Arsenal are England's biggest hope in the Champions League this season - Photo: AP
Even Tottenham and Chelsea suffered heavy defeats in the first leg and face the risk of elimination. From a position of overwhelming numbers compared to other footballing nations, English clubs could face the risk of a mass exodus.
At the end of the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, 4 out of 6 English teams suffered defeats. Liverpool lost 0-1 to Galatasaray, Tottenham and Chelsea were thrashed 2-5 by Atletico Madrid and PSG respectively, and Man City lost 0-3 to Real Madrid. Only Arsenal and Newcastle entered the second leg without being at a disadvantage in terms of the scoreline, having drawn 1-1 with Leverkusen and Barcelona respectively.
From pride to worry
English football entered the round of 16 with indescribable pride, boasting six representatives – a feat no other nation had ever achieved in the Champions League. With such a large contingent, many English fans believed they would continue their dominance in the quarter-finals. However, the reality after the first leg of the round of 16 has become alarming.
Specifically, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Man City are predicted to struggle to overturn heavy defeats in the first leg. Given their poor form at the moment, Tottenham are not expected to turn the tables in the second leg. Even avoiding a heavy defeat would be considered a success. PSG are known victims of comebacks in the Champions League. However, at the moment, it's difficult for Chelsea to hope for that, as PSG are more experienced and resilient. Furthermore, Chelsea themselves lack consistency and probably don't have the resilience to successfully stage a comeback.
Meanwhile, any opponent trailing Real Madrid 3-0 after the first leg is practically... eliminated, even if it's Man City. Especially since Pep Guardiola's Man City at the moment isn't a team with consistent gameplay.
Waiting for the coups.
Newcastle's draw against Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League could be considered an unexpected surprise. However, not many fans have high hopes for Newcastle as the second leg takes place at Barcelona's Nou Camp. Arsenal is perhaps the team tasked with "saving" English football at this moment. The Gunners' draw against Leverkusen away from home in the first leg was a very encouraging result.
Arsenal will play the second leg of the round of 16 at home at the Emirates Stadium, giving Mikel Arteta's team a great opportunity to secure a place in the quarter-finals. It's also worth noting that the confidence placed in Arsenal at this moment is well-founded. Firstly, their opponent, Leverkusen, is not a particularly strong team. Secondly, the 1-1 draw in the first leg in Germany is, ultimately, an advantage. Furthermore, Arsenal's current form is quite good and they are considered a top contender for the title.
Liverpool lost 0-1 to Galatasaray at home, but the return leg will be played at Anfield. Theoretically, Liverpool could still hope to turn the tables. However, based on their recent performances, Galatasaray are not an easy team to beat. The Kop would need to be truly outstanding to defeat Galatasaray, something Liverpool have rarely demonstrated this season.
The Champions League is always full of surprises, and it's difficult to predict anything. Fans are still hoping for a comeback from Man City and Chelsea, a surprise from Newcastle, and also a potential threat from Arsenal. All will be revealed after the second leg matches next week. But one thing is certain: English football will struggle to maintain its full strength in the quarter-finals.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ac-mong-voi-bong-da-anh-20260313060714127.htm
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