'Champions League DNA' faces historic challenge

At the current pace, it will take another 70 years for a team to match Real's record of winning the C1/Champions League to date. The "White Vultures" are the only team to have won three consecutive titles in the Champions League era (no other team has won twice). Real could even win the title in a season where they change coaches midway through the season, and the new coach is someone who has never coached at a high level before. Since 2014, Real have won the Champions League (six) more times than they have won the national championship (four).

Arsenal (right) are leading Real Madrid 3-0 ahead of the second leg of the quarter-finals

PHOTO: REUTERS

The above mentioned things show that: the creation of "Champions League DNA" is not only a strong force, but there seems to be some instinct that makes Real always play better in the Champions League. Or the Champions League has a format, schedule, and professional characteristics that are very suitable for Real.

But this season the Champions League kings are facing a huge challenge. If it were any other team, everyone would have written them off after losing 0-3 to Arsenal in the first leg of the quarter-finals. Can Real turn the tables against Arsenal in the second leg this week?

In fact, all four Champions League quarter-finalists were so evenly matched after the first leg that it was hard to predict anything other than Barcelona (who beat Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in the first leg), Arsenal (who beat Real 3-0), PSG (who beat Aston Villa 3-1), and Inter (who won 2-1 at Bayern Munich) would advance to the semi-finals. The only thing worth watching is whether Real can turn things around.

In contrast to Real's 15 European Cup/Champions League titles, Arsenal have never won the competition. Arsenal are perhaps the best team in the history of the European Cup/Champions League. And this is perhaps Arsenal's best season in the history of the European Cup/Champions League. To reach the quarter-finals, Arsenal beat PSV Eindhoven 7-1 away. In the "league" stage, Arsenal beat PSG, or beat Sporting Lisbon 5-1, right after Sporting beat Man.City 4-1...

Good news for Real Madrid fans, as well as those who love surprises in football: out of the 47 times a side has won by three or more goals in a Champions League knockout tie, the losing side has turned the tables in the second leg four times. That's 8.5%, almost as likely as a penalty kick in football. Deportivo won 4-0 after losing 4-1 to AC Milan in 2004; Barcelona won 6-1 after losing 4-0 to Paris SG in 2017; AS Roma won 3-0 after losing 4-1 to Barcelona in 2018; and Liverpool won 4-0 after losing 3-0 to Barcelona in 2019. When will the "fifth time" come?

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/adn-champions-league-truoc-thu-thach-lich-su-185250413225231536.htm