Champions League football finally returned on Wednesday night with the round-of-16 matches. Former champions FC Barcelona faced Paris Sain-Germain at Parc des Princes, while Benfica took on Borussia Dortmund at the Estadio da Luz in the first-leg clash. A surprise was on the cards as Barcelona were outclassed 4-0 by PSG. In Lisbon, Benfica got a goal past Dortmund to win 1-0. It was an enthralling night of football to say the least.
Barca face uphill task
Barcelona were finally given a taste of their own medicine as they were beaten 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain. Angel di Maria, who was celebrating his 29th birthday, was the catalyst as he scored a brilliant brace. Edison Cavani and Julian Draxler scored one goal apiece to seal a dominating display that has almost knocked Barcelona out of the competition. The Spanish club now face an impossible task when they host PSG in the return leg on March 8. No side has managed to overturn a four-goal first-leg deficit in the history of the Champions League.
Benfica gain an upper-hand
Kostas Mitroglou’s strike gave Benfica 1-0 win against Borussia Dortmund. The Bundesliga side were expected to have an easy outing after scoring 21 goals in the group stage, but failed to gain an equaliser when their star striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, missed a a penalty, hitting it straight at keeper Ederson Moraes as the club. Dortmund will host the second leg on March 8, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.