In a thrilling Champions League showdown, Paris Saint-Germain secured a dramatic victory over Liverpool, joining the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan in the quarterfinals. PSG managed to level the aggregate score at 1-1 after defeating Liverpool 1-0 in the match. Ousmane Dembélé broke the deadlock 12 minutes into the second-leg match, capitalizing on a defensive lapse from the Liverpool side.
The stalemate prompted a penalty shootout, where PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma emerged as the hero, saving crucial penalty shots from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones. The decisive moment came when Desire Doue netted the winning penalty, propelling PSG to a 4-1 shootout victory. PSG will now look forward to facing either Aston Villa or Club Brugge in the upcoming round.
Reflecting on the hard-fought win, PSG coach Luis Enrique remarked, “It does not matter if we deserve the win. Both teams deserved to go through. We were better in Paris and they were better here. My team showed great personality and character at Anfield.” As perennial contenders, PSG broke its streak of five eliminations at this stage over the past eight tournaments, further fueled by their hunger for a maiden Champions League title after last season’s semifinal loss to Borussia Dortmund.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot could not hide his admiration for the enthralling encounter, stating, “It was the best game of football I have ever been involved in. It was an incredible performance, especially if you compare it with last week. We were creating chances and then we were 1-0 down. We ran out of luck after last week.”
In another high-stakes match, Barcelona confidently advanced past Benfica, overcoming them with a 3-1 home win. Raphinha’s double helped seal the victory, while Lamine Yamal also got on the scoresheet. Barcelona moves forward with a 4-1 aggregate success, setting up a quarterfinal clash against either Borussia Dortmund or Lille.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich demonstrated their dominance over Bayer Leverkusen, advancing with ease after a commanding 2-0 away win. This triumph marks Bayern’s record 23rd appearance in the Champions League quarterfinals, progressing with a strong 5-0 aggregate score. Bayern and Inter Milan are now set to face off in a thrilling last-eight encounter, with Inter having secured their spot with a 2-1 victory at San Siro against Feyenoord, culminating a 4-1 aggregate triumph.
At Anfield, PSG narrowly edged past Liverpool in a tense encounter marked by missed opportunities on both sides. Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson pulled off numerous crucial saves, while substitute Jarell Quansah hit the post during the second half. Dembélé made the most of a defensive error by Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate and Alisson, slotting in the only goal of the game.
Turning to Barcelona’s decisive win, Raphinha shone brightly, becoming the leading goalscorer of the Champions League season with his 11th goal. His efforts were bolstered by young talent Lamine Yamal, who, at merely 17 years, 241 days, emerged as the youngest player to both score and assist in a Champions League match.
In the Bayer Leverkusen vs. Bayern Munich showdown, Harry Kane was influential, netting a crucial goal and providing an assist in the comfortable victory. Bayer’s rival was unable to overturn the three-goal deficit, ultimately falling further behind as Bayern’s Alphonso Davies added another goal, ensuring a comprehensive win.
Inter Milan effortlessly marched forward with skilled play against Feyenoord, buoyed by Marcus Thuram’s early brilliance. An impressive solo effort placed Inter in the lead before Jakub Moder equalized via a penalty. However, another penalty, converted by Hakan Çalhanoglu, restored Inter’s lead, ensuring their advance into the quarters.
The race for European glory continues as these football giants advance to the next stage, promising more thrilling clashes and unforgettable performances in the battles ahead.
