Additional Coverage:
- Champions League winners and losers: Jose Mourinho’s Benfica come up clutch; Real Madrid waste golden chance (cbssports.com)
Champions League League Phase Delivers Epic Finale: Mourinho’s Magic, Napoli’s Woes, and a Format for the Ages
The Champions League league phase concluded in a whirlwind of drama and goals, with Matchday 8 delivering an unforgettable night of football. Sixty-one goals rattled the back of the net, teams battled relentlessly for crucial wins, and in a truly extraordinary moment, a goalkeeper even found himself on the scoresheet. While American hopefuls and some prominent European clubs bid farewell, the final day left an indelible mark, highlighting both triumphs and tribulations.
Winner: Jose Mourinho
From facing the wrath of disgruntled Benfica supporters over the weekend, Jose Mourinho orchestrated an improbable turnaround, guiding his team to an unexpected knockout stage berth by defeating Real Madrid. Taking the helm when Benfica had already suffered two league phase losses, it took two more Champions League matches for the Portuguese giants to secure their first points.
However, a remarkable run of three wins in their final four matches, capped by a stoppage-time goal from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, propelled them forward. Trubin’s goal marked only the fifth time a keeper has scored in UCL play, a fact Mourinho himself admitted to not fully realizing its significance amidst the late-game chaos.
“When I made the last changes, [Franjo] Ivanovic and Antonio Silva, I was told [that] is enough, so let’s close the door,” Mourinho recounted after the match. “When I made the changes a few seconds later, they tell me we need one more goal, but I cannot make more changes, so that was the lucky point to get a free kick that allows us to go there with the big guy.”
This wild moment added another layer to a game that truly had everything. While a disappointing loss for Real Madrid, the Champions League always benefits from Mourinho’s presence, and fans will be delighted to see him continue in the competition.
Losers: Napoli
Despite manager Antonio Conte’s remarkable ability to navigate chaos – transforming Tottenham’s struggles into a Scudetto win at Napoli – the Italian club ultimately failed to secure the crucial victory needed against Chelsea to advance to the knockout stage. This outcome mirrors Napoli’s season as a whole: tantalizingly close to competing at the highest level, yet consistently falling short.
The absence of a fully fit Romelu Lukaku, a player Conte effectively utilized last season, has undoubtedly played a role. Napoli now trails Inter by nine points in the Scudetto race, and a further poor result could see them drop as low as sixth, behind Como.
While they remain in the Coppa Italia, a single piece of silverware may not be enough to deem the campaign a success. Observers will be watching closely for Napoli’s next stumble, as it could signal the biennial event of Conte’s departure from a club.
Winner: The League Phase Format
“This is unbelievable. Wow.
We might never get another moment like this,” exclaimed CBS Sports Golazo analyst Jamie Carragher as the final whistle blew after Benfica’s dramatic goal. He’s not wrong.
The final day of play saw an astonishing number of shifts in the standings, with three new teams – Bodo/Glimt, Club Brugge, and Benfica – securing spots in the top 24. Furthermore, half of the teams in the top eight also shuffled positions.
The new Champions League format has clearly injected unparalleled drama into the final day, while also providing smaller clubs with enhanced opportunities to reach the knockout stages. This advancement can translate into significant financial gains, enabling these clubs to reinvest and compete again.
Bodo/Glimt, for instance, made their first-ever European knockout appearance last season in the Europa League and have now surpassed that achievement by eliminating Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in Champions League play. While valid concerns persist regarding the widening gap between the wealthiest clubs, it’s evident that this tournament holds immense significance for top teams in smaller leagues.
With some clubs in larger leagues faltering, this could even influence UEFA club coefficients, which dictate the number of clubs in each European competition and automatic qualification berths. More of this, please.
Losers: The American Champions League Contingent
Eight American players featured in the Champions League league phase: Sergino Dest, Malik Tillman, Weston McKennie, Folarin Balogun, Yunus Musah, Johnny Cardoso, Ricardo Pepi, and Marvin Dills. However, only four will continue into the knockout rounds, with none securing automatic berths to the Round of 16.
Tillman’s Bayer Leverkusen, Cardoso’s Atletico Madrid, McKennie’s Juventus, and Balogun’s Monaco are the remaining American hopes. Eighteen-year-old Dills made his Champions League debut for Eintracht Frankfurt on the final day against Tottenham, while the others were actively involved for their respective teams.
While their eliminations are not directly attributable to their individual performances, it is unfortunate to see the contingent halved in a single day, especially after it seemed plausible that all could advance. Given the current knockout phase bracket, this number could further diminish significantly.
Winner: The Premier League
Six Premier League teams entered the Champions League, and an impressive five now occupy the top eight positions in the league phase table. The sixth, Tottenham, finished 12th after drawing against reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Tottenham, despite their domestic struggles, navigated the league phase with relative ease, a stark contrast to their 17th-place finish in the Europa League last season. Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon offered an intriguing perspective on this phenomenon ahead of their match against PSG.
“I think in the Champions League, teams are much more open. They all try to play; it’s less transitional,” Gordon remarked.
“I think in the Premier League it’s become more physical than I’ve ever known it to be. It’s like a basketball game, sometimes it’s so relentless physically.
There’s not much control, it’s just a running game, and it’s about duels. Who wins the duels wins the game or moments.
“The Champions League is a bit more of an older style of game. It’s a bit more football-based, where teams come and try to play proper football.
I think in the Premier League, to see a lot more long throw-ins, set pieces. It’s become a lot slower and set-piece based, I would say.”
Gordon’s observations offer a compelling lens through which to view the contrasting styles of play, particularly when considering players like Xavi Simons, who have struggled in the Premier League but thrived in Champions League action. While Arsenal, one of England’s best teams at both attacking and defending set pieces, currently sits atop the table, they too have demonstrated the ability to rotate their squad while competing on multiple fronts.
English teams have claimed three of the last ten Champions League finals, placing them second only to Real Madrid’s five, with Germany and France each securing one. This could signal a potential shift in the balance of power within European club football.
Losers: Real Madrid
Eliminated from the Copa Del Rey and now outside the top eight of the Champions League, the Alvaro Arbeloa era at Real Madrid has not started auspiciously. Furthermore, Real Madrid will be without Raul Asencio and Rodrygo for the first leg of the knockout phase after both received red cards in stoppage time during their loss to Benfica.
Not only were Real Madrid knocked out, but they were also thoroughly outplayed from start to finish, conceding 22 shots and an xG of 2.99 despite holding 66% possession. While Los Blancos may benefit from additional matches to solidify their defense, they could face either Benfica again in a two-legged tie or a formidable Bodo/Glimt side that recently defeated both Atletico Madrid and Manchester City.
For Real Madrid, an exit before the Round of 16 would be an unacceptable outcome and could potentially lead to a third managerial change within a single season.