Article by Maria Olteanu – Published on Thursday, 12 March 2026, 07:34 / Updated on Thursday, 12 March 2026 07:35
From Madrid to Paris, from Istanbul to Leverkusen, the English “greats” have become small and have not achieved a single victory in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League. In six matches, the balance obtained was four defeats and two draws, and the return missions are announced for some absolutely hellish teams.
The Premier League is considered by many football lovers to be the best in the world, the richest and the one with the best players. But in this UEFA Champions League week, the money didn't flow onto the field and the quality wasn't enough. From the Premier League came only an echo of defeat and the danger that not even one team would advance to the quarter-finals.
In short, the numbers show six games, zero wins and a reality shock that left England with a European nightmare, according to abola.pt.
England, disastrous week in the Champions League
It all started on Tuesday afternoon. Liverpool, in Istanbul, again felt the pressure of the Turkish inferno. Galatasaray were more intense, more aggressive and won 1-0 with a goal from Mario Lemina. The “Cormorants” left Turkey without arguments and with a lot to reflect on before the return at Anfield. However, everything is open for the second leg, especially since Liverpool will play at home, and the difference is not impossible to overcome.
If Liverpool had a poor performance, Tottenham, with Radu Drăgușin on the bench, played a terrible match, “Spurs” experiencing a real ordeal at the Metropolitano.
In just 22 minutes, Atletico settled the match, having 4-0, exposing all the defensive shortcomings of Igor Tudor's team. Goalkeeper Kinsky, thrown into a risky bet, had a nightmare debut, being substituted in the first half after two monumental errors. In the end, the scoreboard recorded a 5-2 that seems difficult to turn around in the return of over a week.
Missteps in Madrid and Paris
The English disaster extended on Wednesday as the run of bad results continued. At the Santiago Bernabeu, Guardiola's Manchester City were a shadow of their usual selves. Real Madrid did not need to have more possession, because they quickly managed to decide the fate of the duel: 3-0, with a Fede Valverde hat-trick that left the “citizens” on the ground, powerless in front of the table.
While in Madrid the situation was a complete fiasco, in Paris things went just as badly. PSG crushed Chelsea 5-2 and are one step into the quarter-finals on their way to defending last year's trophy.
Peers who save honor
The English's only hopes after the European week in the Champions League came from Leverkusen and Newcastle, but both with dramatic connotations. Arsenal earned a 1-1 draw in the 89th minute thanks to a penalty converted by Kai Havertz against his former side after a game in which Bayer were even better. Even the phase from which Arsenal equalized was borderlinemany considering that the penalty was given too easily.
On St. James' Park, Newcastle were seconds away from a historic victory against Barcelona, but a Lamine Yamal penalty in the last second of extra time froze the stands and left everything open for the return after 1-1 at the end of the first 90 minutes.
