5 Gamers Who Dissatisfied In Champions League Quarter-Finals

During the last two weeks, we have been handled to eight breathtaking UEFA Champions League quarter-final matches. Final week, Bayern Munich and Manchester Metropolis held Arsenal and Actual Madrid to 2-2 and 3-3 attracts, respectively. After failing to win the primary leg at house, Arsenal wanted a optimistic outcome on their journey to Munich to proceed. Sadly for the English aspect, Bayern Munich have been a tad higher than them and beat them 1-0 on the Allianz Space. Manchester Metropolis, in the meantime, fancied their probabilities of progressing after drawing on the Santiago Bernabeu. However Actual Madrid, with all their would possibly, got here via within the reverse leg on the Etihad Stadium, beating the reigning champions on penalties after holding them at 1-1 on the finish of additional time.

Whereas the aforementioned groups have been on degree floor after the primary leg, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona got here out on prime of their first hurdle. Los Rojiblancos beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at house whereas Barca secured a 3-2 win over Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) away, positioning themselves as favorites to progress. Unluckily for the Spanish golf equipment, issues didn’t go in accordance with plan within the reverse leg. Dortmund bagged an excellent 4-2 win over Atletico to progress to the semis whereas PSG picked up an excellent higher 4-1 victory over 10-man Barcelona in Catalonia.

Over two elements, we now have already paid homage to the standout performers from the first and second legs. As we speak, we are going to check out those that dropped the ball. Listed below are the highest 5 gamers who couldn’t stay as much as expectations within the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

#5 Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid)

Atletico Madrid’s first-choice striker Alvaro Morata drew blanks in each UEFA Champions League quarter-final matches in opposition to Borussia Dortmund. Within the first leg, he solely accomplished 11 passes and had one shot on course. Because of his lack of fluidity, coach Diego Simeone hooked him within the sixty fourth minute.

Morata acquired a spot within the beginning XI for the return leg at Dortmund, however his efficiency was arguably worse. Dortmund remoted him fairly successfully, and with none service, the Spaniard didn’t make a tangible affect. The previous Actual Madrid man failed to check the keeper even as soon as and missed one massive likelihood earlier than being hooked at halftime.

#4 Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)

Premier League giants Arsenal performed two mediocre video games in opposition to Bayern Munich within the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, drawing the primary leg and dropping the second. There have been many forgettable performances over the 2 legs, however Gabriel Martinelli’s show was essentially the most disappointing. The Brazilian winger lacked guile going ahead and was simply brushed apart by Bayern attackers on the break. Martinelli was partially accountable for Joshua Kimmich’s profitable aim within the second leg, as he didn’t put sufficient effort to maintain Raphael Guerreiro from placing the cross into the field.

Throughout two legs, Martinelli solely accomplished 29 passes, had only one shot on course, missed one massive likelihood, and misplaced possession 5 occasions.

#3 Frenkie De Jong (Barcelona)

Barcelona supervisor Xavi has completed all the pieces in his energy to assist midfielder Frenkie de Jong. He has made fairly a couple of tweaks to let the Dutchman play in his most well-liked place and surrounded him with gamers who can assist him. Nevertheless, regardless of receiving such aids, De Jong has been capable of boss the midfield, not in video games in opposition to high-quality opposition.

De Jong couldn’t maintain his personal in opposition to PSG midfielders Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz, and Warren Zaire-Emery. They typically overpowered him in duels or bypassed him altogether, rendering him ineffective. De Jong additionally lacked urgency throughout transitions. He typically took a tad too lengthy to select the correct cross and didn’t cost the opposition aggressively sufficient when defending. Over two legs, De Jong didn’t create any goalscoring probabilities, performed simply eight passes into the ultimate third, and misplaced 4 floor duels.

Barcelona might think about delivery him off in the summertime switch window if he doesn’t markedly enhance his efficiency over the approaching weeks.

#2 Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)

Barcelona anticipated Robert Lewandowski to develop into their messiah once they signed him from Bayern Munich in the summertime of 2022. The Polish striker has certainly produced some top-tier shows since transferring to Catalonia, however only a few of them have are available in tough matches.

The previous Bayern Munich talisman was properly under expectations within the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in opposition to French powerhouse PSG, particularly within the second leg. After meaningfully contributing to Barca’s trigger within the 3-2 win in Paris, Lewandowski utterly fell off the radar within the second leg. PSG marked him closely and restricted his actions, and every time he did break away, his ending let him down.

Within the decisive second leg, Lewandowski had 4 pictures, however solely two of these wanted Gianluigi Donnarumma’s intervention. He was additionally dispossessed 3 times, misplaced 10 duels, and dedicated two fouls, one in all which earned him a yellow card.

#1 Erling Haaland (Manchester Metropolis)

Arguably the very best striker on the planet, Manchester Metropolis ace Erling Haaland was shockingly poor in each legs in opposition to Actual Madrid.

Within the first leg, Antonio Rudiger took it upon himself to mark the formidable striker. The previous Chelsea man caught with him all through the sport, snatching the ball away from him every time he tried to get into the sport. Within the first leg, which ended 3-3 in Madrid, Haaland solely accomplished six passes, lodged just one shot, and misplaced 5 of 10 floor duels.

Haaland didn’t tussle with Rudiger within the return leg on the Etihad Stadium, with Nacho Fernandez accepting the duty of dealing with him. Regardless of having a bodily drawback, Nacho did a quantity on Haaland, proscribing him to only one shot on course. The Norwegian did hit the woodwork as soon as, however he didn’t look answerable for the looping header he dispatched.

Haaland has now confronted Actual Madrid 4 occasions within the final couple of seasons, failing to attain even as soon as.