Champions League winners and losers

This week’s round of Champions League action saw a total of 19 goals scored in just 4 matches. Here’s a look at this week’s winner and losers from club football’s greatest competition.

Winners

Atletico Madrid

Diego Simeone’s side have struggled in La Liga this season but their poor domestic form wasn’t evident on Tuesday night. The Spanish side traveled to Germany and left with four away goals. Bayer Leverkusen were unable to stop a rampant Atletico attack with Saul Niguez, Antoine Griezmann, Kevin Gameiro and Fernando Torres all scoring. Their hosts pulled one back through Karim Bellarabi before a Stefan Savic own goal give the hosts a glimmer of hope. Nevertheless Simeone’s men look certain to progress to the quarter-finals thanks to their first leg dominance.

Radamel Falcao 

Radamel Falcao showed his class in AS Monaco’s thrilling game away to Manchester City midweek. Falcao led the line against City and scored one of the best goals of this year’s competition. Falcao silenced his critics from his spells in the Premier League as he displayed his goal poaching talent. He scored Monaco’s first goal of the night with a brilliant diving header. He then won a penalty drawing a foul from Nicolás Otamendi but failed to convert from 12 yards. The Colombian redeemed himself using his strength and skill to turn John Stones inside out finishing the move with a sublime chip over the onrushing Willy Caballero. While his side wilted as the match wore on Falcao’s performance on Tuesday gives Monaco hope heading to the Stade Louis II for the second leg.

Losers

Alex Telles

Two yellow cards in the space of 74 seconds for Alex Telles ruined Porto’s hopes of pulling off a result at home to Juventus last night. The Portuguese side were reduced to ten men for over 60 minutes after the left back raked his studs down the back of Juan Cuadrado’s leg then needlessly slid into Stephan Lichtsteiner on the right flank. Porto kept their visitors at bay for over 72 minutes but eventually the numerical advantage became too much with substitutes Marko Pjaca and Dani Alves both scoring. After the match the Brazilian apologised for his moment of madness saying: “No-one can understand my feelings right now. I apologise to all the Porto fans.” Two away goals conceded with the second leg in Turin means Porto’s involvement in the competition is likely to end in a few weeks time.

Sevilla

This might seem like an odd selection for a loser considering the Spanish side won last night but they aren’t home and dry yet. Jorge Sampaoli’s side started with incredible intensity and totally outclassed Leicester for much of the game. Joaquin Correa should really have done better in the 14th minute, his tame penalty was saved easily by Kasper Schmeichel. Sevilla took a two goal lead thanks to Pablo Sarabia and Correa but Jamie Vardy’s goal 17 minutes from time rattled the home side. Los Blanquirrojos became more cautious with their passing and seemed a bit lost. Sevilla have given Leicester a glimmer of hope to take back to the King Power Stadium for the second leg. I doubt the Foxes will be able to defeat the Spaniards but Vardy’s away goal could yet be pivotal.