I blink

Watching highlights of the Champions League’s first knockout round, I was surprised to see Thomas Tuchel on Chelsea’s touchline. Apparently, he’s been working there since January. Already he holds the record for consecutive victories by a manager who is beginning at the club.

(It seems like only yesterday when the previous gaffer, Frank Lampard, was scowling at those same players’ ludicrous displays.)

I also was surprised that the 6,000-seat Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano was the venue of Real Madrid’s knockout game against Atalanta. Indeed, Real Madrid have been playing there since June of last year, and the Santiago Bernabéu is under renovation.

In other words: I’ve been ignoring world-famous clubs like Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain (the club that employed Tuchel as recently as December, and for which he also had record-breaking success). And there’s nothing special about those giants: I’ve been ignoring soccer in general (though I do usually watch a game or two over the weekend).

This neglect is certainly due to COVID. Soccer is just not as exciting when no one is in the stands.

Which is a pity. The footballers are, if anything, less inhibited now; and the quality of play is better.

More quarterfinals

Attack, attack, attack was the theme of the first three quarterfinals, beginning with Atalanta’s.

In the second quarterfinal, RB Leipzig, which came into existence just eleven years ago, outplayed and defeated Atlético de Madrid (who’d so impressively ousted title-holders Liverpool). Leipzig sliced through Atlético’s middle for the first goal. The winning goal was fired in after a clever low cross.

Leipzig’s young center-back, Dayot Upamecano, bossed Atlético’s strikers.

The next game was one of the most breakneck-paced contests I’ve seen at this level. Both Baryern and Barça threw caution to the wind. Bayern’s high defensive line was especially shocking.

Indeed, the Catalans had early chances. They didn’t take enough of them. The Bavarians romped to a 4–1 victory in each half, improving upon their 7–2 group stage victory over the Potato Tots.

The experts are predicting that Barça will be renovated through and through.

There was less attacking in Lyon’s surprising victory over Manchester City. The Citizens possessed the ball but lacked ideas. The “signature” moment occurred when Raheem Sterling missed the tying goal just feet from the empty net.

Outcomewise there are various possibilities, but Bayern has the best team this year.

Near-upset

A cracking good, heartbreaking first quarterfinal. Atalanta outplayed and led the headless chickens of PSG until minute 89 or so. Then the Parisians scored two goals, overturning the deficit. Their difference-maker was Kylian Mbappé.

Neymar, who reportedly earns about as much as the whole Atalanta squad, played a stinker of a game.

I have no horse in this race. There is no European team I cheer for. But the Parisians are the least deserving semifinalists I’ve seen in a long time.

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Samuel had a checkup today. The nurse practitioner said he was too thin. She urged us to feed him mashed potatoes.