MILAN: Defending champions Real Madrid, Liverpool and Barcelona all have one-goal leads to protect going into the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 this week.
For Madrid there is also city bragging rights at stake as they visit Atletico Madrid on Wednesday with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, while Liverpool host Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday knowing they were fortunate to snatch a 1-0 win in France. Barcelona also only have a 1-0 advantage over Benfica, while some other teams are feeling a lot more comfortable — with Bayern Munich having beaten Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 and Arsenal crushing PSV Eindhoven 7-1.
Smash and grab
Liverpool’s players don’t really care how they’re winning — as long as they continue to do so.
Arne Slot’s team had to withstand a barrage of attacks at Parc des Princes before a late goal from Harvey Elliott, who had only just come off the bench, saw it stun PSG.
That was only Liverpool’s second attempt on target compared to a whopping 28 for PSG.
The runaway Premier League leaders had another poor performance on Saturday but still managed to come away with a victory over Southampton.
“It’s just about winning, not how we win. Sometimes you have to win dirty and today was one of them days,” Elliott said after that match. “I think we know that’s what winners do really: When times are hard, what do you do? How can you come up with something to win the game? Luckily this squad is full of them players.”
This week will be decisive for Liverpool’s treble bid as they play Newcastle in the English League Cup final on Sunday.
“I think the best possible way to describe it is four finals, really,” Elliott said. “PSG away, really, really tough game, today was a really tough game, then again on Tuesday another tough game and then the final on the weekend. “So, we just need to make sure that energy-wise we’re still there. We’re still fighting, we’re still hungry to achieve things this season, although it’s a very tough period.”
The loss to Liverpool was PSG’s first defeat since November and halted a run of 10 straight wins for the French team.
Madrid derby
This was supposed to be the year Atletico finally got the best of Real Madrid in the Champions League after losing two finals to their city rivals and being eliminated the other two times they faced off in the knockout rounds.
Going into the first leg, Atletico were ahead of Madrid in the Spanish league and were also undefeated in the past four Madrid derbies.
But they are now on the verge of going out yet again to their neighbors.
Atletico have also slipped behind in La Liga after two late goals saw them lose 2-1 at Getafe at the weekend, while Madrid managed to grind out a 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was also able to rotate his squad that was further boosted by the return of Jude Bellingham.
The England midfielder had missed three of his team’s last four games through suspension — including the first leg against Atletico.
Treble chances
It’s not just Liverpool who have their eyes on lifting a trio of trophies this season.
Atletico, Real and Barcelona are also in the semifinals of the Spanish Cup and fighting it out at the top of the league table.
Leverkusen are also still involved in two trophies domestically. Although it would need something of a miracle to make up the eight-point deficit they have to Bayern in the Bundesliga as well as overturn a three-goal disadvantage in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Inter Milan, who won the treble in 2010 under Jose Mourinho, are in better shape. They lead Serie A, will face AC Milan in the Italian Cup semifinals and have a 2-0 advantage over Feyenoord going into Tuesday’s second leg.
Barcelona’s matchup against Benfica also takes place on Tuesday.
Arsenal are not the only English club that should feel confident going into Wednesday. Fellow Premier League side Aston Villa are also at home then and have a 3-1 advantage over Club Brugge.
The matchup between Lille and Borussia Dortmund in France is the only one that is level after they drew 1-1 in the first leg.
