Barcelona and PSG advance to the Champions League semi-finals

Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are through to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League after navigating tricky second legs on Tuesday night, despite both suffering defeats.

The two European giants had done the hard work in their respective first-leg encounters, and while they were tested in the return fixtures, their aggregate leads were enough to book their spots in the final four.

Barcelona’s return to the Champions League semi-finals is especially significant. For the first time since the 2018/19 season, the Catalans find themselves among the last four of Europe’s premier competition a much-needed breakthrough in what has been a turbulent few years for the club, both on and off the pitch. After dismantling Borussia Dortmund 4-0 at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in the first leg, Xavi Hernández’s side went to Germany knowing they only needed to manage the result.

However, the second leg in Dortmund proved far from comfortable. Backed by a passionate home crowd, Borussia Dortmund came out aggressively, pressing high and looking to make an early impact. Their intensity paid off with two quick goals before halftime, bringing the aggregate score to 4-2 and igniting belief in an unlikely comeback. When Dortmund added a third in the second half, the momentum was fully on their side but Barcelona managed to steady the ship. A crucial goal from João Félix, coming off the bench, settled the nerves and restored some breathing room. The match ended 3-1 in Dortmund’s favor, but the overall aggregate of 5-3 sees Barcelona progress.

This result highlights Barcelona’s growing maturity and resilience under Xavi’s management. Despite being under pressure for long periods in the second leg, the team kept their composure and demonstrated that they can absorb pressure something critics have questioned in recent years. The semi-final will now present an even greater challenge, as the Spanish side will face either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich, two powerhouses with their own ambitions of reaching the final.

Meanwhile, over in England, PSG also had a rollercoaster of a night. The Parisians came into the second leg against Aston Villa with a 3-1 lead from the first leg in Paris, where Kylian Mbappé had delivered a masterclass. But Unai Emery’s Villa side were not about to go quietly, especially in front of their home fans at a packed Villa Park. With a fearless approach, Aston Villa pushed forward from the first whistle and took an early lead, turning the tie into a thrilling contest.

PSG, however, responded with the kind of experience that comes from repeated deep runs in the competition. Despite falling behind on the night, goals from Ousmane Dembélé and Vitinha helped balance the scoreline. Villa ultimately won 3-2 on the night, but it wasn’t enough to overturn the aggregate, which ended 5-4 in favor of the French champions. PSG are now into the Champions League semi-finals for the second consecutive year a sign of growing consistency in a competition where they’ve often fallen short of expectations.

Much of PSG’s focus will now be on the semi-final opponent, which will be decided on Wednesday when reigning champions Real Madrid host Arsenal. The Spanish giants face a daunting task after losing 3-0 in the first leg in London, and will need a famous Bernabéu comeback to avoid elimination. Arsenal, meanwhile, are hoping to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2009 and will look to maintain their composure in one of the most intimidating venues in football.

The other semi-final place will be claimed by either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich. Inter, last season’s runners-up, hold a narrow 2-1 advantage from the first leg in Munich and will now look to finish the job at the San Siro. The Italian champions have been in impressive form all season and will be desperate to return to the final once again. Bayern, on the other hand, know how to handle pressure in Europe and are chasing a place in their first semi-final since winning the tournament in 2020.

Both of Wednesday’s quarter-final second legs are set to kick off at 20:00 Lisbon time (21:00 local), with everything still to play for. The outcomes of these matches will complete what’s already shaping up to be an electric semi-final lineup.

For now, Barcelona and PSG can enjoy their success, knowing they are two steps away from Champions League glory. But as history has shown time and again, nothing comes easy at this stage and the path to the final is paved with giants.