The UEFA Champions League has come to an end, with 36 teams, 18 matches playing simultaneously and few having a chance to continue to the knockout round.
Arsenal F.C. went on to be undefeated in the Champions League, winning all eight matches and defeating Atletico de Madrid 4-0, Bayern Atlético 3-1 and Inter Milan 3-1.
Arsenal F.C. suffered some injuries at the beginning of the Premier League season. In the end, Mikel Arteta prepared this season with many new signings and a few players who returned from their long absences.
On match day eight, Arsenal F.C. faced F.C. Kairat. Arsenal F.C.’s Kai Havertz returned to the pitch after suffering a knee injury. He started for Arsenal F.C. in the Champions League.
The impact Havertz had was immediate, assisting Viktor Gyökeres, making the score 1-0 in the second minute of the match, and making a goal contribution in the 15th minute. Arsenal F.C. fans proudly chanted his name as the game ended in a 3-2 overtime victory.
Havertz was the man of the match, and fans were excited to see the new partnership with Gyökeres, finally seeing the potential these two can have in the Premier League and the Champions League.
This match left Arsenal F.C. undefeated and at the top of the Champions League bracket, automatically qualifying for the round of 16 with F.C. Bayern Munich, Liverpool F.C., Tottenham Hotspur F.C., F.C. Barcelona, Chelsea F.C., Sporting C.P. and Manchester City F.C. waiting to see who they will play against.
An important moment in the Champions League happened during Real Madrid C.F.’s match against S.L. Benfica. S.L. Benfica was tied with Marseille at the beginning of the match, leaving S.L. Benfica just outside the qualification round by one goal.
Real Madrid C.F. had qualified for the next round of the Champions League, but lost to S.L. Benfica 3-2 toward the end of the match. In the 96th minute of the match, S.L. Benfica was awarded a free kick. With the clock past extra time, and this being the final play of the match, S.L. Benfica manager José Mourinho sent goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin to Real Madrid C.F’s box as a last-ditch effort to hopefully secure a spot in the Champions League playoffs.
S.L Benfica’s Fredrik Aursnes takes the free kick and crosses the ball into the box. Trubin runs into the box and heads the ball into the back of the net. They scored in the 98th minute of the match, securing their spot in the Champions League playoffs and getting Marseille F.C. knocked out of the Champions League.
A classic move initiated by Mourinho, reminding everyone why he is the special one. Losing this match means S.L. Real Madrid lost their spot in the round of 16, as they fall below the top eight in the table. Now in ninth place, they will be placed in the playoffs, earning another chance to qualify for the round of 16.
The Champions League will resume Feb. 17 and 18 with the first leg of the matches and conclude the second leg Feb. 24 and 25, where teams that did not qualify for the round of 16 will face each other.
Sixteen teams, eight matches and two legs will decide who faces the top eight teams that have already qualified, giving them another chance to win a prestigious trophy.
