‘Experts’ to the fore as Ronaldo, Messi again rule in Europe

– Advantage traditional giants –

Ahead of the return legs, which teams hold an advantage looking towards the quarter-finals?

By and large, it’s those with a history of success at this level: record 12-time champions Real Madrid, and a trio of five-time winners in Barca, Bayern and Liverpool.

Only Juventus, champions in 1985 and 1996, were caught out at home by Tottenham Hotspur (2-2). Manchester City, who are trying to break into the closed circle of European giants, won 4-0 winners at Basel.

Manchester United, who have won the Champions League three times but found themselves in the Europa League last year, emulated Tottenham with an away draw at Sevilla.

Nothing is settled in the tie featuring Shakhtar Donetsk and Roma (2-1).

Yet, PSG had two-time defending champions Real on the ropes. And Chelsea made Barca suffer for long periods, twice hitting the post through goal-scorer Willian, before gifting the Catalans an equaliser with a dreadful defensive lapse.

“To play football well is to dominate the situation, among other things. To put it more clearly: don’t commit stupidity,” wrote Alfredo Relano in Madrid sports daily As.

“There is something at the old and big European clubs that places them above the rest: they don’t give gifts, and if they are handed them, they take advantage of them,” he added. “It’s perhaps a pure coincidence, or perhaps the sangfroid of an expert.”

That notion was backed up this week by Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes, twice a Champions League winner, when he said: “I believe a good mix of experience and knowledge of football is key.”

Barcelona and Real Madrid found ways to neutralise their opponents’ biggest stars.

Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, a standout during the group phase, was largely restricted by Barca as he was deployed in an unusual centre-forward role at the start of the first leg at Stamford Bridge.

PSG set a record for goals in the group stage led by Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani and Neymar, but the vaunted attacking trio were subdued at the Bernabeu.

The expectations will be much higher for the return fixture, with the spotlight set to be firmly fixated on Neymar after the Brazilian was more spectacular than influential — the opposite of Ronaldo and Messi, who provided telling contributions.