Champions League: Jurgen Klopp not over the moon as Liverpool are held by Bayern
Last-16 first leg encounter at Anfield was not a game to remember
Four clubs, two ties and 180 minutes of football - but not a goal to be seen.
That was the outcome of last night’s Champions League round of 16 first-leg matches between Liverpool and Bayern Munich at Anfield, and Lyon against Barcelona in France.
The results mean that Bayern and Barca will both fancy their chances of progressing to the quarter-finals when the last-16 second legs take place on Wednesday 13 March.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Under the moon
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp tried to put a positive spin on the Anfield stalemate but the German will know the size of the challenge facing his players in Munich next month.
“I’m not over the moon but I’m completely OK with the game,” said Klopp, whose side lacked a creative spark against a negative Bayern outfit.
“We can play better. We should play better. In the first half we had the bigger chances. I can’t remember any chances for either side in the second half. It wasn’t a Champions League night from that point of view.”
Snore draw
It was more a snore draw, one of those games that will be forgotten by the end of the week.
Liverpool managed only a couple of shots on goal, through Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, while Bayern didn’t muster so much as a solitary effort.
It was that sort of match, one that bored even Klopp, who in the build-up had predicted a “blockbuster”. “Not a lot of things happened,” he admitted. “It was not a game we will remember.”
Bayern were more buoyant at the end of the borefest, with head coach Niko Kovac delighted with the way his side had parked their bus at Anfield.
“I can’t remember too many clubs who have avoided defeat and kept a clean sheet here,” he boasted. “The fact that we managed to restrict them to very few chances shows that we played very well tactically as well as technically.”
Barca draw a blank
There was a similar goalless scoreline in Lyon, although at least Barcelona did try to put the ball in the back of their opponents’ net. But despite 25 shots, the Spanish giants failed to score as Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes denied Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho.
Lyon had their moments as well, with Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen pulling off smart saves to prevent Martin Terrier and Houssem Aouar breaking the deadlock.
Danger signs
Barcelona remain favourites to reach the last eight but their coach, Ernesto Valverde, will need no reminding that Lyon pulled off a shock victory at Manchester City in the group stage.
“We are strong at home but there’s no denying that 0-0 away from home is a dangerous result,” he said. “My feeling is that we played well, we were switched on. I think that we deserved a better result and did enough to win. It just wasn't our night.”
Champions League results, fixtures and TV guide
Last-16 first-leg results
- Manchester United 0 Paris Saint-Germain 2
- AS Roma 2 FC Porto 1
- Ajax 1 Real Madrid 2
- Tottenham Hotspur 3 Borussia Dortmund 0
- Liverpool 0 Bayern Munich 0
- Lyon 0 Barcelona 0
Wednesday 20 February: first-leg fixtures
- Atlético Madrid vs. Juventus (8pm, live on BT Sport 3)
- FC Schalke vs. Manchester City (8pm, live on BT Sport 2)
Last-16 second-leg fixtures Tuesday 5 March
- Borussia Dortmund vs. Tottenham Hotspur (0-3 on aggregate; 8pm, live on BT Sport)
- Real Madrid vs. Ajax (2-1 on aggregate; 8pm, live on BT Sport)
Wednesday 6 March
- FC Porto vs. Roma (1-2 on aggregate; 8pm, live on BT Sport)
- Paris Saint-Germain vs. Manchester United (2-0 on aggregate; 8pm, live on BT Sport)
Tuesday 12 March
- Juventus vs. Atlético Madrid (8pm, live on BT Sport)
- Manchester City vs. FC Schalke (8pm, live on BT Sport)
Wednesday 13 March
- Barcelona vs. Lyon (8pm, live on BT Sport)
- Bayern Munich vs. Liverpool (8pm, live on BT Sport)
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Cautious optimism surrounds plans for the world's first nuclear fusion power plant
Talking Point Some in the industry feel that the plant will face many challenges
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Explore new worlds this winter at these 6 enlightening museum exhibitions
The Week Recommends Discover the estrados of Spain and the connection between art and chess in various African countries
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
2024: the year of Black country artists
In the Spotlight Beyoncé debuted 'Cowboy Carter' at the top of the country charts, shining a spotlight on artists like Shaboozey
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
The 'Swiss model' shaking up the Champions League
In the Spotlight Uefa says the new format offers 'greater excitement' but critics say boredom is guaranteed
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
English football and the etiquette of leaving the stadium early
Talking Point The belief that 'true fans stay to the end' does not always apply
By The Week UK Published
-
The European Super League: a 90th-minute reprieve?
In the Spotlight A European court ruling has potentially breathed new life into the breakaway football league
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
‘Genuine visionary’: is Pep Guardiola the greatest of all time?
feature Spaniard has now won two trebles following Man City’s Champions League triumph
By The Week Staff Published
-
Champions League final: Man City vs. Inter predictions and preview
feature Can Guardiola’s team finally win the Champions League and complete a historic treble?
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published
-
Has Liverpool been weakened by Jürgen Klopp’s ‘seven-year itch’?
feature After seven years at Anfield, critics are wondering whether his magic is wearing off
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League all-star game: ‘incredibly arrogant’ or natural ‘evolution’?
Talking Point Managers and pundits dismiss US-inspired idea from Chelsea co-owner
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published