It was another incredible night of Champions League action in the last-16 stage, with Manchester City and Juventus making it through to the quarter-finals. City, remarkably, thrashed Schalke 7-0 to win 10-2 on aggregate, while Juventus won 3-0 against Atletico Madrid to complete a superb comeback and win 3-2 on aggregate.
We take a look at the things that you may have missed from Tuesday night’s action.
Mario Balotelli supports Atletico Madrid against Juventus
Mario Balotelli made no secret of the fact that he wanted Atletico Madrid to win against Juventus. The Olimpique Marseille striker, who previously played for OGC Nice, Inter Milan and AC Milan, encouraged Atletico to get back into the game after they fell behind on the night against Juventus.
Interestingly, Balotelli wasn’t watching his former club City.
Cristiano Ronaldo continues to hit new heights
Cristiano Ronaldo relishes playing in the Champions League – he has won the competition five times, including in each of the last three seasons.
Ronaldo is also the Champions League’s all-time record goalscorer, and he added to his tally against Atletico Madrid to become the first player in history to score 125 UEFA club competition goals. In addition to the Champions League, this figure also takes into consideration Ronaldo’s strikes in the UEFA Super Cup.
Inevitably, it wasn’t long until Ronaldo made it 126 and then 127. It was also Ronaldo’s eighth Champions League hat-trick, meaning he is joint-top with Lionel Messi in that regard.
In addition, the Portuguese star has an outstanding record against Atletico, having scored 25 goals in 33 games against them.View image on Twitter
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Record! Cristiano Ronaldo has become the 1st player in history to score 125 UEFA club competition goals #UCL24.7K9:42 PM – Mar 12, 20198,106 people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacy
Giorgio Chiellini reaches Juventus milestone
Giorgio Chiellini reached a significant milestone as Juventus took on Atletico Madrid. The experienced centre-back, who joined Juventus in 2005, made his 500th appearance for the club.
In doing so Chiellini became just the fifth player to make play 500 times for Juventus, following on from Alessandro Del Piero, Gianluigi Buffon, Gaetano Scirea and Giuseppe Furino.
Massimiliano Allegri shows his excellent close control
Massimiliano Allegri seemed calm even though his side were in the midst of an incredible Champions League comeback.
#JuveAtleti even the Juve manager is taking the piss22510:14 PM – Mar 12, 201970 people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacy
The Juventus boss had a lengthy career as a player prior to entering management and showed that his close control is still of a very high standard.
Raheem Sterling wears the captain’s armband
Raheem Sterling has been in superb form and the winger managed to get on the scoresheet again as City thrashed Schalke.
There was another boost for Sterling too as he was given the captain’s armband after David Silva went off, demonstrating just how important he is to City.
Diego Simeone’s melons comment comes back to haunt him
Before the game, with Atletico leading Juventus 2-0 from the first leg, Diego Simeone was asked whether he feared a dramatic comeback.
Atletico boss Simeone didn’t seem to concerned, and stated that he would sell melons in the street if such a scenario occurred.
To Simeone’s immense frustration, Juventus did somehow manage to win the tie courtesy of Ronaldo’s hat-trick, but it seems unlikely that the Atletico manager will fulfil his bizarre promise.