2020/21 Champions League group stage drew its conclusion with two best teams from each group advancing to the next round. With this season being rushed for uncertainty due to the pandemic state, we can witness some magnificent encounters.
We bring forward five such exciting games that shaped the destiny of the teams involved. All of them were closely contested with the winning team just about deserving the score-line.
5. Real Madrid 3-2 Inter :
Real Madrid badly needed a win coming into this fixture on game-week three after managing a solitary point in the previous two. On the other hand, Inter had two disappointing draws to their name. Ultimately, it was Zinedine Zidane's men that roped all three points in the five-goal thriller. Real Madrid started the game brightly and went ahead after a loose back pass from Achraf Hakimi was capitalized by Karim Benzema. Captain Sergio Ramos doubled the lead with a thumping header from a Toni Kroos corner. Then the tide changed and through Lautaro Martinez and Ivan Perisic, Inter made it all square with twenty minutes to play. Then it was Vinicius Junior who played the winning pass to Rodrygo to slam home. Two substitutes combined for a vital win for Real Madrid.
4. RB Leipzig 3-2 Manchester United :
A game that Manchester United will not wish to look back. After a brilliant start to the Champions League campaign, Red Devils crashed out of the competition by losing to RB Leipzig on the final matchday. In a game in which United needed just a point to qualify for the Round of 16, they failed to do it. Julian Nagelsmann taught them a footballing lesson through an impressive first-half performance. Some shoddy defending from the visitors allowed Angelino and Haidara to take a 2-0 lead within 15 minutes. Justin Kluivert rubbed the wound on Manchester United by striking deep into the second half. Solskjaer's men made matters interesting ten minutes from time with Bruno Fernandes converting from the penalty and Ibrahim Konate deflecting a Paul Pogba header into his net. Unfortunately, it was too little too late for Manchester United as Leipzig reached the last 16 stages for consecutive seasons.
3. Atletico Madrid 3-2 RB Salzburg :
Atletico Madrid was thumped 4-0 by Bayern Munich in the opening week of the Champions League group stage. For the Spanish side, this fixture was a must-win. A Joao Felix inspired show helped them to achieve it. The game was a spectacle as well. Diego Simeone's side took the lead through Marcos Llorente, moments after Felix's acrobatic effort skimmed the crossbar. The goal-scorer also missed a one v one situation. That proved costly as Salzburg came out from its shell. Another sensation on the pitch, Dominick Szoboszlai netted the equalizer with an outside of the boot strike. The Austrian team then took the lead right after the break and seem to have caused another disappointment in the home side dressing room. Up stepped the talented Portuguese forward. Firstly, he converted a close-range finish before pulling off a cool and composed strike into the net five minutes from time.
2. Monchengladbach 2-3 Inter :
The German side was the surprise league leader in Group B ahead of Real Madrid and Inter Milan. Inter knew they had to win this fixture to stand any chance of qualification to the latter stages. They did win the highly anticipated matchup for sure but couldn't resist their fate of elimination on the final matchday after drawing 0-0 with Shakhtar Donetsk. Monchelgadbach scored ten goals without reply over the two games against the Ukrainian champions but fell behind early. Matteo Darmian put the Italian side ahead after Ian Sommer conceded on the front post. However, Alassane Plea quickly levels up proceedings in the first half additional time. Then it was Romelu Lukaku, the Belgian goal machine, who took responsibility on his shoulders to score a stunning brace to put Inter ahead. Plea then capitalized on an Alexis Sanchez miss pass to send back the nerves. But Inter holds on for three points.
1. Istanbul Basaksehir 3-4 RB Leipzig :
Nobody predicted this scoreline when Leipzig traveled to Turkey to face Istanbul Basaksehir. The Bundesliga outfit was in desperate need of a win. They achieved it but only just. Istanbul showed their resilience and almost a repeat of their win against Manchester United on matchday 3 in their stadium. Youssef Poulsen and Mukiele hit the front with two goals to take early matters into their hands. Then Irfan Kahveci's superb strike from the edge of the box right before the half time whistle from Visca's corner gave them hope. In the second half, Leipzig lifted off from where they left scoring through Dani Olmo. At that time it was seeming like the German side would see the game out comfortably. Kahveci had other ideas with his left-footed low finesse resting in the net on the 72nd mark. The Turkish midfielder then produced a thing of beauty of a free-kick to level up the score-line. However, the drama didn't end there as substitute Sorloth scored the last-ditch winner to break Basekshir's hearts.
