What We Learned About Each Team From The Champions League Quarter Finals

This year's Champions League just continues to provide classics, doesn't it? Across this week's second-legs, we were treated to 16 goals and some nail-biting finishes. We're here to break down some of the key talking points from this week, as well as looking ahead to the semi finals.

Blushes Spared For PSG And Barcelona

Until this week, both PSG and Barcelona seemed unbeatable. Barca had dispatched Benfica 4-1 amidst their rampage towards winning La Liga, and PSG had gone to Anfield and knocked out Liverpool, becoming the first team to do so in the process. Even in the first legs, this looked to ring true, with PSG playing Aston Villa off the park in Paris and Barca taking full advantage of Borussia Dortmund's miserable season.

But Tuesday night offered a twist in the tale of both ties. Villa showed fight to come close to turning around what, at one point, was a four-goal deficit, and Hansi Flick's side almost wilted under the wrath of the yellow wall at Signal Iduna Park.

Both teams revealed a vulnerability that hadn't previously been present.

Luis Enrique appeared slightly stumped at Unai Emery's decision to employ a double pivot in front of a narrow back four. In combination with a high line, Villa were able to congest the midfield areas and prevent Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves from having much of an impact. The trade off was that space was left around the outside for overlapping or underlapping runs - which is how PSG's fullbacks both scored.

Going into the second leg two goals down naturally meant Emery's side had to take risks. But in doing so, they may have provided a blueprint for how to beat PSG: aggressive pressing in the right moments, limiting space in central areas and relying on your defenders to negotiate attacks coming from out wide.

For Barca, the difference in performance was probably more related to psychology and choices of personnel. Ronald Araujo hasn't played frequently this season and looked shaky from minute one, and the absence of Alejandro Balde at left back clearly unsettled Pau Cubarsi on that left side. In combination with conceding an early goal, the home crowd creating a raucous atmosphere and the difficult mental balance between defending your lead and trying to extend it, Flick's men blinked for the first time in the Champions League.

While both of these teams progressed, their upcoming opponents Arsenal and Inter will no doubt have paid close attention to potential chinks in the previously impenetrable armour.

Best performance? ⭐#UCL pic.twitter.com/1aI2lUemcp

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 17, 2025

No Remontada For Real

After talking a big game all week about how Real Madrid were expecting to overcome a three goal deficit at the Santiago Bernabeu, Los Blancos put in a performance devoid of genuine quality or threat, and turned Arsenal's supposedly daunting visit into an exhibition.

The Champions League holders played straight into Mikel Arteta's hands from minute one. Arsenal worked to slow the game down and prevent Madrid's players or fans from sensing any momentum.

Kylian Mbappe resorted to throwing himself to the ground just shy of half an hour - which took over five minutes to be checked. Despite having 66% possession and 18 shots, Madrid managed just one big chance and 1.41 expected goals across the evening.

Carlo Ancelotti will no doubt be aware of his flailing job security, with his side looking unlikely to win La Liga and only making Europe's last eight - with a squad as star-studded as his, the manner of performances Madrid put in against the Gunners was highly concerning.

For Arsenal, we could look back across the two legs as a coming-of-age story. For three seasons, they've been the 'nearly men', always falling just short of hopes and expectations. Should they go on to win their first Champions League, they will have absolutely earned it.

🏆 Who will go all the way?#UCL pic.twitter.com/37fHpyU5N1

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 17, 2025

The Final Four

Perhaps the most telling fact of this season's semi finals is that each of the final four may arguably view themselves as the favourites. Inter have the best defence, Barcelona have the best attack. PSG have the star power, but Arsenal have the confidence and momentum. Both ties are too close to call.

Regardless of outcomes: the narratives are fascinating, the football will be engaging, and the drama is a guarantee.