart for the team colors ahead of a World Cup qualifier against Czech Republic in October 2016.
Italy fans spell out their support for the Azzurri ahead of a massive World Cup qualifier vs. Spain in October 2018.
Iceland fans keep up their world-famous passion for the national team during a World Cup qualifier against Turkey in October 2016.
Fans in the United Arab Emirates set their sights on reaching the 2018 World Cup in Russia during a qualifying match vs. Australia in September 2016.
Colombia fans send a massive jersey around the stadium during a World Cup qualifier vs. Venezuela in September 2016.
Seattle Sounders fans turn to Game Of Thrones for inspiration in a game against the Cascadia rival Vancouver Whitecaps in September 2016.
Djurgardens fans go all out in Sweden for a match against AIK in September 2016.
Zulte Waregem fans prepare Kortrijk for the absolute worst in this Belgian top-flight match in September 2016.
Seattle Sounders fans turn their pop culture reference to Poltergeist in March 2016 ahead of the season home opener against Sporting Kansas City.
The Timbers Army doubles down on their Eastbound and Down theme, adding another wrinkle during the club's MLS Western Conference final first leg vs. FC Dallas on November 22, 2015 at Providence Park.
Fans make a French flag tifo at Wembley Stadium during the singing of Le Marseillaise ahead of England's friendly vs. France, which took place days after the terrorist attacks in Paris.
The Timbers Army referenced Eastbound & Down's Kenny Powers with their "Cup Bound and Down" tifo for the Portland Timbers' MLS playoff elimination game against Sporting Kansas City on October 29, 2015.
Brondby IF fans display a gladiator holding up a lion's head during the team's Danish Alka Superliga match against FC Copenhagen, whose logo is a lion's head, on September 27, 2015.
New England Revolution fans equate Jermaine Jones to Indiana Jones on their quest to capture the 2015 MLS Cup on September 26, 2015.
New England Revolution fans display a Lion King theme in honor of Orlando City FC's first visit to Gillette Stadium on September 5, 2015.
Red Bulls fans take a shot at NYCFC's two summer arrivals, 37-year-old Frank Lampard and 36-year-old Andrea Pirlo, ahead of their third MLS meeting of 2015.
Germany fans in Cologne salute their World Cup champions ahead of a friendly against the United States in June, 2015.
Real Madrid fans went all out prior to the second leg of the 2014-15 Champions League semifinal vs. Juventus.
Lazio fans display a stunning eagle tifo ahead of the Rome derby against AS Roma in their penultimate Serie A match of the 2014-15 season.
Barcelona fans bid farewell to veteran midfielder Xavi with this banner at his last league game at Camp Nou before he departs for Qatari club Al Sadd.
Fans at Anfield pay tribute to Steven Gerrard in his final home match as a Liverpool player in May 2015.
Juventus fans state their case to beat Real Madrid in the 2014-15 Champions League semifinals and reach the final in Berlin.
Fans at Benfica's Estadio da Luz remind rival Porto who the Primeira Liga reigning champion is during an April 2015 match in Portugal.
New York Red Bulls fans send a pointed message to their NYCFC counterparts prior to the teams' first MLS meeting in May, 2015.
Inter Milan's Curva Nord announces its presence ahead of the April 2015 Derby della Madonnina–the annual clashes between city rivals Inter and AC Milan.
Bayern Munich fans implore their club to (translated) "Never give up" in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg vs. Porto. Bayern then turned a 3-1 first-leg deficit into a 7-4 aggregate win and a place in the semifinals.
Dortmund fans commemorate their 1997 Champions League trophy in the club's clash vs. Juventus–the opponent on the wrong side of that title bout.
Portland Timbers fans speak out against homophobia with this tifo in a 2013 match against Chivas USA
Atletico's supporters display a banner reading "Atleti crushes" before the Spanish league match between Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid,
Borussia Dortmund fans put on a remarkable display ahead of a UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg match.
Brondby IF fans unveil a tifo ahead of a match in Denmark against Randers FC.
