After 10 years, England dominates UEFA Champions League again

World
Europe

As Liverpool made it into the quarter-finals of the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League on Wednesday by defeating Bayern Munich 3-1 at the Allianz Arena, all four teams from Premier League, Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, entered the final eight of the world's top soccer tournament for clubs.

The last time English fans enjoyed such a wonderful scene happened in the 2008-09 season, a decade ago, when Chelsea and Arsenal took the places of Man City and Hotspur. Unfortunately in the end, the only non-English club in the semi-finals, Barcelona, won the title after defeating Chelsea and Man United. However, one year before that, English teams not only pocketed four spots in the quarter-finals, but also put up a "Premier League civil war" in the final in which the Red Devils beat Chelsea in Moscow to claim their third title of the event.

Players of Liverpool score second goal in their second-leg game against Bayern Munich in round of 16 at the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League at the Allianz Arena, March 13. /VCG Photo

This time, the English clubs built their happiness on German pain as three of them eliminated Bundesliga opponents in the round of 16. Hotspur took out Borussia Dortmund 4-0 after two games. Man City sent FC Schalke 04 home with a humiliating 10-2. Liverpool conquered Munich with a 3-1. In six games, Premier League crashed Bundesliga with five wins, one draw and 17-3 in goals.

By contrast, German fans had to accept the fact that for the first time in 13 years, no club from Bundesliga could play in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

Overjoyed Manchester United members after defeating Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 in the second-leg game of round of 16 at the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League at the Parc des Princes, March 6. /VCG Photo

The most breathtaking victory was claimed by Man United who lost 2-0 at the Old Trafford to Paris Saint-Germain on February 12 but then won 3-1 at the Parc des Princes on March 6. This was also the first time in the UEFA Champions League history for a team to have a comeback following a 2-0 loss at home.

Of course clubs from other countries contributed highlights, too. For example, Juventus from Serie A lost to Atletico Madrid from La Liga 2-0 in the first leg but defeated the opponent 3-0 in the second leg thanks to a hat trick by Cristiano Ronaldo. It was also the eighth time in the UEFA Champions League (tying Lionel Messi) and 52nd time in his career for Ronaldo to deliver such a performance.

Cristiano Ronaldo #7 of Juventus gets his first goal in the second-leg game against Atletico Madrid in round of 16 at the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League at the Wanda Metropolitano, March 12. /VCG Photo

The three goals on Tuesday also increased CR7's goals in the tournament to 124, which was more than 118 teams that participated in the event, including Atletico Madrid. Ronaldo scored 63 goals in the elimination games, 23 more than Messi. Moreover, it was already the fifth straight time for Atletico Madrid to be knocked out from or defeated in the finals of the Champions League by Ronaldo's club.

Messi scored two goals on Wednesday to help Barcelona defeat Olympique Lyonnais 5-1, which made his goals in the Champions League at Camp Nou 62 after 61 games there. It was also his 131st Champions League game for Barcelona, which is the second most in the club's history, only next to Xavi's 151.

The 2018-19 UEFA Champions League quarter-final and semi-final draws will take place on Friday.