The semi-finalists for the Champions League have now been confirmed following the conclusion of the quarter-final second legs last night. Ultimately, all four teams that had the advantage at the end of the first leg have moved through, with PSG, Arsenal, Inter Milan, and Barcelona emerging as the final quartet.
This week’s Champions League narrative highlights that while Real Madrid are renowned for their dramatic comebacks at the Santiago Bernabeu, reality was bound to catch up with them one day.
No club has been more adept than Los Blancos in recent Champions League knockouts at executing astonishing comeback victories at home. However, Carlo Ancelotti’s squad scarcely looked the superior side throughout the two legs, and when their fortunate streak finally waned, they appeared more fragmented than ever.
It appears time for a new king, at least for the moment.
Star performer – Declan Rice
A week after netting two sensational free-kicks, Declan Rice has clinched consecutive player of the match honours against Real Madrid.
Take a moment to appreciate that.
Rice must be on cloud nine after delivering two distinct but equally masterful performances against the most decorated club in European history.
While Rice was the star of the show at the Emirates last Tuesday, he put in another remarkable display last night as Arsenal secured a 2-1 victory against the holders. His influence was evident from the very first minute, showcasing precisely why he is regarded as one of the finest in his position globally.
Rio has consistently demonstrated astute reading of the game defensively, and at the Bernabeu, he was commanding, making two key blocks, winning three ground duels, executing four interceptions, and facilitating five ball recoveries in a stellar defensive performance.
Moreover, his confidence on the ball has vastly improved, and he conducted Arsenal’s forward play with flair throughout the match in Madrid.
Rice is evolving into a complete number eight, and he will be integral to any potential Champions League glory.
Unexpected contender – Aston Villa
While Aston Villa may no longer be in the Champions League, they certainly made an impression on their exit by going down fighting.
The night began disastrously for Unai Emery’s squad as PSG surged to a 2-0 lead, courtesy of goals from both attacking full-backs.
Having trailed 5-1 on aggregate, Villa appeared to be on the brink of elimination.
However, their remarkable comeback was not only inspiring but also a complete surprise.
Youri Tielemans lit the fuse on their revival just before half-time with a shot that took a wicked deflection into the top corner after some clever build-up play.
Although Villa maintained their ascendance, they lacked the killer instinct for much of the second half — until John McGinn emphatically changed that with a thunderbolt from the edge of the box, soaring into the top corner.
Just two minutes later, a brilliant run from Marcus Rashford, followed by a pullback, was calmly slotted home by centre-back Ezri Konsa, sending Villa Park into a frenzy.
This hardly seemed plausible, but the comeback was on!
Gianluigi Donnarumma had the final word as he made two remarkable saves, denying Youri Tielemans and Marcus Rashford in the closing minutes of an exhilarating five-minute spell that saw Villa go from the brink of elimination to being just a goal away from extra time.
The save denying Rashford was phenomenal, with the England international’s shot destined for the top corner thwarted by Donnarumma’s superb fingertip intervention.
Villa continued to press for that crucial goal, but their window of opportunity had come and gone, and they came no closer again. Unai Emery can take pride in his Villans, who came so close to achieving the unthinkable.
Their Champions League adventure may be over for now, yet Villa proved they can hold their own against Europe’s elite, exceeding all expectations in the process.
Team of the week – Arsenal
Like Rice, Arsenal has secured this accolade for the second consecutive week, and rightly so. The Gunners have outdone the holders in both legs, marking a return to the Champions League semi-finals that has long been awaited. Mikel Arteta’s men are at their peak in Europe, and last night’s victory was further evidence of their excellent form.
In addition to Rice’s exceptional performances, the return of Saka has been a significant boost for Arsenal at a critical juncture. The England star was a constant threat and fully deserved his goal in the second half yesterday after having missed a penalty in the first half.
It was a finish that reminded Arsenal fans of what they had been missing in front of goal during his absence, marking his second goal since returning.
Teenage talent Myles Lewis-Skelly also shone in both legs, further solidifying his status as a rising star.
These three players will be vital to Arsenal’s chances in the semi-finals, where they face French champions PSG in what will undoubtedly be a challenging fixture.
The silver lining for Arteta is that Luis Enrique’s side enter the semi-finals as favourites, having performed admirably in the preceding rounds, which alleviates some of the pressure for their first Champions League semi-final since 2009.
Against Real Madrid, they were the underdogs yet emerged victorious. If Arsenal can replicate that against PSG, they would achieve what Liverpool and Aston Villa could not, setting up a dream Champions League final in Munich.
Moment of the week – Europa League theme song blunder
That’s right; you read it correctly. Allow me to set the stage. Aston Villa and PSG entered the pitch to a roaring Villa Park, poised for the most significant match in Villa’s modern history. The players were in the zone, ready for the iconic Champions League anthem to get them hyped for the high-stakes quarter-final second leg.
So you can imagine the surreal confusion on the faces of players from both teams when the Europa League theme abruptly blared over the speakers.
While I doubt it had any bearing on the thrilling action that followed, it certainly constituted a major blunder — albeit a comical one!
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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