As the 2021-2022 Champions League playoffs and round of 16 kicked off the first two games provided differing results to illustrate the state of the game.
Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG defeated Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid 1-0. A look at the stats for the game show how lopsided the score could have been. However it took a well worked added time Kylian Mbappe goal to get the crucial win. A win that has a different dynamic now that the away goals rule has been scrapped. Both teams play a nominal 4-3-3 but the style and intentions are not the same. Mauricio Pochettino will attempt to maintain possession and to gain it back quickly with a press. Carlo Ancelotti generally favours fast counters and to take advantage of the skills of midfielders to get the ball to Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema.
In the other game the 0-5 rout may have been predictable. Though Sporting have revived their league fortunes in Portugal they are no match for the experienced and familiar with big wins team that includes the likes of Bernardo Silva – long ago discarded by Sporting’s biggest rivals Benfica – Riyad Mahrez and others. The first half saw the Portuguese team all but destroyed with relative easy finishes with the hosts not enjoying the best of lucks either.