The UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg delivered electrifying performances, with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) emerging victorious to secure their spots in the semi-finals.
In a dramatic encounter, Borussia Dortmund defeated Barcelona 3-1 at home, but the Catalan side’s first-leg advantage proved too much to overcome, with Barcelona advancing 5-3 on aggregate. Serhou Guirassy stole the show for Dortmund, scoring a remarkable hat-trick, including a confident Panenka penalty in the 11th minute and a well-placed header from a corner in the 49th minute. Despite his impressive display, which brought his Champions League tally to 13 goals this season, Dortmund’s efforts ultimately fell short.Ramy Bensebaini inadvertently scored an own goal in the 54th minute, giving Barcelona a crucial away goal and easing pressure on the visitors. Guirassy completed his hat-trick with a close-range finish in the 76th minute, reigniting hopes for Dortmund, but Barcelona held on to their aggregate lead.Barcelona’s progression to the semi-finals marks their first appearance at this stage since 2019. They will now face either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich in the next round, while Dortmund exits the competition despite a valiant effort in the second leg.
In the other quarter-final match, PSG advanced to the semi-finals after narrowly defeating Aston Villa on aggregate. Despite losing the second-leg match 3-2, PSG’s 3-1 victory in the first leg secured their progression with a 5-4 aggregate score. Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes provided early hope for PSG in the second leg, scoring in the 11th and 27th minutes, respectively. However, Aston Villa staged a spirited comeback, with Youri Tielemans, John McGinn, and Ezri Konsa scoring in the 34th, 55th, and 57th minutes, respectively.Despite their valiant efforts, Aston Villa ultimately fell short, and PSG’s first-leg advantage proved decisive. The French side will now aim to capture their elusive Champions League title, having reached the semi-finals for the second consecutive season under coach Luis Enrique.
Aston Villa, on the other hand, exits the tournament with pride after a remarkable campaign.These thrilling matches have set the stage for an exciting semi-final round, with Barcelona and PSG looking to make a deep run in the competition.
