The UEFA Champions League round 8 second leg is coming to our screens after the first meeting brought a not so expected results in a particular game between Arsenal and Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium in London, where 15 times UCL Champions conceded three goals without reply, Barcelona put four goals pass German side Dortmund, PSG beat Aston Villa 3-1, while Bayern Munich lost 1-2 at home to Inter-Milan.
Over the years at the UCL, there have been a turn of unexpected events as the competition has seen certain teams lose away only to return home to pull off what seemed impossible.
Our focus would be on the game between Spanish giants Real Madrid and Champions League hopefuls Arsenal FC.
We trust that a lot of opposition fans from especially those from London and Manchester would be wishing and hoping that Arsenal fails to make it to the next round of the Champion League because it would take them closer to winning the competition which they have coveted for so long and subsequently finding a strong point to brag with if they eventually go on to win the competition this season.
Related: UCL Round 8: Separating Elders From Men
The Londoners are looking better suited to progress to the next round because it looks impossible for Real Madrid to turn things around, because many teams have found it difficult to put 3 goals past them, with their heaviest defeat being a 2-0 loss in two occasion.
On the other hand, Real Madrid have found it difficult to score more than one goal in their last two games in the Spanish League despite playing against teams below the European qualification spots.
Also Read: CAF Ranking Drops Again: Rivers United Shines
Based on current performance, many have written Real Madrid off, and logically speaking, they are still correct. In terms of the spirit that comes with the UCL, we’ve seen many teams turn impossible results around. Real Madrid are not new comers in that order, they too have in time past turned a 5-1 deficit in Germany against Borussia Mönchengladbach, in a game that saw Jorge Valdano and Michel Santillana score two goals each to complete a memorable come back 38 years ago in the EUFA Cup, now known as the Europa League.
The Gunners have been known for unexpected slips at moments where it seemed they were going to cruise to victory, like in the 2010-2011 season when they were four goals up at Newcastle before miraculously conceding four goals in quick succession to drop two valuable points, though outrightly expecting to see any thing of that nature transpire because Real’s front men haven’t been convincing in front of goal recently would be close to delusion but who knows if this Wednesday might be that day when they find their form.
What are your thoughts?
