Home of football statistics and historyThe battle to reach the 2024/25 Champions League final continued apace this week with four thrilling quarter-final ties staged across Europe.
Arsenal produced the standout result in the first leg fixtures, defeating reigning champions Real Madrid 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
Their fans will be clamouring to find Champions League tickets ahead of the second game, which is scheduled to be staged in Madrid next week.
The winners of the four ties will progress to the semi-finals. The first legs are due to be played on April 29/30, with the reverse fixtures set for May 6/7.
The final will be played at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Saturday, May 31, and the winners will secure an automatic berth in next season’s competition.
Champions League quarter-finals – first leg results
Tuesday, April 8
- Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
- Bayern Munich 1-2 Inter Milan
Wednesday, April 9
- Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 Aston Villa
- Barcelona 4-0 Borussia Dortmund
Arsenal lay down a Champions League marker
Arsenal delivered a stunning performance at the Emirates to put themselves in touching distance of reaching the semi-finals for the first time since 2008/09.
Two excellent Declan Rice free-kicks and a first-time finish by Mikel Merino crowned a fantastic second half display against the shell-shocked Spanish giants.
The defeat was Madrid’s joint-heaviest in the first leg of a Champions League knockout stage tie, matching the three-goal margin of their 4-1 loss at Borussia Dortmund in the 2012/13 semi-finals.
Madrid have now lost five games in the competition this season and it will require a monumental effort from them to turn the tie around.
Inter Milan are also in pole position to reach the last four after recording an impressive 2-1 victory at Bayern Munich in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.
The Serie A leaders opened the scoring in the 38th minute, with striker Lautaro Martinez’s path firing a superb effort with the outside of the boot into the roof of the net.
Thomas Muller equalised for Bayern after 85 minutes, but substitute Davide Frattesi grabbed the winner to hand Inter a useful advantage heading into the second leg.
The defeat ended Bayern’s 22-match unbeaten home run in the Champions League, which had stretched back to 2021.
Paris Saint-Germain continued their excellent recent form in the Champions League by claiming a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa at the Parc des Princes.
Morgan Rogers put Villa in front after 35 minutes, but Desire Doue’s exquisite curling drive from 20 yards levelled the tie just four minutes later.
Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia fired PSG ahead early in the second half, and Nuno Mendes completed the scoring with a fabulous finish in stoppage-time.
While Villa are not out the tie, the late goal has made their task more difficult against a side which looks capable of going all the way this season.
Polish striker Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Barcelona thrashed Dortmund 4-0 to take complete control of their quarter-final tie.
Raphinha and Lamine Yamal were also on the scoresheet as the La Liga side ran riot against the beleaguered German visitors.
Barcelona are now unbeaten in 23 games in all competitions and will be a tough nut to crack during the rest of the Champions League campaign.
They last lifted the trophy in 2014/15 and have watched on enviously as bitter rivals Madrid have won the competition five times since then.
Champions League quarter-finals – second leg fixtures
Tuesday, April 15
- Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain
- Borussia Dortmund vs Barcelona
Wednesday, April 16
- Real Madrid vs Arsenal
- Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich
The winners of the Villa versus PSG tie will face either Madrid or Arsenal in the semi-finals. Dortmund or Barcelona will meet Inter or Bayern in the other last four tie.
Barcelona are the bookmakers’ favourites to win the Champions League, while PSG and Arsenal are just behind them in the outright market.
Inter are expected to complete the semi-final line-up alongside that trio following their excellent victory over Bayern on Tuesday evening.
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