The UEFA Champions League quarter-finals are set to ignite with thrilling first-leg matchups on Tuesday, April 8, and Wednesday, April 9, 2025. Arsenal will host Real Madrid, Aston Villa travel to face Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Bayern München take on Inter, and Barcelona welcome Borussia Dortmund. With home advantage in play, Arsenal, Bayern, PSG, and Barcelona aim to seize control of their ties. Here’s a detailed preview of the action, sourced from UEFA.com via News.Az.
Tuesday, April 8:
Arsenal vs. Real Madrid
Arsenal face a formidable challenge as they welcome 14-time champions Real Madrid to the Emirates Stadium. Sitting a distant second to Liverpool in the Premier League and out of the FA Cup, the Gunners’ best shot at silverware this season lies in the Champions League. Their last encounter with Madrid came in the 2005/06 knockout round, where a Thierry Henry-inspired Arsenal edged out a 1-0 aggregate win. However, goals have been hard to come by in the Premier League, making Bukayo Saka’s return from a hamstring injury a timely boost. Scoring against Fulham on Tuesday, Saka “lifted the stadium and the energy,” according to manager Mikel Arteta.
Real Madrid, fresh off a gritty round-of-16 victory over rivals Atlético Madrid, bring a pedigree that’s tough to match. Coach Carlo Ancelotti praised his squad’s “character and commitment,” noting their resilience despite exhaustion in the second half against Atleti. Madrid’s flawless record in London quarter-finals (4 wins from 4) adds extra pressure on Arsenal. Can Saka and Arteta’s side defy history against the Spanish giants?
Tuesday, April 8:
Bayern München vs. Inter Millan
Bayern München host Serie A leaders Inter in a clash of European heavyweights. The Bavarians dominated their last meetings with Inter in the 2022/23 group stage, winning 2-0 home and away. Harry Kane, back to his prolific best, warned: “Inter are waiting, but we can beat any opponent.” Thomas Müller, in his final season with Bayern, will also recall their 2010 Champions League final triumph over Inter (2-0).
Inter’s Benjamin Pavard, a former Bayern defender, faces his old club after scoring against them in 2022. “I’m glad to meet Bayern again,” he said following Inter’s round-of-16 win over Feyenoord. Coach Simone Inzaghi emphasized preparation, hoping for a fully fit squad. Inter’s unbeaten run in four previous trips to Munich (W3 D1) before their 2022 loss adds intrigue. Will Bayern’s firepower overwhelm Inter’s resolve?
Wednesday, April 9:
Paris vs. Aston Villa
PSG host Aston Villa in the pair’s first-ever competitive meeting. After a stunning penalty shootout win over Liverpool at Anfield, Luis Enrique’s side look like genuine contenders. “We’re in the quarter-finals and need to be ready for another difficult tie,” said captain Marquinhos. PSG’s attacking flair will test Villa, who sit well behind Liverpool in the Premier League but remain dangerous under Unai Emery.
Emery, PSG’s manager from 2016-18, knows Parc des Princes well, having won a Ligue 1 title and multiple cups there. Villa, the 1982 European Cup winners, are back in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1983. Despite a 1-0 loss at Monaco earlier this season, defender Ian Maatsen is optimistic: “Paris are a great team, but we’re a great team too—they’ll have to respect us.” Can Villa upset PSG on their European return?
Wednesday, April 9:
Barcelona vs. Borussia Dortmund
Barcelona host Borussia Dortmund in a rematch of their December league-phase thriller, which Barça won 3-2. Dortmund’s Giovanni Reyna reflected: “We played well but lost to a very good team.” New BVB coach Niko Kovač, facing his former Bayern assistant Hansi Flick, adds a personal twist. “Now we’re competing against each other,” Kovač noted.
Barcelona’s Raphinha leads the 2024/25 Champions League scoring charts with 11 goals, outshining teammate Robert Lewandowski (9 goals), who once starred for Dortmund. Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy (10 goals) will look to exploit Barça’s defense, but the Blaugrana are unbeaten in five games against BVB (W3 D2). Can Dortmund finally break their Barcelona curse?
Why It Matters
These quarter-final first legs promise high stakes and breathtaking football. With Arsenal chasing a rare trophy, Bayern and Inter renewing a storied rivalry, PSG testing Villa’s mettle, and Barcelona aiming to maintain dominance over Dortmund, fans are in for a treat. Tune in on April 8 and 9 to see who takes the upper hand.
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