The UEFA Champions League round of 16 has played out its first leg, so what did we learn about the cream of Europe’s club sides?
5. There is a growing gap between the good teams and great teams
The Champions League is the play ground for Europe’s elite clubs. It gives clubs with the power of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain the power to bully opposition and exercise their dominance.
This was clear when Bayer Leverkusen, Zenit Saint Petersburg and FC Schalke were all beaten substantially in their home leg of the tie. These three sides are good teams with a handful of top players who could grace any club in Europe.
The 14 – 1 scoreline across these three sides’ fixtures shows there is huge gap between good European teams and the best European teams, with upsets becoming less likely every season.
4. Everything needs to be put into perspective
The media has made a huge deal about English clubs being less than convincing in their first legs.
But one needs to consider that no one really expected Arsenal to trouble Bayern Munich, most people lean in favour of Barcelona over Manchester City, people underestimated a confident Olympiakos up against a no-confidence Manchester United and Chelsea’s draw in Istanbul is a good result to take back to the home fixture.
One thing can be drawn from this is that the English Premier League is not as good as its rivals in Germany and Spain.
It is probably better to assume the best teams in Germany and Spain are better than the top teams in England, however the overall quality of the league would lean in the Premier League’s favour.
3. Money can work … sometimes
The battle of the billionaires has been well documented in the last few years, with clubs racing for success on the back of big money signings.
This round saw mega-rich Manchester City fail at home to Barcelona as well as Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea only get a draw away to Galatasaray.
On the other hand, free spending PSG smashed Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid comprehensively accounted for Schalke.
So while money clearly pulls its weight domestically, the jury is still out to whether you can buy a Champions League.
*Side note: The likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich are rich but they do not spend money on individual players to the same extent as the aforementioned clubs.
2. #MoyesMaybe
Manchester United’s latest low point, a two-nil away lose to Greek Champions Olympiacos, has caused slightly stronger tremors under the seats of Old Trafford.
While no one can criticise United fans as a collective for not supporting David Moyes, it is seems week-by-week, set-back-by-set-back, Moyes is losing the fans.
Manchester United fans will want Moyes to succeed but it seems more likely than ever the former Everton man shouldn’t have been the ‘chosen one’.
A turnaround in the second leg may prove to be the defibrillator to David Moyes’ Manchester United careers.
1. The teams in the quarter-finals already seem clear
Manchester City and Arsenal would need a miracle to overcome Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
PSG and Real Madrid have such a lead that both sides may play under-strength line-ups.
Milan have so little form that scoring two goals away to Atletico seems like an imaginations and Zenit will consider themselves lucky if they avoid humiliation in the second leg.
The only two ties that are even the slightest bit still open is Chelsea versus Galatasaray and Manchester United versus Olympiakos.
Chelsea should have it in the bag to extend Jose Mourinho’s Stanford Bridge streak however a high score draw could see the Turks scrap through.
There is still hope for United because they are at home and even though this season their home form has not been the best, Old Trafford is the Theatre of Dreams and if they were to clinch an early goal, you just never know.
Follow Dylan on Twitter @dylaneloi
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