UEFA Champions League 2020-21: Munich marches on to quarters, Chelsea passes Atletico test

The pre-quarters stage of the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League have come to an end. On Wednesday, the final two matches of the round were held. Although there were no upsets, the ouster of current La Liga leader Atletico Madrid is the talking point.

The UEFA Champions League 2020-21 pre-quarters has come to an end. On Wednesday, the round’s final two matches were held, with two of the favourite teams marching on to the quarters.

Defending champion Bayern Munich marched on to the quarters as it tames Italian giant Lazio. Munich already led from the away leg 4-1 and was supposed to be an easy task at Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

However, it wasn’t as easy since Munich barely managed to win the second leg 2-1, with Robert Lewandowski being one of the goal-scorers. Overall, it was a 6-2 and commendable win by the champion.

Records Munich scripted with the win:
- Munich has become the first side in UCL history to qualify in 19 quarters.
- Hansi Flick is the first manager to win his opening seven UCL knockout games.
- Also, Munich has had its joint-best run of being unbeaten in 19 UCL games.

Meanwhile, in the other game, English giant Chelsea beat current La Liga leader Atletico Madrid convincingly. Playing at Stamford Bridge, it was a 2-0 win for The Blues, that had already won the away leg 1-0.

As for this game, Chelsea struck first with Hakim Ziyech putting the side ahead in the 34th minute. Meanwhile, Atletico’s Stefan Savic was handed a red card in the 81st, with Emerson Palmieri doubling it for Chelsea, as it eventually turned out to be the winner.

In the meantime, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has set a club record by being unbeaten in the most number of consecutive games (13) since taking charge. “From the very first moment, I felt part of a family and a well-structured club that thinks every three days about what is needed to win games. Everybody in this club thinks about football and from the first day the support was amazing. I feel part of it. A true part. I feel like part of the team also,” he said after the game.

Also, Atletico boss Diego Simeone cleared the air surrounding Luis Suarez’s substitution. “It’s normal that he got angry when he was taken off. Players want to stay on. We wanted a new way to attack them, so we made changes. Tonight was Joao Felix’s best game for the club; this is the player we want. Saul played well too. When your rival is better than you, accept it and learn from it,” he concluded.