Moments That Lighted Up Uefa Champions League 2016/17 Season And Stats

 

Mandzukic’s stunner against Real Madrid

Goal of the season

Let’s start first with the goal that we had to wait until the very last day! Many will agree that Mario Mandzukic’s equalizer in the final against Real Madrid was the goal of the season. Yes, there has been some wonderful goals this season, from long range efforts to delightful chips but Mandzukic’s overhead kick finish stood shoulder above the rest.

This goal was well executed with inch-perfect precision – wait a little longer or a bit quicker, you have no goal. Not just his goal that was pleasing to watch but the glorious team move of passing and keepie-uppie that brought about the goal.

Alex Sandro got Leonardo Bonucci’s cross-field pass and crossed it for Gonzalo Higuain to push the ball back to Mario Mandzukic. Mandzukic controlled the ball on his chest and it seemed there was no danger as he was backing the goal mouth. But somehow, as he was losing balance, the Croatian hooked the ball over goalkeeper Keylor Navas. When he scored this delightful goal, I thought it was the beginning of good things to come for his Juventus team. But no, Real Madrid came back in the second half like a wounded lion and made sure Juventus and world forget that brilliant goal as soon as possible. Radamel Falcao’s chip against Manchester City was also pleasing to the eyes.

Buffon only walked past the trophy without even touching

Moment of heartbreak

Since 2003/2004 season, I’ve personally watched live, Gianluigi Buffon played three times in a champions league final but won non. This time, it seemed Buffon and his Juventus team were destined to win the trophy because they were playing against the defending champion. We all know the ill luck the defending champions carries about whenever they took to the pitch. It is only Manchester United that has played and reached the final as a defending champion in champions league era. You just know that the defending champion will crash out but Real Madrid defied the odd and be the latest team to inflict pain yet again on Buffon and Juventus in the final. Juventus will have the time to try their luck again but you wonder if Buffon will be part of it as he is 39.

This is the only trophy that has eluded this legendary goalkeeper. Buffon, it seems you can only see but you can’t enter. Sorry.

Oblak’s triple save against Leverkusen

Jan Oblak’s triple save for Atletico Madrid against Bayer Leverkusen in the quarter- final second leg stood out. The roly-poly made Hugo Lloris of Tottenham against Bayer Leverkusen in the group stage was sumptuous. It seems Leverkusen knows how to force good saves from keepers, or what do you think?

Leverkusen were pushing up for goals, having smelt blood and Atletico defence opened up but the Slovenian was there to deny them, saving first from Julian Brandt and then twice from Kevin Volland in quick succession to keep a clean sheet in the match.

The wonder boys of the season

If you didn’t know, know it now. Monaco has eliminated English Premier League clubs from Champions League five times in a row. In 1997, they eliminated Newcastle United. In 1998, it was Manchester United turn to eliminated by the boys from Monaco. 2004, Chelsea under leadership of Claudio Raniery was eliminated by Patrice Evra and co – even when the almighty Arsenal of then could not. Arsenal were eliminated by Monaco in 2015 and in 2017, Manchester city suffered the same fate. They also defeated Tottenham Hotspur home and away during the group stage.

One could be forced to think that with Pep Guardiola at the helm of Manchester city that the trend could end in 2016/2017 season. But no, Guadiola fucked up even when he had a glorious chance to do it.

The last French team to have actually won the trophy in 2000 and they proved this season just like they did in 2003/2004 season that they are one of Europe’s most potent attack. It’s always nice to see an outsider challenge Europe’s  elite – a swashbuckling, young Monaco team tried that. If you could remember, they paraded a young team when they reached the final in 2003/2004 season only to be defeated by a well drilled Mourinho’s Fc Porto.

Disappointment of the season

Pep Guardiola. Though I knew it would be tough for him especially in Premier League because Manchester city team is miles behind the two teams he had managed before but I also expected him to get it right in certain areas – like the decision to drop Joe Hart and his formation against Monaco in the return leg in France. City brought him to repeat the magic he did at Barcelona – his first attempt was a disappointment.

Sanchez bowing his head in shame after a disgraceful defeat to Bayern

Weeping boys of the season

The same old story is becoming an embarrassment and humiliation. Losing to one of Europe’s superpowers is a routine at this stage of the competition for Arsenal. Any lesson learnt at this stage of the Champions League were forgotten in a 5 – 1 first leg whitewashing at Munich. Arsenal lack a ruthless streak that saw the German repeat the same score line at Emirate. Eye brows might be raised at some of the refereeing decisions in the second leg but they ultimately doomed by their own incompetence and Mr. Wenger silly decisions.

Arsenal fans will have a break from this sort of humiliation having failed to qualify for the competition next season.

Atletico Madrid coach, Simone consoling Leceiter’s Albrighton

Overachievers of the season

Nobody thought Leicester city could survived Sevilla after Raniery was axed but they did. They earned the ticket to play in the quarter-final by remembering their major strength – the ability to see matches against a more technically adept opponents as battles and fighting at a raging tempo. Ultimately, they eventually bowed to Atletico Madrid in the quarter-final.

Barcelona players celebrating after a historic comeback to send PSG packing

Match of the season

The unpredictability of football makes it very interesting just like life – this is why I think football does not need video technology. Let it continue to be like life itself. A win at costs mentality separates serial winners from losers, be it in football or real life. In life, you never stop trying, you never stop believing no matter the condition you found your self. It is best you try and fail, you believe and it did not come to pass than you stop to try or believe at all. The day you stop believing, that’s the day you stop existing.

It is only through that unwavering believe that rules can be bent and protocol broken. This wonderful sport has taught us that those who has this kind of believe can succeed – be it in real in football or in real life. This beautiful sport has taught that those who stretch every sinew, within or outside of the rules, can prevail no matter what the problem maybe. This is what Barcelona did!

Faced with agony and despair, the real winners will find a way, by nefarious means or fair. This is what Fc Barcelona did! The Catalonian warriors did not bend the rules but ripped the regulations to break the Parisian hearts.

Top contenders for match of the season include : an enthralling 5 – 3 Manchester city win over Monaco, Borrusia Dortmund’s 8 – 4 bashing of Legia Warsaw.

Kylian Mbappe celebrating after scoring a goal

Emerging star of the competition

Kylian Mbappe rings a bell. He is only 18 and he lighted this season’s champions league with fire. The deadly forward got six goals to his name, including goals in both legs against Manchester city and Borrusia Dortmund. He scored twenty six goals in all competitions and helped his Monaco side won a long-awaited Ligue1 title.

Manager of the Season

Massimiliano Allergri’s tactical master classes that took Juventus to the final were quite impressive. In the semi-final, they managed to play both legs against the super Barcelona attack without conceding a single – that alone is no mean feat. Juventus played to the final without losing, the only team to do this after Atletico Madrid did in 2013. But his side came short against Zinedane Zidane’s troop. Zidane was also in the class of his own through out the season. His decision to start Isco dropped Bale in that final, showed he knows his team very well. Juventus did not know how to handle a rampaging Isco. Credit to Zidane – the manager of the season.

Player of the season

Peerless Ronaldo. He announce his status as the world’s finest footballer by inspiring Real Madrid to the historic feat of being the team to successfully defend the champions league. He scored five goals against Bayern Munich in the quarter-final, three goals against Atletico Madrid in the semis and two goals in the final – simply the man for the  big occasion. The top scorer in the competition and like messi, he has four champions league winners medals.