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February 18, 2020 The curtain rises on the knockout stages of the Champions League and the first two challenges of the first knockout round (first legs) immediately make noise. The battleship Liverpool, reigning European champion and absolute ruler of the Premier, ends up on the carpet at the home of an Atlético Madrid who plays a game of great compactness and proves to be the most uncomfortable opponent as usual. The ambitious PSG of the ex Tuchel, sunk by a Borussia Dortmund dragged by the baby prodigy Haaland (double), also ends up on the carpet. Results that however leave all doors open in view of the return matches (11 March in Anfield and at the Parco dei Principi).Atlético Madrid-Liverpool 1-0
Reds hit cold at the Wanda Metropolitano (4 '): on the corner, the involuntary touch of Fabinho becomes an assist to the kiss for Saul Niguez who from close range has no problem in bagging the advantage of the colchoneros. At 26 'is a super Alisson to deny (foot) the doubling in Morata. Liverpool have a lot of possession but cannot be incisive: the only chance happens on Salah's feet, but the dangerous left of the Egyptian shatters on Felipe (35 ').
Shooting. Salah tries a header right away: the ball is just wide. It could hurt 68 'Morata, but the attacker slips badly when kicking. Not far from the intersection, at 71 ', the lightning bolt of Lodi from the great distance. Two minutes later, Reds very close on par with the flying turn of Henderson from the center of the area that parades by the side of a breath (73 '). Liverpool pushes but Atlético, with the 'cholo' Simeone unleashed on the bench, defends himself with clarity and heart without risking anything.
Borussia Dortmund-Paris Saint-Germain 2-1
Few emotions in the first half of the Westfalenstadion. Without luck, Neymar's free-kick (11 '), the clearest opportunity is signed Sancho with a right-footed shot on the second post: Navas says no (27'). Before the interval, double attempt by Haaland but the precision is not there. Disappointing Parisians: no shooting in the mirror.
Germans threatening at the start of the second half with Hakimi and again Sancho, who however wastes badly looking for the assist instead of concluding. Psg is shaken and Mbappè comes on, stopped twice by Burki (65 'and 66'). At 69 'Dortmund hits: it is the jewel Haaland, 19 years old and a bright future ahead, to cool Navas by two steps. Goal number 9 for the Norwegian in this Champions League, the 38th season between Salzburg and Borussia, which bought it from the Austrians in the January market. From here, thunder and thunderbolts. Mbappè breaks into the area and Neymar needs a ball that just needs to be pushed into the bag (75 '). But the 1-1 lasts not even one hundred and twenty seconds (77 '): from the edge, with an unbeatable blow, it is still super Haaland who signs the new German advantage. French response immediately with the Brazilian Neymar, who exploits an indecision of the opponents but is stopped by the post. Game over.