And how! Real Madrid and Bayern Munich emphatically made the last eight of the Champions League with a master-class in how to press home a big lead.
Football betting pundits rate these two teams as favourites to lift the title and on tonight’s showing who would disagree? Both withstood serious early attacks as Napoli and Arsenal did their very best to stay in their ties, despite facing giant betting odds, both putting in great first half shows.
But, after the half-time breaks, the masters each took just a few minutes to score and end all hope for the underdogs.
Napoli 1-3 (2-6 on agg) Real Madrid
It was a real game of two halves in Naples as the home fans roared their heroes on from the first whistle. Dries Mertens continued his prolific run of form, blowing the tie wide open on 26 minutes as Maurizio Sarri’s boys dominated the first half. Cristiano Ronaldo hit the upright in a rare Los Blancos’ attack, but then so did Mertens as the home side could easily have gone in two or three goals to the good.
But just seven minutes into the second half Sergio Ramos rose to flick the ball into the net from a Toni Kroos cross, meaning Napoli needed to score twice again. It was the Spaniards though who struck soon after and it was that man Ramos once more who powered his second header in from a corner. Alvaro Morata made it three in injury time.
Arsenal 1-5 (2-10 on agg) Bayern Munich
Just as in Naples the home team came out firing here; and the Gunners took a small step to clawing back a four goal deficit when Theo Walcott fired into the roof of the net on 20 minutes. In a fantastic first half display they could count themselves unlucky not to have a penalty and surely more of the same after the break could make for an exciting climax.
But it all went pear-shaped on 53 minutes when Laurent Koscielny pulled Robert Lewandowski down and the referee pointed to the spot, booking Koscielny. Then, to make matters worse, the ref changed his mind and brandished a red card. Lewandowski got up to slot the spot-kick home and it was game over.
Arjen Robben made it 2-1 on 68 minutes, and then Douglas Costa and Arturo Vidal, with two, piled on the agony in another difficult night for the Gunners.
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