Arne Slot’s Liverpool are out of the 2025 Champions League after losing their Round of 16 clash against PSG on penalties on Tuesday night. And then, 24 hours later, Real Madrid squeezed through against Atletico Madrid by the same nerve-jangling method.
PSG certainly channelled their pain after a hugely frustrating first leg, which they lost 1-0 despite having 27 shots to Liverpool’s two. And when Ousmane Dembele levelled after just 12 minutes at Anfield, the tie suddenly became hugely tense. And, as the Ligue 1 team gradually grew in confidence, by the time the penalty shootout came around, they were marginal favourites.
Taking the spot-kicks in front of their own fans and away from the Kop end, and shooting first gave the Parisiens a slight edge. And they took their chance with both hands as Vitinha, Goncalo Ramos, Dembele, and Desire Doue all scored their spot-kicks, while PSG stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma saved from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones.
The Italian goalie broke English hearts, this SBOTOP writer included when he starred in the Euro 2020 Final penalty shootout, and he was an imposing figure as the Reds took the long walk from the half way line to the penalty spot. And he revealed after the game that he went back to the dressing room for two minutes before the spot-kicks started to discuss strategy with PSG’s goalkeeping coach.
So Luis Enrique’s side have a Champions League quarter-final to look forward to, while the Reds now need to dust themselves off and get ready for a Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United on Sunday.
Yamal makes more history
As Barcelona became the first team to make it through to the quarters, beating Benfica 4-1 on aggregate, teenage phenomenon Lamine Yamal made history as the youngest player to make an assist and score a goal in a Champions League match. The Blaugrana left Portugal with a 1-0 lead thanks to the in-form Raphinha, and the Brazilian added two more to put his team completely in charge.
Nicolas Otamendi scored for Benfica, but it was an easy night for the Catalans and the stadium erupted when Yamal capped off the game with a sensational goal, beautifully curled into the corner of the net.
On Wednesday, the Madrid Derby took centre stage. Trailing the first leg by 2-1, Atletico flew out of the blocks, and Conor Gallagher levelled the tie in the very first minute. A Diego Simeone masterclass followed, as Atleti frustrated Los Blancos’ efforts. When Kylian Mbappe won a second-half penalty, Vinicius Junior smashed it high and wide.
And so to penalties and Atleti were under pressure from the moment Julian Alvarez slipped and double tapped the ball. Even though his spot-kick hit the net, it was ruled out by VAR. Lucas Vazquez missed for Los Blancos, but then Marcos Llorente hit the bar, and Anton Rudiger scored the crucial fourth to send Real through.
In other Champions League 2025 results from Tuesday, Inter Milan beat Feyenoord 2-1 to go through 4-1 on aggregate, and the row between Germany’s two best sides was settled in some style.
Bayern make a statement
After taking a 3-0 lead away from the first leg in Munich, Vincent Kompany’s Bayern finished the job in Leverkusen at a stroll, as goals from Harry Kane and Alphonso Davies gave the Bavarians an aggregate 5-0 victory. Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen were well below their usual levels, but the tie was really lost in the second half of the first leg which saw Nordi Mukuele sent off and Bayern score three times, through Jamal Musiala and two from Kane.
Die Werkself are in the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal and are still chasing Bayern in the Bundesliga. But eight points adrift they need a big finish, and on this evidence, that is a lot to ask. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich can look forward to the quarter-finals, and the Champions League 2025 betting odds will take a closer look at Kompany’s men.
Germany have another representative in the last eight after Borussia Dortmund staged a second-half comeback to beat Lille 3-2 on aggregate. Jonathan David gave the French club a flying start, but goals from Emre Can and Maximilian Beier were enough to see BVB through.
Also on Wednesday, Arsenal could look forward to a stress-free second leg after they had spanked PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the Netherlands. Ivan Perisic scored for PSV, but goals from Oleksandr Zinchenko and Declan Rice made it 2-1 on the night. Couhaib Driouech scored for PSV, and it ended 9-3 to the Gunners.
Aston Villa joined the Gunners in the last eight, as they saw out their tie against Club Brugges starting the second leg 3-1 up. And when the Belgian side had Kryiani Sabbe sent off early in the first half, it was pretty much game over. Villa coasted to victory with a brace from Marco Asensio, and an Ian Maatsen goal made it 6-1 on aggregate as the Villans made up the final eight.
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