New Delhi: This season’s Champions League has been one to watch and it just keeps on providing as now we are heading towards closing stages of the season. With a numerous European giants already exiting the competition before the quarter finals, there was no shortage of drama in these stages where some of Europe’s top clubs are fighting for the crown. The quarter finals stage has also produced some high-end drama and some shocking results in the first leg, as the teams prepare for the next leg.
It was a night where the defending champions Real Madrid were looking to get the job done against Arsenal, and ruin their first quarter finals since 2009/10 season. However, to everyone’s surprise, the Gunners managed to completely humiliate the kings of Europe 3-0 at Emirates, with the sublime Declan Rice scoring two unbelievable free-kicks and the ‘super striker’ Mikel Merino adding further misery to Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Meanwhile, Inter snatched a late winner scored by in the first leg against Bayern Munich to take a 2-1 advantage at San Siro.
Last night, Borussia Dortmund’s plan of staying in this competition didn’t quite go as planned as their dreadful season took another big hit after being demolished 4-0 by in form Barcelona. Former Dortmund goal machine Robert Lewandowski took the matter in his own hands and scored a brace to give Hansi Flick’s side a commanding lead in the first leg. Then it was the unforgiving attacking prowess of Paris Saint-Germain that proved to be a little too much for Aston Villa as Luis Enrique’s side managed to take a 3-1 lead in the first leg. So, with second leg of quarter finals ahead of us, it will be interesting to see which team has the best chances of making it through to the next stage.
Barcelona keep flying! 🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/o0IpsYnfMh
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 9, 2025
FC Barcelona
Fair to say that Barcelona have already done most part of their job after taking a commanding 4-0 lead in the first leg where Lewandowski’s brace and goals from Raphinha and Lamine Yamal were enough to sink Dortmund’s confidence. They are clearly the favourites to lift the prestigious trophy this season and if we were to make an early prediction, after the first leg they seem like the team to beat this season. Flick’s tactics seemed to have worked well this season and there is a high possibility that they will make it through to the next round.
Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund’s season keeps going from bad to worse and their recent encounter with Barcelona saw them getting destroyed by the Catalan club 4-0. It seems less likely that they will be coming back from that and they seem to be lacking the confidence to get the job done. The best they can do at this point is just hope and pray for a historic comeback. They have a mountain to climb and their fans won’t be expecting much from this tie which suggests that their Champions League run is more-or-less over.
Historical night for Arsenal! 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/wzLx1uHjzS
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 8, 2025
Arsenal
It was an outstanding performance by the Gunners at their own ground where they managed to sink the defending champions Real Madrid who looked nowhere close to their best. It was Declan Rice who starred the show at Emirates, scoring two incredible free-kicks to put the home side 2-0 up. However, the knockout blow was provided by Mikel Merino, who has been absolutely unbelievable playing as a centre forward for Mikel Arteta’s side. It seems like they have already done the job but they can’t take their opponents lightly at Santiago Bernebeu.
Real Madrid
If there is a club that is capable of making magical comebacks it is none other than Real Madrid. It will be a feast of a second leg at Santiago Bernebeu where players will be determined to perform in front of their fans. Real Madrid are far from their best and they were second best in each department against Arsenal in that first leg. However, we can always expectr special things from this special club who will be looking to put up a show against the Gunners.
Inter with massive away win! ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/UoZFjDGFBJ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 8, 2025
Inter
Inter Milan are certainly back at it again and this time their are not messing around. They have had a few big gaps in the recent Champions League campaigns but eventually came close two seasons back when they reached the finals only to lose it against Manchester City. However, this time they have looked like certain contenders and they are giving a hard time to some of Europe’s finest clubs. Their most recent victims, Bayern Munich were left stunned at Allianz Arena as a late goal from Davide Frattesi saw the Nerazzuri win the first leg 2-1. It may be too eary to predict but it won’t be an easy task beating this Inter side at San Siro. The main question here though, are we witnessing a fallen European giant get back to it’s best and dominate the world football?
Bayern Munich
At the beginning of the season, Bayern were as usual looking like a force to reckon with, but gradually they have really fallen off this season, specifically in Champions League. Their recent loss at home against Inter means that they have a mammoth task to beat the Nerazzuri at San Siro and make the perfect comeback. Bayern have set their standards pretty high and their recent performances have not matched them. However, they have the quality upfront and can be an extremely dangerous side which suggests that they certainly won’t back down at San Siro.
Paris Saint-Germain with a massive win over Aston Villa! 🔴🔵✨ pic.twitter.com/8QP6aRnpaE
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 9, 2025
Paris Saint-Germain
Luis Enrique’s PSG side have clearly been the most electrifying European club this season. They put three past Aston Villa with youngster Desire Doue, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Nuno Mendes all scoring some great goals to make it 3-1 in the first leg. It is fair to say that PSG’s squad is one of the best in the world right now and they have shown their quality on the pitch in this Champions League campaing. Now they trave to Villa Park for the next leg with a two-goal advantage but they will certainly be the favourites to make it through to the next round.
Aston Villa
Villa’s magical run and this season’s Champions League success is hanging by a thread after their first leg performance against PSG in Paris. However, one thing about Villa is that they are extremely unpredictable and they can certainly cause a major upset at this stage. Morgan Rogers gave the Villa fans something to smile about in the first leg when he opened the scoring in that match, but eventually it was the home side who had the last laugh. An intereting tie awaits us at Villa Park.
Champions League quarter finals first leg is behind us now and some of Europe’s biggest clubs are competing for the final spot. Certain clubs are in verge of making it through to semis while other will be looking to fight back. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
