The Champions League quarterfinals determined the four teams that would move on to the semifinals, all looking to earn a spot in the final that will be played in Budapest on May 30. The four semifinalists are Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Arsenal. The games will be as follows: Bayern Munich vs. PSG and Atletico Madrid vs. Arsenal. PSG stood out as the most complete and organized of the four semifinalists. They, along with Bayern Munich, are the best offensively, as both clubs lead this Champions League edition with 38 goals scored. Atletico Madrid, once again, showed how comfortable they are in pressure-filled knockout matches, as they stopped Barcelona’s intense high-attacking line during the quarterfinals. On the other hand, Arsenal struggled the most, as they barely edged out a 1-0 aggregate win over Sporting Lisbon. Each of the remaining teams has a different style of play, in which PSG appears to have the most dominant style after the quarterfinal round.
PSG 4 - 0 Liverpool
PSG had the most convincing result of the four teams, with a 4-0 aggregate score against Liverpool. The second leg of the fixture at Anfield ended 2-0, with Ousmane Dembele scoring both goals, earning him Man of The Match. Liverpool attempted to pressure with a high attacking line with 21 shot attempts against the French side, seven of which were on target, showing the urgency Liverpool came out with in hopes of a comeback after falling 2-0 in the first leg. However, PSG were not affected by that pressure. PSG stayed very compact defensively whenever Liverpool were looking for a goal and their counter-attacks resulted in dangerous situations for Liverpool, in which two of five shots on target ended in goals. Liverpool left room behind the fullbacks as they attacked and PSG exploited those spaces on every counter much more calmly and composedly than Liverpool did on theirs. PSG looked very balanced throughout both legs and showed they could handle the pressure without panicking and making mistakes. Liverpool, for most of the second leg, attacked the French side with lots of pressure but PSG looked much stronger and more decisive in possession transitions. While Liverpool were struggling to survive the quarterfinals, PSG showed that their style of play is going to be hard to beat.
Bayern Munich 6 - 4 Real Madrid CF
Bayern Munich’s quarterfinal match against Real Madrid looked very different from PSG’s match against Liverpool. Neither of the two teams had complete control of either leg, as that control kept changing constantly. Bayern came out victorious after a 4-3 second leg win at home in Munich, Germany. This match was the standout out of the two legs as the number of goals scored and the constant change of possession seemed to suit Bayern's style of play more. The match also repeatedly turned into the kind of open race that Bayern wanted. Michael Olise was named Man of The Match for the second leg, and his late goal showed the way Bayern kept attacking even when they lost possession. Harry Kane also gave Bayern real structure as he offered a fixed point for the attack and allowed his teammates to attack space more freely. Nevertheless, Real Madrid scored three times showing that Bayern were far from secure at the back.Despite this, Bayern looked more comfortable once the tie became a fast exchange of attacks rather than a controlled tactical battle. Madrid had quality in flashes and enough individual talent to make every Bayern mistake feel dangerous, yet their defensive line never looked fully settled, especially after Eduardo Camavinga received a red card and was sent off. That expulsion dealt a huge blow to Madrid’s defense, which Bayern exploited, scoring twice in the final minutes to secure their spot in the semifinals. The talent and strength Bayern had in their attack was clear and it turned an equal game in their favor. This quarterfinal match showed how much space Bayern’s defensive line left when the game opened up.
Atletico Madrid 3 - 2 FC Barcelona
Atletico Madrid’s 3-2 aggregate win over Barcelona felt like a quarterfinal written specifically for their manager Diego Simeone. Atletico put themselves in the ideal position with a 2-0 in the first leg. During the second leg, Atletico did what they do best: defend under pressure without allowing their opponent to find a way back into the match. Barcelona came out strong in the second leg looking for a comeback, tying the game within the first 24 minutes with goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torrres. With Barcelona having possession of the ball the most, it seemed as though Atletico had lost control of the match and allowed Barcelona to make a comeback. This all changed after a quick counterattack from Atletico following a corner from Barcelona, in which Ademola Lookman scored to change the flow of the game with a great finish. From there, the match started to look more like the one Atletico wanted. Atletico remained solid in the midfield, keeping a well-structured defense against Barcelona’s rampant offensive line. They forced Barcelona to work through traffic rather than running directly through the final third. Even after Lookman’s goal, Barcelona still had big chances to get back into the match, but those chances never cracked through Atletico’s defensive line. Barcelona had the upperhand offensively throughout the second leg, but Atletico knew when to clear lines and when to strike on counterattacks before Barcelona could reset their shape. This is what makes Atletico a strong contender for the upcoming semifinal fixtures.
Arsenal 1 - 0 Sporting Lisbon CP
Arsenal’s 1-0 aggregate win over Sporting was the closest match of the quarterfinal round. Arsenal advanced after a 0-0 draw in the second leg, meaning that the winner of this matchup was decided by Kai Havertz’s late first leg goal in Lisbon, Portugal. The two matches were very close and the results are proof of that. Arsenal, once again, showed their strength defensively, with their backline allowing little to no mistakes. The two ties also shows why Arsenal go into the semifinals with more to prove in comparison to the other three semifinalists. When in possession, Arsenal looked more careful rather than dangerous. Their buildup to their few counterattacks was organized but not sharp enough to pull Sporting apart. Sporting remained solid and crowded the midfield to force Arsenal into slower patterns that took away the rhythm with which Arsenal usually play. Arsenal were the winners due to their defensive structure over the two legs but never created any separation from Sporting to feel like a comfortable win. Therefore, Arsenal look to be the team that will struggle the most in the upcoming semifinals.
After a tense and dramatic quarterfinal round, PSG had the strongest overall performance and proved to be the most complete side among the remaining teams. Bayern survived a chaotic tie, while Atletico Madrid showed how dangerous they can be in a pressure-filled knockout battle. Arsenal advanced by staying composed in a series that did not show their superiority. This round showed that of the four teams, PSG are heading into the semifinals with the most momentum and will look to carry it into the final stretch of the competition.
Emiliano Magana is a freshman studying economics with a minor in business and a public affairs certificate. He likes to watch soccer games in his spare time and review/analyze them with his friends.
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