An absolutely shocking upset in the round of 16 by Ajax highlights JohnMolinaro's Champions League review.
Estadio Bernabeu is traditionally where the Champions League dreams of Real Madrid’s opponents have gone to die. But on Tuesday, the venerable football cathedral was a house of nightmares for, who bowed out of the tournament at the round of 16 stage for the first time since 2010. Ajax overcame a 2-1 deficit from the opening leg to pull off one of the biggest upsets in European club competition in many years, ensuring that Real Madrid won’t win a fourth consecutive Champions League title.
Real Madrid are in a full-blown crisis. Losers of four of their last five games – including a 1-0 setback to Barcelona that essentially ended their domestic title hopes – Real have been knocked out of the Copa del Rey, the La Liga title race and the Champions League, a competition they won in four of the last five years, all in the span of a week.
As for Ajax, they were fully deserving of Tuesday’s historic win at the Bernabeu, their first away from home in a Champions League knockout match since 1997 when they beat Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals. That was also the last time Ajax progressed through a Champions League knockout stage series.
Playing in the round of 16 for the first time since 2006, Ajax showed well in the first leg in Holland, despite losing and conceding twice. The Dutch more than held their own against the Spanish giants, and they built upon that showing with a performance for the ages in Madrid. After weathering an early attacking storm by Real, Ajax began bossing the game at Bernabeu and took a 2-0 lead inside 20 minutes, scoring both goals in transition.
The pair of early goals were more than enough to send them through on aggregate, but Ajax, admirably, didn’t let up. Instead of sitting on their lead, they looked to add to it and keep Real down. A Marco Asensio goal made it 3-1 to offer Real a glimmer of hope, but any chance of a miraculous comeback was quickly extinguished when Lasse Schoene scored off a fabulous free kick moments later to kill off the game and send the three-time defending champions crashing out of the competition.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ajax eliminates Real Madrid in Champions League round of 16 - Sportsnet.caAjax stunned Real Madrid 4-1 at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday, eliminating the three-time defending champion 5-3 on aggregate in the round of 16.
Read more »
Toronto FC put in deep freeze by Panamanians in Champions League seriesThe Panamanian side’s upset win made one thing clear about the rebuilding TFC side, which saw superstar Sebastian Giovinco leave the team earlier this month along with star midfielder Victor Vazquez and was missing its other star striker, Jozy Altidore (ankle injury)
Read more »
TFC unable to overcome massive hurdle in Concacaf Champions League - Sportsnet.caToronto FC had a tough mountain to climb against Club Atletico Independiente de la Chorrera and on a frigid night at BMO Field with the pitch in rough shape, the deficit was too tough to overcome.
Read more »
UEFA bans Madrid's Sergio Ramos for additional Champions League game - Sportsnet.caReal Madrid captain Sergio Ramos has been banned for an additional Champions League game for deliberately provoking a yellow card to control the timing of a one-game suspension.
Read more »
Keys to advancing for each UEFA Champions League club - Sportsnet.caIt's March, which means it's time for the second legs in the round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League. Here are the keys to advancing to the quarterfinals for every team in action this week.
Read more »
Sportsnet's Champions League picks and predictions - Sportsnet.caThe 2018-19 UEFA Champions League resumes this week the second leg of the round-of-16. Sportsnet’s soccer panel of broadcasters, writers and pundits offer their picks and predictions.
Read more »
Different challenges await Tottenham, Man United in Champions League - Sportsnet.caDifferent challenges await Tottenham and Manchester United in their ChampionsLeague matches this week. jamessharman, DannyDichio and craigforrest1 discuss.
Read more »
Kane, Lloris help Tottenham reach Champions League quarterfinals - Sportsnet.caBorussia Dortmund's hopes of an unlikely comeback were denied by Hugo Lloris and Harry Kane as Tottenham reached the Champions League quarterfinals.
Read more »
Ajax dumps Real from UCL in stunning rout - TSN.caReal Madrid's Champions League reign is over. Ajax stunned Madrid 4-1 at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday, eliminating the three-time defending champion 5-3 on aggregate in the round of 16 — and ending an unprecedented era of dominance by the Spanish team in the competition.
Read more »