Key thoughts and analysis from this week's Champions League action

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The Champions League spherical of 16 rumbled on with 4 extra first-leg matches this week. Beneath, we dissect the most important speaking factors from the quartet of intriguing fixtures.

A battle of fallen titans

On paper, a gathering between the present titleholders in Spain and Italy could be becoming of a Champions League remaining. What a deal with, then, to get precisely that matchup within the spherical of 16. Besides, Barcelona and Napoli are completely unrecognizable from the groups that dominated their respective home leagues and romped to trophies in 2022-23.

Although Barcelona dictated play for the majority of Wednesday’s 1-1 draw on the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, they lacked precision in key moments and any kind of innovative till Robert Lewandowski’s medical end opened the scoring on the hour mark. Enjoying towards a hesitant staff on its third supervisor of the season, Barca ought to have taken a stranglehold on the tie from there. As an alternative, an premature gamble by Inigo Martinez gifted Victor Osimhen an equalizer that Napoli in any other case appeared incapable of discovering. It was an all-too-familiar failing for Barca, who’ve been defensively suspect all season after being so resolute throughout their title-winning marketing campaign.

For all of Barcelona’s points, Napoli are in an much more worrying state of disrepair. Enduring one of many worst title defenses in current reminiscence – they’re ninth in Serie A, sitting 27 factors off the league lead – Napoli made one other teaching change simply 48 hours earlier than Wednesday’s match, changing Walter Mazzarri with former assistant Francesco Calzona. Anyone anticipating an instantaneous “new supervisor bounce” could have been left dissatisfied.

The staff nonetheless appears to be like disjointed. The backline stays unconvincing with out Kim Min-jae. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whereas dogged as ever, is not taking on video games like he did throughout his sensational breakout season. Stanislav Lobotka is not getting on the ball as usually on the base of midfield. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa appears to be like a little bit jaded. Even Osimhen, making his first membership look in 2024 after coming back from AFCON, spent a lot of the match throwing his arms up in frustration – he had simply three touches contained in the Barca penalty space and had the fewest touches general of any participant who began the competition. His objective was Napoli’s lone shot heading in the right direction within the match. He took that one probability with composure, although, and Napoli will hope that his return, together with extra time getting comfy working in Calzona’s system, would be the catalyst for a late-season surge. It must be.

Inter constructed for one more run at European glory

Simone Inzaghi has turned Inter Milan into an unstoppable pressure to start 2024.

Inter have dominated their opponents in Italy to begin the yr, placing themselves in prime place to seize their first Scudetto of the Inzaghi period after eight consecutive victories in all competitions – together with six in Serie A – earlier than Tuesday’s assembly with Atletico Madrid. That run included victories over Lazio, Napoli, Fiorentina, Juventus, and Roma.

They stored it happening Tuesday with a 1-0 win.

Whereas Inter had been broadly anticipated to emerge victorious from Tuesday’s contest, the match was gritty and unfolded how Inzaghi would possibly’ve anticipated when he predicted his squad must be “adequate to react to issues” towards Diego Simeone’s notoriously difficult Atletico facet.

Inter’s stellar play comes after the membership was closely criticized on the heels of its run to the Champions League remaining for a scarcity of impressed signings amid monetary issues final summer time. However now, it is laborious to envisage this staff with out Marcus Thuram – who, as a free switch, has been probably the greatest signings in all of Europe and shaped a deadly partnership with Lautaro Martinez. New faces Benjamin Pavard and Yann Sommer have been glorious, too, whereas Carlos Augusto has been a key contributor off the bench.

Nonetheless, it was one other shrewd signing who helped take down Atletico. Journeyman striker Marko Arnautovic was introduced on to exchange Thuram, who exited at halftime with an harm. The 34-year-old – on mortgage from Bologna – ought to’ve had a hat-trick throughout his cameo look however missed twice from simply yards away earlier than banging within the eventual successful objective to ship the San Siro right into a frenzy.

Inter are completely positioned going into the ultimate months of the season. Mowing down the competitors domestically and constructing a wholesome nine-point cushion atop Serie A, the Nerazzurri might decide to relaxation some stars within the coming weeks with the intention to throw every little thing they’ve into successful the return leg in Madrid subsequent month and, of their best world, go one step additional than final season within the Champions League.

Fast free-kicks

A victory for Porto and away-goal lovers

Galeno’s objective was a second of excellent imaginative and prescient and immaculate execution, however it arguably wasn’t definitely worth the watch for anyone who’s not an FC Porto fan. Porto and Arsenal had one shot heading in the right direction between them earlier than the Brazilian winger scored the one objective of Wednesday’s contest. Each groups feared making errors. The Gunners – who had struck 21 instances throughout their earlier 5 fixtures in all competitions – intentionally slowed the sport whereas they dawdled throughout dead-ball conditions and disappointingly refused to dip into their often inventive and efficient repertoire of set-piece routines. It is laborious to think about that the guests would’ve been so conservative if the away-goal rule was nonetheless in pressure: A scoring draw would’ve been far more priceless than the 0-0 that Mikel Arteta seemed to be content material with. Ultimately, Arsenal’s sport plan backfired.

Galeno high of the pile

Nonetheless, that was some objective by Galeno. “When the chance arose, I did not hesitate,” he advised DAZN post-match. The Brazilian winger is now main this season’s Champions League with eight objective contributions (5 objectives and three assists), narrowly beating the English quartet of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka (seven involvements apiece). Galeno’s output in Europe proves he is able to hurting opponents in a wide range of methods. Throughout two group stage conferences with Shakhtar Donetsk, he was alert to transform three close-range finishes, twice furiously ran down the flank earlier than helping Mehdi Taremi, smashed in a venomous shot from the sting of the field, and his near-post flick-on from a nook arrange a Pepe tap-in. And now, he is outdone all of his earlier work with an outrageous effort that places Arsenal’s Champions League bid below risk.

PSV can get well-known lead to Germany

PSV Eindhoven had been in management for a lot of Tuesday’s go to from Borussia Dortmund so had been rightly dissatisfied with their 1-1 draw. Ex-PSV favourite Donyell Malen opened the scoring with an explosive strike that rocketed in off the bar, however the hosts might’ve responded with greater than Luuk de Jong’s equalizer from the penalty spot. Dortmund cowered within the environment. “We must always have introduced far more calmness to the sport. We let the heated environment get to us an excessive amount of,” Dortmund defender Mats Hummels admitted after the match. PSV ought to nonetheless really feel inspired going into the second leg regardless of Dortmund’s house benefit: The German facet’s glorious group stage show was an sudden enhance throughout a irritating home marketing campaign, whereas the Dutch outfit has misplaced simply twice throughout all competitions – away at Arsenal and Feyenoord – and is 10 factors clear atop the Eredivisie.

Stat of the week

Signing of the season? Sommer’s arrival from Bayern Munich did not set pulses racing, however the 35-year-old has ensured Inter have not missed Andre Onana between the sticks.

Tweet of the week

Is it already time to revisit this rule change? (Sure, it’s.)