Best underdog story: Gent qualifying for the last 16
GENT DEFIED THE odds to become the first Belgian side to progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League to give hope to all of the smaller clubs across Europe.
Known as “the Buffalos,” this season was the first time Gent qualified for the Champions League in their 115-year history after winning their first league title last season.
Victories over Valencia, Lyon and Zenit in their final three matches paved the way for the Belgians to qualify for the knockout stages before being beaten by German side Wolfsburg in the last 16.
Gent lost the two legs against Wolfsburg in the last 16 tie. EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
Best match: Bayern Munich v Juventus
Pep Guardiola’s men threw away a two-goal lead in the first leg of the last 16 tie to go into the return leg level at 2-2.
The German champions were on the ropes at the Allianz Arena when Juve scored two first-half goals in the second leg but a Robert Lewandowski header gave Bayern hope before Thomas Muller forced the game into extra time with a goal in stoppage time.
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Goals in the additional period from Thiago and Kingsley Coman ensured more European heartache for the Bianconeri after a dramatic and absorbing encounter.
Gianluigi Buffon is yet to win the Champions League in his career. Kerstin Joensson
Kerstin Joensson
Best finish to a game: Atletico Madrid’s penalty shootout victory over PSV
This last 16 tie made Champions League history by becoming the first-ever match in the competition to finish goalless after both legs.
The quality of finishing which was lacking over the course of the two legs didn’t continue in the shootout, with the first 14 penalties scored.
PSV’s Luciano Narsingh was the first miss and he provided Juanfran the opportunity to send his team through to the quarter-finals to which the Spanish defender duly obliged.
Juanfran scored the decisive penalty which sent Atletico Madrid into the quarter-finals. Paul White
Paul White
Best tactical display:Atlético Madrid against Barcelona
Barcelona’s hopes of becoming the first team to retain the Champions League ended after being knocked out by their La Liga rivals Atlético Madrid.
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar had no answer to Antoine Griezmann’s two goals in the second leg but it was the willingness and persistence of Diego Simeone’s men to defend their lead that proved the difference between the two sides.
Diego Godin was one of Atletico Madrid's star performers across the two legs. EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
Best goal: Saul Niguez vs Bayern Munich
The sensational individual goal from Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez in the semi-final just edges Roma’s Alessandro Florenzi’s audacious long-range effort from the group stages.
The Atletico Madrid man danced his way around the Bayern defence before curling the ball past Manuel Neuer to help his side on the way to the final.
Saul Niguez scored the only goal at the Vicente Calderon. EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
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5 of the best moments so far from this season's Champions League
Best underdog story: Gent qualifying for the last 16
GENT DEFIED THE odds to become the first Belgian side to progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League to give hope to all of the smaller clubs across Europe.
Known as “the Buffalos,” this season was the first time Gent qualified for the Champions League in their 115-year history after winning their first league title last season.
Victories over Valencia, Lyon and Zenit in their final three matches paved the way for the Belgians to qualify for the knockout stages before being beaten by German side Wolfsburg in the last 16.
Best match: Bayern Munich v Juventus
Pep Guardiola’s men threw away a two-goal lead in the first leg of the last 16 tie to go into the return leg level at 2-2.
The German champions were on the ropes at the Allianz Arena when Juve scored two first-half goals in the second leg but a Robert Lewandowski header gave Bayern hope before Thomas Muller forced the game into extra time with a goal in stoppage time.
Goals in the additional period from Thiago and Kingsley Coman ensured more European heartache for the Bianconeri after a dramatic and absorbing encounter.
Best finish to a game: Atletico Madrid’s penalty shootout victory over PSV
This last 16 tie made Champions League history by becoming the first-ever match in the competition to finish goalless after both legs.
The quality of finishing which was lacking over the course of the two legs didn’t continue in the shootout, with the first 14 penalties scored.
PSV’s Luciano Narsingh was the first miss and he provided Juanfran the opportunity to send his team through to the quarter-finals to which the Spanish defender duly obliged.
Best tactical display: Atlético Madrid against Barcelona
Barcelona’s hopes of becoming the first team to retain the Champions League ended after being knocked out by their La Liga rivals Atlético Madrid.
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar had no answer to Antoine Griezmann’s two goals in the second leg but it was the willingness and persistence of Diego Simeone’s men to defend their lead that proved the difference between the two sides.
Best goal: Saul Niguez vs Bayern Munich
The sensational individual goal from Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez in the semi-final just edges Roma’s Alessandro Florenzi’s audacious long-range effort from the group stages.
The Atletico Madrid man danced his way around the Bayern defence before curling the ball past Manuel Neuer to help his side on the way to the final.
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