The former CSKA Moscow forward Valery Masalitin weighed in on which clubs could challenge Manchester City for Champions League glory. When asked who might stand up to City, Masalitin named Real Madrid as a potential rival. He also recalled Liverpool as a recurrent threat and added, maybe Bayern Munich could be in the mix as well, according to a discussion reported on socialbites.ca.
In the latest round of action, Manchester City overwhelmed RB Leipzig in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16, pouring in five goals. Norwegian striker Erling Haaland starred by converting a penalty in the 22nd minute and then scoring four more times from open play at 24, 45+2, 54, and 57 minutes. The performance was so dominant that City made a substitution in the 63rd minute, bringing Julián Álvarez on for Haaland under coach Pep Guardiola’s directive.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich defeated Paris Saint-Germain in the same round, while Real Madrid prepared for a rematch against Liverpool scheduled for March 15. The first leg had ended in a commanding 5–2 victory for Madrid, setting the stage for an intriguing early spring confrontation between the two European heavyweights.