Nightmares at home

The Champions leaves year after year images with epic overtones of players celebrating with enthusiasm key goals with their fans. In the highest continental competition, the respectable always encourages his own to the limit of forces. Before starting, there are large crowds in the surroundings to receive the bus and the field factor on the return is understood as a differential factor. This year, the pandemic has not allowed it, despite the images starring Atalanta supporters. In addition to the purely visual, the absence of public in the big ones has left terrible sporting consequences.

In the first leg of the round of 16, those classified in second position of the groups measured their forces at home against the leaders. The latter have swept to sign a balance of seven victories and a single defeat: Juventus against Oporto in O Dragao. While is true that the best of the first phase generally started as favorites to go to the quarterfinals, the lack of public has eliminated that traditional fear factor that is so decisive in a competition with teams of the highest level.

Furthermore, those who have emerged victorious, in general, they have left the classification practically on track. It is the case of Bayern Munich (1-4 to Lazio), from Liverpool (0-2 to Leipzig), from PSG (1-4 to Barcelona) or from Manchester City (0-2 at Borussia Monchengladbach). The Seville will have to deal with the complicated 2-3 that drags from Pizjuán. More alive they remain Atalanta Y Athletic of Madrid, who share 0-1 as a result. It will be worth them to win by scoring more than one goal to move on to the next phase. The only second that smiles is the Port, who won 2-1 at Juve. Even so, the goal scored by the Italians would give them the ticket to the quarterfinals with a 1-0 at Juventus Stadium.

Headquarters changes, another factor

Not only the absence of the public has played a leading role in this round. Atlético de Madrid, Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach have had to move to other countries due to the sanitary restrictions that mark the evolution of the pandemic. Simeone's men played the first leg in Bucharest and dealt with another environment, another climate and the need to focus despite being local. At the Puskas Arena in Budapest Manchester City and Liverpool beat the Germans.

Is it something exclusive to this season?

In the second round there is always favoritism of the one who plays the first leg as a visitor, as it is not a pure draw. The hype pairs the top eight of the group with the second eight and, this time, almost no continental colossus faltered in the opening round. Even so, history reveals that it is not usual that there are so many blows on the table of the presumed candidates. Last season there were only three road victories; in 2018-19 there were three more. In the two previous campaigns they settled for two. In 2015-16 the data closest to what happened this time was recorded: four wins. Therefore, seven, despite the fact that better against worse face a priori, it is a fact to highlight and that confirms that the pandemic somewhat breaks equality in the Champions League.