Highlights of the Champions League season so far
The UEFA Champions League has once again been one of the highlights of the 2014/15 European football season. As the competition comes into the final stretch, DW looks back through this year's highs and lows.
The 20 million euro mistake
The Champions League was in the headlines even before the Group Phase of this year's competition began. In the summer, Poland's Legia Warsaw smashed Celtic 6-1 over two legs but a false substitution late in the game cost them a spot in the Champions League. An appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport failed. Legia's error is estimated to have cost them over 20 million euros ($25.47 million).
Oldest goal scorer
At the end of September, Roma striker Francesco Totti made his first appearance in the Champions League in three and a half years. Surrounded by high-earning players in light blue, he was the best player on the pitch at 38 years old. He clipped a lovely finish over Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart to become the oldest goal scorer in Champions League history.
Seventh heaven for Bayern in Rome
Bayern Munich traveled to the Stadio Olimpico in the Italian capital expecting a tough encounter. What followed on October 21 will live long in the memory of both Bayern and Roma fans. The German champions lead 5-0 at half-time in Italy and after a goal from Gervinho for the home side, capped off the historic 7-1 result with two late goals. It was Bayern's biggest European away win ever.
Shakhtar's night of goals
Shakhtar Donetsk were one of the Champions League's top scoring teams in the Group Stage, with 15 goals. Seven of those goals came in one spectacular demolition of BATE Borisov, equalling the heaviest home defeat in the competition's history. Luiz Adriano scored five goals, equaling Lionel Messi's record for most goals scored in a game. This same scoreline would come back to haunt them later on...
Messi breaks ultimate record
Barcelona's Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick against APOEL Nicosia on matchday five of the Group Stage. His 72nd, 73rd and 74th Champions League goals, thus making him the competition's all-time top scorer. Messi overtook Real Madrid legend Raul with his three goals. Cristiano Ronaldo was also able to surpass Raul's record on matchday six.
Schalke's night to remember
Despite falling short on aggregate over the two legs, Schalke were able to provide their fans with something to cheer about against Real Madrid in the Round of 16. Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, the Royal Blues travelled to the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid and beat Real 4-3 with a stunning performance. Teenager Leroy Sane scored his first ever goal for Schalke's first-team.
Shakhtar get taste of their own medicine
Having won 7-0 earlier in the competition, Shakhtar Donetsk were subject to the same drubbing themselves, this time at the hands of Bayern Munich. Having drawn the first leg of their Round of 16 tie, Bayern were out for blood. The fastest red card in the Champions League season didn't help Shakhtar as even Holger Badstuber scored for the Bavarians.
Dortmund drowned out by Juventus
On what was likely to be their last Champions League game for almost 18 months unless they qualified, emotions ran high as Borussia Dortmund hosted Juventus. The Turin club rose to the challenge however and, inspired by Carlos Tevez, dominated the game and won 3-0 to head into the quarterfinals. It turned out to be Jürgen Klopp's last European game in charge of BVB too.
Bayern score goals for fun again
After a tense and nervous build-up following a rare 3-1 defeat, the German Champions secured a place in the Champions League semifinals with a superb team performance, beating Porto 6-1 on the night. Bayern scored five goals in 26 first-half minutes, with Thiago opening the scoring during a man of the match performance, and went through with an aggregate score of 7-4.
Quarterfinal highlight: The Madrid derby
In a rematch of last year's Champions League final, Real Madrid and neighbors Atletico were drawn together in the quarterfinals. A nervy first leg encounter at the Vicente Calderon had the tie poised at 0-0. Real were then too strong in the return match at the Santiago Bernabeu, winning 1-0 with a goal right at the death.
Barca gets revenge on Bayern
Having gone down 7-0 on aggregate two seasons before, Barcelona hit back. A 3-0 win in Spain, followed up by a 3-2 loss in Munich sees the Catalans go through to the Champions League. They will face Juventus who beat Real Madrid.
Barca beats Juventus and wins treble
Goals from Rakitic, Suarez and Neymar secures Barca's fifth European Cup win in Berlin. Juventus go home empty-handed but were alive in final for a long spell with Alvaro Morata equalizing. Barcelona is the first-team to win the European treble twice after a triumph in 2009.