5️⃣ issues realized from Wednesday’s UCL quarter-final motion
The Champions League quarter-final first legs closed out tonight, and like final night time, delivered in some fashion.
Here is what we product of all of it.
RLY is formally the brand new MSN
📸 LLUIS GENE – AFP or licensors
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Barcelona have not gained the Champions League for the reason that glory days of Messi, Suárez and Neymar in 2015, however they at present possess a entrance three to rival them, at the very least by way of output.
Robert Lewandowski’s twenty eighth and twenty ninth objective towards his former aspect, coupled with Raphinha and Lamine Yamal’s strikes, makes it 82 objectives for the season from the trio, they usually have a mixed 45 assists alongside that.
The stats simply maintain coming, with Lewandowski now on 40 objectives for the season and the primary participant to ever rating 10 or extra objectives in a single Champions League marketing campaign for 3 completely different golf equipment. Raphinha has 50 objective contributions and is a real Ballon d’Or contender. And, nicely, Yamal is Yamal.
The Brazilian and Pole are additionally the 2 main scorers on this season’s competitors, with 12 and 11 respectively.
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A 4-0 first leg win all however seals Barça’s place in a first-semi closing since 2019, and retains alive their hopes of a 3rd treble.
Their final one? 2015. The celebrities are aligning for Hansi Flick’s rampant aspect.
PSG stay the staff to beat
To win the Champions League, Barça or one other aspect must topple PSG, and that appears like an extremely troublesome activity.
As of their spherical of 16 first-leg towards Liverpool, the Parisians dominated possession and had the majority of the probabilities, however as soon as once more fell behind to a objective absolutely towards the run of play.
Fortunately for them, it got here far, far earlier within the contest, they usually bounced again in supreme fashion to document a convincing 3-1 victory that places them within the driving seat for a spot within the final 4.
Luis Enrique deserves main credit score for sticking to his weapons after a making an attempt begin to this season’s competitions, and now has an excellent younger aspect moulded completely in his imaginative and prescient.
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After so a few years of chaotic failure, is that this lastly the yr Paris reigns over Europe?
Doué declares himself on the large stage
📸 Michael Steele – 2025 Getty Photographs
Equalising so rapidly after Morgan Rogers’ shock opener was essential, and it got here in merely beautiful style from Désiré Doué, who’s quick turning into a key man for the Ligue 1 champions.
Signed final summer time in a big-money transfer from Rennes, it was anticipated the 19-year-old would play second fiddle this season earlier than slowly being built-in into Enrique’s aspect.
As a substitute, he has compelled his means into the reckoning with double figures in each objectives and assists, and received the nod over Bradley Barcola tonight. He repaid the religion put in him by reducing in and curling house a chic effort from exterior the field, which was the spotlight of an all-round nice efficiency.
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Likened to Neymar in some quarters, he may show a worthy successor to the Brazilian within the French capital.
Is it farewell to ‘Kvaradona’?
📸 THIBAUD MORITZ – AFP or licensors
On the opposite wing to Doué was Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who in some way presumably scored a objective even higher than the younger Frenchman.
The Georgian winger completed off a effective counter by dribbling and stud-rolling the ball previous a bewildered Axel Disasi, earlier than rifling the ball by means of Emi Martínez and into the near-hand nook from an unbelievable angle.
It was a objective from the gods, and a reminder why Napoli followers near-instantly christened him “Kvaradona” in his two-and-a-half-year stint on the membership.
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A throwback participant in each sense of the phrase, the 23-year-old is likely one of the most fulfilling gamers now we have had the privilege to look at in a protracted, very long time.
It may not be lengthy earlier than his nickname is dropped, and his personal title turns into immortalised.
Villa maintain hope, however Dortmund’s season is over
📸 Michael Steele – 2025 Getty Photographs
Nuno Mendes’ injury-time objective may show a hammer blow to Villa’s hopes of turning the tie round subsequent week, however they will maintain their heads excessive after a troublesome night time in Paris.
Regardless of having simply 25% possession and little expertise at this stage, Unai Emery’s aspect bravely battled towards an elite aspect in entrance of a raucous crowd, and their plan largely labored till that late, late strike.
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They nonetheless have an opportunity, Villa Park shall be rocking on the largest night time for the membership in many years, however the first objective is totally important. Who’d wager towards one other Marcus Rashford present towards PSG?
As for Dortmund, their season is nearly as good as over following their humbling in Catalonia.
Niko Kovač already confronted a troublesome activity of getting something from the first-leg however the lack of Nico Schlotterbeck days earlier than the sport proved the ultimate nail within the coffin for his aspect.
Barring an all-time miracle, the second leg is a write off, and all consideration should flip to scraping a spot within the Europa League or Europa Convention League subsequent season.
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It might be some time earlier than we see the Black and Yellow at this stage of Europe’s premier competitors once more.
📸 David Ramos – 2025 Getty Photographs