The UEFA Champions League quarter-finals delivered a week of exhilarating football, with first-leg matches played on Tuesday and Wednesday setting the stage for dramatic second legs.
Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid
At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal stunned reigning champions Real Madrid with a commanding 3-0 victory. Midfielder Declan Rice was the standout performer, scoring two exceptional free-kick goals in the 58th and 70th minutes. Mikel Merino added a third goal in the 75th minute, capitalizing on a pass from substitute Leandro Trossard. Real Madrid struggled to create significant chances and suffered a further setback when Eduardo Camavinga received a second yellow card late in the match, ruling him out of the return leg.
Despite this heavy defeat in north London, Real Madrid are the kings of Europe for a reason and will still be confident that they can turn it around against an Arsenal team that have shown to have a weak mentality under Mikel Arteta.
Bayern Munich 1-2 Inter Milan
In Munich, Inter Milan secured a crucial 2-1 away win against Bayern. Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring for Inter in the 38th minute, exploiting a defensive lapse. Bayern equalized late through Thomas Müller in the 85th minute, but Inter responded swiftly, with Davide Frattesi netting the winner in the 88th minute. Bayern's offensive efforts were hampered by missed opportunities, notably from Harry Kane, and questionable tactical decisions, including benching Müller at the start.
Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 Aston Villa
At Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain overcame an early deficit to defeat Aston Villa 3-1. Morgan Rogers gave Villa a surprise lead in the 35th minute following a PSG defensive error. However, PSG responded promptly, with 19-year-old Désiré Doué equalizing shortly after. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia put PSG ahead early in the second half, and Nuno Mendes sealed the victory with a stoppage-time goal. PSG dominated possession and created numerous chances, leaving Villa with a challenging task for the second leg.
Barcelona 4-0 Borussia Dortmund
Barcelona delivered a dominant performance against Borussia Dortmund, winning 4-0 at home. Raphinha opened the scoring in the 25th minute, followed by two goals from Robert Lewandowski in the 48th and 66th minutes. Seventeen-year-old Lamine Yamal added the fourth goal in the 77th minute. Barcelona's midfield, orchestrated by Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, controlled the game, while their defense effectively neutralized Dortmund's attacks.
The second legs of these quarter-final ties are scheduled for next week, with Real Madrid, Aston Villa, and Borussia Dortmund needing significant turnarounds to advance.
