With 16 clubs, two legs of eight games each, and world-class footballing action, the UEFA Champions League is like heaven for football fans. The 2024-25 round of 16 witnessed some intense clashes, some close calls, and some of the most electrifying encounters to bag a spot in the quarterfinals.
While the road to the final is just looming around the corner, all clubs are enjoying a much-needed international break before action resumes again. Before the quarterfinals kick off, let’s look at a quick recap of the round of 16 and how it happened.
Liverpool vs Paris
Aggregate: 1-1, PSG wins 4-1 on penalties
Although Liverpool bagged a late victory in the first leg, Ousmane Dembélé hit the ball into the net in the second leg and equalised the aggregate. After the break, Liverpool came on strong, but Luis Enrique’s men fought hard and Donnarumma’s epic save of Luis Díaz’s header pushed Les Bleus into the penalty shootout. Here again, Donnarumma heroically stopped Darwin Núñez’s and Curtis Jones’ penalties, while PSG’s substitute Désiré Doué scored the winning goal for his team.
Player of the Match: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris)
Barcelona vs Benfica
Aggregate: 4-1
Barcelona stormed into the quarterfinals, with breathtaking goals from the power duo, Yamal and Raphina. After winning the first leg, Yamal started the second leg with a beautiful assist that Raphinha converted into a thunderous goal. Benfica’s Nicolás Otamendi retaliated with an equaliser, but Yamal struck again in the 27th minute. Then Raphinha sealed the deal for Blaugrana by scoring his 11th campaign goal and snatching the season’s top scorer title.
Player of the Match: Pedri (Barcelona)
Inter vs Feyenoord
Aggregate: 4-1
This is just the second time that Inter have reached the quarterfinals after beating Feyenoord 2-1 in the second leg. Inter led the match right from the eighth minute owing to Marcus Thuram’s remarkable strike. Feyenoord secured an equaliser just before halftime, but Hakan Çalhanoğlu scored the winning goal for Inter just after the break.
Player of the Match: Marcus Thuram (Inter)
Leverkusen vs Bayern Munchen
Aggregate: 0-5
After a comfortable 3-0 win in the first leg, Bayern struck again and bagged an aggregate of 5-0 for a ticket to the quarterfinals. Although the first half remained goalless, the English captain, Harry Kane, scored a goal in the 52nd minute. Again in the 71st minute, he assisted a perfect ball to Davies who put it in the net past Leverkusen’s keeper.
Player of the Match: Harry Kane (Bayern)
Atletico vs Real Madrid
Aggregate: 2-2, Real Madrid wins 4-2 on penalties
Both legs proved to be intensely and equally contested by Atletico and Real Madrid, and only the penalties were able to draw a winner. Real Madrid won 2-1 in the first leg while Atletico won the Madrid derby in the second leg with one goal. In a thrilling penalty shootout, Real Madrid won 4-2 and Antonio Rüdiger’s goal sealed the deal for them.
Player of the Match: Julian Álvarez (Atletico)
Aston Villa vs Club Brugge
Aggregate: 6-1
An early goal, an own goal by Club Brugge, and a Marco Asensio penalty bagged a win for Villa against Club Brugge in the first leg. The second leg started sadly for Club Brugge as Sabbe got a red card in the 17th minute. However, it was not until the second half that Aston Villa was able to prevail after two goals from Asensio and one from Maatsen.
Player of the Match: Marco Asensio (Aston Villa)
Lille vs Borussia Dortmund
Aggregate: 2-3
Dortmund drew against Lille in the first leg but came back roaring in the second one. While Lille took the lead in the 5th minute itself, BVB completely dominated the second half. Emre Can’s penalty equalised BVB in the 54th minute, while Beier’s 65th-minute goal sent Dortmund straight to the quarterfinals with an aggregate of 3-2.
Player of the Match: Emre Can (Dortmund)
Arsenal vs PSV
Aggregate: 9-3
After a brilliant 7-1 victory in the first leg, Arsenal drew with PSV in the second leg. The Gunners led the match with a 6th-minute goal by Oleksandr Zinchenko and PSV retaliated with Perišić’s goal in the 18th minute. However, the Gunners were not yet done as Rice’s 37th-minute header put them in the lead. Again, PSV equalised it in the 70th minute with Driouech’s goal. But with a 9-3 aggregate, Arsenal booked their spot in the quarterfinals.
Player of the Match: Raheem Sterling (Arsenal)
Champions League: Road to the Final
With only three English clubs remaining in the Champions League quarterfinals, this is how the remaining schedule looks:
Quarterfinals
- Tuesday, Apr 8: Arsenal vs Real Madrid
- Tuesday, Apr 8: Bayern Munchen vs Inter Milan
- Wednesday, Apr 9: Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund
- Wednesday, Apr 9: PSG vs Aston Villa
- Tuesday, Apr 15: Aston Villa vs PSG
- Tuesday, Apr 15: Borussia Dortmund vs Barcelona
- Wednesday, Apr 16: Inter Milan vs Bayern Munchen
- Wednesday, Apr 16: Real Madrid vs Arsenal
Semifinals: Tuesday, Apr 29 (first leg) | Tuesday, May 6 (second leg)
Final: Saturday, May 31
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