This week, the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 concluded, setting the stage for the quarter-finals. The matches were intense, filled with surprises and thrilling performances as teams fought for a place in the next round. Here is a detailed recap of the action and a look at the upcoming fixtures.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025:
Barcelona 3-1 Benfica (Aggregate: 4-1): Barcelona dominated at Camp Nou, with goals from Lamine Yamal and Raphinha helping them secure a comfortable victory. Benfica managed to score once but could not turn the tie around after their first-leg loss.
Inter Milan 2-1 Feyenoord (Aggregate: 4-2): Inter Milan booked their spot in the quarter-finals with a strong performance. Marcus Thuram scored in both legs to help his team advance, despite Feyenoord putting up a strong fight in the second match.
Bayern Munich 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen (Aggregate: 5-0): Bayern Munich continued their impressive form, sealing a dominant aggregate win over their Bundesliga rivals. Their solid defense and clinical finishing ensured they progressed comfortably.
Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Liverpool (Aggregate: 1-1; PSG won 4-1 on penalties): This was one of the most tightly contested ties of the round. After a 1-1 draw on aggregate, the match was decided in a penalty shootout, where PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made key saves to send his team through.
Arsenal 2-2 PSV Eindhoven (Aggregate: 9-3): Arsenal continued their attacking dominance, with Raheem Sterling and Kieran Tierney adding to their huge aggregate lead. PSV fought hard but couldn’t recover from their first-leg defeat.
Aston Villa 3-0 Club Brugge (Aggregate: 6-1): Aston Villa’s impressive run in the competition continued as they comfortably won at home. Goals from Declan Rice and Oleksandr Zinchenko helped them secure a place in the next round.
Real Madrid 0-1 Atlético Madrid (Aggregate: 2-2; Real Madrid won 4-2 on penalties): This Madrid derby was filled with drama. Atlético took the lead early to level the aggregate score, but Real Madrid held firm. The match went to a penalty shootout, where Thibaut Courtois made crucial saves to send Real through.
Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Lille (Aggregate: 3-2): Dortmund edged past Lille in a close contest, with Maximilian Beier scoring the decisive goal to ensure their place in the quarter-finals.
Upcoming Quarter-Final Fixtures:
The Champions League quarter-final draw has produced some exciting matchups:
Arsenal vs. Real Madrid: Arsenal faces a massive challenge against the 15-time Champions League winners, Real Madrid.
Aston Villa vs. Paris Saint-Germain: Aston Villa’s dream run continues, but they will have to get past PSG, who boast stars like Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola.
Inter Milan vs. Bayern Munich: A battle of European giants as the Italian and German heavyweights go head-to-head.
Barcelona vs. Borussia Dortmund: A thrilling matchup featuring two teams known for their attacking football.