FC Barcelona fans display a huge banner in memory of former head coach Tito Vilanova.
Galatasaray fans support their team during the UEFA Champions League Group D match between Borussia Dortmund and Galatasaray at the Turk Telekom Arena in Istanbul.
The American Outlaws unveil a huge tifo ahead of a 2014 World Cup send-off match between the USA and Turkey at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.
Marseille's supporters use paper sheets to create an "OM" (Olympique de Marseille) tifo at the beginning of the French L1 football match between Marseille and Genoble.
Seattle Sounders fans display their tifo that shows coach Sigi Schmid playing cards and holding a Royal Flush before a match against the Portland Timbers.
Panathinaikos Athens fans display a banner during the UEFA Europa League match against Dynamo Moscow.
Fans of the Saudi Al-Hilal team celebrate after the scoring of a goal against Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor.
Seattle Sounders fans unveil a tifo inspired from the “Build a Bonfire” chant, featuring Sounder players holding torches on horseback ahead of a game against the Portland Timbers.
Fans of Hertha BSC before the Bundesliga match between Hertha BSC and Werder Bremen in Berlin.
Sporting Kansas City fans channel their inner Mario ahead of the 2013 MLS Cup final vs. Real Salt Lake.
Brondby IF fans.
Thousands of Barcelona fans hold up cards to spell out "Barca! Orgull," which translates to "Barcelona pride" ahead of a Champions League clash with Bayern Munich at Camp Nou.
Fans raise a tifo celebrating “Community, Club and Country” ahead of a CONCACAF Gold Cup match between the USA and Belize in Portland, Oregon.
Vitesse fans unfurl a massive Eagle banner at the Dutch Eredivisie match against Ajax at the GelreDome.
Valencia fans drape a banner featuring a king for a Copa del Rey ("The King's Cup) match against Atletico Madrid.
Juventus fans make a statement in Turin in a match vs. Inter Milan.
Dortmund fans put on another strong display at a Bundesliga match against Mainz 05.
German fans boast the newest star earned by the national team, symbolizing its 2014 World Cup triumph, at a Euro 2016 qualifying match in Dortmund.
Real Madrid fans make a point to display the club's 10 European championships ahead of the October 2014 clash against rival Barcelona at the Bernabeu.
San Jose Earthquakes fans unleash a massive tifo to mark the opening of Avaya Stadium, MLS's newest soccer-specific venue, in March 2015.
Barcelona fans show all who the real 12th man is ahead of the March 2015 Clásico vs. Real Madrid.
Ahead of a clash with Mexican foe Monterrey, Tigres players are treated by this message by its fervent supporters.
Standard Liege fans have a pointed message for Steven Defour, who departed the club for Belgian rival Anderlecht.
Orlando City fans mark their club's inaugural MLS game vs. fellow expansion side New York City FC with a statement that the Lions' "reign begins now."
Real Madrid fans salute Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo after he captured the most prestigious individual prize in world soccer again.
Vitesse fans pay homage to Operation Market Garden ahead of an Eredivisie match against SC Heerenveen.
Sevilla's fans deploy a giant banner in the stands before the UEFA Europa league final match between Benfica and Sevilla.
Fans in Liverpool’s Kop End at Anfield commemorate those lost in the Hillsborough disaster.
Lyon fans during a game against Saint Etienne.
Liviu Bird is a soccer analyst with more than 20 years of experience in the game. He learned how to play in the streets of Romania before moving to the soccer wilderness of Fairbanks, Alaska, escaping to play collegiately as a goalkeeper at Highline Community College and Seattle Pacific University, where he also earned his B.A. in journalism. Bird played semiprofessionally and had tryouts at professional clubs but hung up his gloves in 2012 to focus on writing and coaching at the youth and collegiate levels. He joined Sports Illustrated in March 2013 as a freelance contributor and has also written for NBC Sports, Soccer Wire, The New York Times, American Soccer Now and the Telegraph (UK).