It was roughly a week ago when the UEFA Champions League group stage was scheduled to finish, culminating in Monday's last 16 draw (shown below).
This article will be about the best games of the group stage including high scores, shock results, entertaining football and more. There will be six games featured in this article, one from each round of fixtures.
Round 1: Manchester City 6-3 RB Lepizig
A nine goal thriller between one of last year's Champions League finalists and the side who finished 2nd in the Bundesliga last season was brilliant entertainment. Manchester City were deemed the favourites, with home advantage and a better reputation but few people would have expeceted to see this many goals. Manchester City were ahead for the majority of the game, however their victory had seemed at threat occassionally thanks to a spectacular hattrick by Christopher Nkunku. Jack Grealish netted his first for the sky blues as they secured the victory.
Round 2: Real Madrid 1-2 Sheriff Tiraspol
Sheriff, the first Moldovan team to make it to the Champions league group stage, had their work cut out heading to the Estadio Bernabeu facing 13-time winners Real Madrid. Real Madrid went behind but then expectedly dominated. They failed to convert their chances, other than a Karim Benzema penalty to make things level. Sheriff then proceeded to pull off the shock of their lives, achieving the unthinkable as they secured victory in dramatic fashion in the 89th minute with a strike that truly befitted the moment.
Round 3: Manchester United 3-2 Atalanta
It had been another lackluster display from Manchester United as they had found themselves 2-0 down at half-time at Old Trafford as their poor home form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looked to continue. However, a second-half comeback from Manchester UniteD completely turned the game on its head, and in typical fashion, Cristiano Ronaldo rounded it off with a late winner.
Round 4: Borussia Dortmund 1-3 Ajax
Following an early controversial sending-off to captain Mats Hummels, Dortmund found themselves ahead from the penalty spot. From then onwards it was all about Ajax trying to unpick the yellow brick wall as Dortmund sat deep to hold their lead. Once they had done through Dusan Tadic in the 72nd minute, it looked tough for Dortmund who eventually lost 3-1 as Haller continued his goalscoring run.
Round 5: Manchester City 2-1 PSG
A match dubbed as 'Oil Clasico', the true riches were on show as PSG started with a front three containing Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar whereas City had the likes of Raheem Sterling Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez fielded too. This was a game with true expectation, a game that proved vital in deciding the group winner. City looked superior throughout as PSG caused themselves problems by playing out from the back. PSG however went ahead with a fluid move finished off by Mbappe. The home side's response was inevitable as Gabriel Jesus's impact from the bench was telling, picking up a goal and an assist for his efforts as well as the three points for his side.
Round 6: Zenit 3-3 Chelsea
On the final matchday of the group, Chelsea were required to match Juventus's result against Malmo to win their respective group games which were simultaneously ongoing. They would have thought they'd do so seamlessly when Timo Werner put them 1-0 up within minutes but Zenit found themselves 2-1 up at half-time with two quickfire strikes before the break. Chelsea did respond as Lukaku leveled proceedings and Werner notched another with five minutes to go. There was to be one more twist to the tale though as Ozdoyev's late half volley stunned the Londoners leaving them 2nd in group H.
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