From the strongest performances of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland to the struggles of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as many more, there was a lot to discuss in the first leg of the Champions League round 16. We asked Gab Marcotti, Mark Ogden and Graham Hunter for their views on some big questions.
Mbappe or Haaland: Who would you give now and why?
Marcotti: Mbappe. Obviously it’s close, which is why the question is being asked, but for now I take Mbappe. He’s more experienced, he’s gone up and despite being very young (and kicked back) and he’s gotten better coaching all his life, which, I think, is make it more multifaceted. But there aren’t many.
Ogden: This is so hard to call. Haaland is all at speed and power, while Mbappe is even faster and with more talent, but they are both getting goals at a consistently consistent rate. Haaland can be said to carry a greater burden for a score at Dortmund than Mbappe at PSG. There are elements of Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Haaland’s game, while Mbappe shines against opponents like Lionel Messi. But for now, I would take Haaland; I just believe he will get more goals in the coming years than Mbappe.
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Hunter: Mbappe all day. Haaland is surprisingly amazing, having worked hard on the parts of his game that don’t come naturally, and there will be some defenders who won’t get to sleep until he retires. But Mbappe is, quite simply, a fine football player. It has a personal, idiosyncratic flavor, but it is the grace, acceleration, ingenuity, wit and instability of the French that inspire me. When he’s courting, twisting, burning, going, threatening, smirking … I’m in heaven. Get me my checkbook. Now!
Will Messi or Ronaldo win the Champions League again?
Hunter: They may not, but either of them is a silly idea can’t win this award again. Both are still able to leave younger, feted players in their shadow; each, surrounded by a good team, is capable of 10 or 11 special performances over nine months which, in a good squad with good coaching, is all it takes to win the Champions League.
Marcotti: I think it’s possible, though maybe not this year. But I think the two of them have another three, if not more, years after this one. And, they both have a free agency: Messi in the summer, Ronaldo the next. So if this is their absolute priority, they may be able to choose the right club and paint a good picture for themselves.
Ogden: With their current teams, no. Juventus are in decline and, at 36, Ronaldo is facing two or three years before they can be truly competitive again in the tournament. As for Messi, who turns 34 in June, it can be argued that Barcelona are in a bigger hole than Juventus. Paris Saint-Germain are interested in both players and could offer a short cut to glory, while Messi also have Manchester City to think about. If they move either or both in the summer, they can win another Champions League. But both are beyond the maximum, so that’s not my answer.
1:11
Alejandro Moreno at ESPN FC assesses the potential for European success for the two biggest stars in football.
Is Italian and Spanish conflict a long-term concern or a blip?
Ogden: It looks like a long, difficult road ahead for the Spanish clubs. Real and Barcelona will have to rebuild aging teams without the funding needed to replace them with iconic players such as Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique. Real have yet to replace Ronaldo since 2018 and Barca may have their own big problem replacing Messi in the summer. Atletico are in a similar position financially, so Spain could be set for a recession. For Italy, the picture is more promising. Milan clubs are picking up again, so their recovery will make Serie A stronger and push Juventus to rebuild faster.
Hunter: It’s a blip for Spanish football who, after an extended golden age for clubs and country, suffers from two things: Re-fishing and the need for renewal. England in particular, but also Italy and Germany, consistently capture anything in La Liga that looks shiny and attractive. Emerging kids, established stars, managers, technical leaders, scouts, players who just want more money; ultimately, brambles have devastating effects. Times take time to rise again like phoenixes but, pound for pound, Spain is still developing, scoring and coaching better than anywhere else.
Marcotti: It’s a blip. We put too much emphasis on individual results in the Champions League. In Italy, you talk about the clubs that are in third, fifth and sixth in Serie A and I’m not sure that that mirrors the league as a whole … every game has its own story. at least. In Spain, Real Madrid are in a tight spot, but they also have nine boys out for various reasons. Sevilla are flying, they are showing it in La Liga, but Barca on the other hand, yes, it is sad. However, I think Juve and Sevilla still have a good chance of going through. (Plus, obviously, Atalanta and Madrid are playing together.)
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Which teams advance to the quarter-finals?
Marcotti: PSG, Liverpool, Juventus, Sevilla, Atletico, Bayern, Atalanta, Man City
Ogden: PSG, Liverpool, Juventus, Dortmund, Chelsea, Bayern, Real Madrid, Man City
Hunter: PSG, Liverpool, Porto, Sevilla, Atletico, Bayern, Real Madrid, Man City