This Champions League season took an unexpected turn, didn't it? The group stage and round of 16 were rather dreary, lacking that spark and pizzazz we've come to expect from the pinnacle of club football. Sure, there were a few fleeting moments of brilliance, but for the most part, it was a mundane and predictable affair. We can't say fans were overly impressed, to be honest. The matchups were a mix of lopsided contests and lackluster clashes between sides that have been off their game this season.
But lo and behold, the first legs of the quarterfinals on Tuesday night had a different tale to tell. At the illustrious Santiago Bernabeu, reigning champions Manchester City clashed with Real Madrid in an electrifying encounter that ended in a pulsating 3-3 draw. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, and let's not forget the battle at the Emirates, where Arsenal fought tooth and nail to come back from a 2-1 deficit against Bayern Munich, both sides feeling hard done by as their penalty appeals were waved away.
The encounter in Madrid was a game of countless twists and turns. There were moments where it seemed like City could overpower Real, followed by moments where Real looked poised to dominate City. The pendulum swung back and forth.
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Champions League delivers in a wild night of high-scoring thrillers
cgtn.com
