As the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals heat up, two thrilling matches are set to take place on April 10, 2025, featuring some of the biggest names in European football. In one corner, Spanish giants Barcelona will face off against Borussia Dortmund at the Olympic Stadium named after L. Companis, while in Paris, French powerhouse PSG will host English club Aston Villa at the iconic Parc des Princes.
The clash between Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund marks yet another chapter in a storied rivalry that has seen these teams meet five times in European competitions. Their first encounter dates back to January 1998, when Barcelona, the then-holders of the Cup Winners' Cup, triumphed over the Champions League holders, Dortmund, with a 2-0 home win followed by a 1-1 draw away. This victory earned the Catalans the UEFA Super Cup. Fast forward to the 2019/20 Champions League season, and Barcelona again emerged victorious, winning 3-1 at home and drawing 0-0 in the return leg.
In the current 2024/25 Champions League season, the teams faced off in the group stage, where Dortmund fell to Barcelona 2-3 at home. The thrilling match saw Barcelona take the lead three times, thanks to goals from Rafinha and a brace from Ferran Torres, while Dortmund's Seru Guirassy managed to equalize twice.
Barcelona has had an impressive run this season, finishing the group stage in second place with 19 points, just behind Liverpool, who topped the group with 21 points. In the knockout rounds, under the guidance of manager Hans-Dieter Flick, Barcelona dispatched Benfica with scores of 1-0 and 3-1 in the Round of 16.
On the other hand, Borussia Dortmund struggled, finishing tenth in their group with only 15 points. In the Round of 16, however, they managed to overcome Sporting Lisbon, winning 3-0 in the first leg and drawing 0-0 in the second. Niko Kovac's team will need to summon all their strength to take on Barcelona, especially as they have not been performing well on the road, winning just half of their 22 away matches this season.
Adding to their challenges, Dortmund will be without key defender Niko Schlotterbeck, who is sidelined with an injury. This loss could have significant implications for their defensive lineup as they prepare for the formidable Barcelona attack.
The winner of this matchup will advance to the semi-finals to face either Bayern Munich or Inter Milan, setting the stage for a potentially thrilling showdown.
Meanwhile, the other quarter-final match will see PSG take on Aston Villa in what promises to be a historic encounter. This will be the first time these two clubs have faced each other in European competition. Aston Villa, the surprise package of the tournament, reached the quarter-finals after a remarkable run, finishing fourth in the Premier League and securing 16 points in the group stage.
In the Round of 16, Villa faced Belgian side Brugge and convincingly won both legs, 3-1 and 3-0. Under the management of Unai Emery, Villa has shown resilience and determination, but they face a daunting task against PSG, who have been in excellent form.
PSG, despite a rocky start to the group stage, where they lost to Liverpool and Atletico Madrid, managed to recover and won their Round of 16 tie against Liverpool in a dramatic penalty shootout after splitting the first two legs with a win and a loss. They triumphed in the shootout 4-1, showcasing their nerve under pressure.
As they prepare for this clash, PSG has been on a roll, winning six consecutive matches, including clinching their 13th Ligue 1 title with six games to spare. They are also set to face Reims in the Coupe de France final on May 25, 2025, further adding to their ambitions this season.
However, PSG will be without their captain, Marquinhos, due to a suspension, which could pose a challenge for their defensive setup. Nevertheless, the French side boasts a wealth of talent capable of stepping up in his absence.
Both teams are on a winning streak, with Aston Villa riding high on eight consecutive victories, including a recent friendly against Al-Ain, where they won 3-1 during the FIFA international window.
With both matches set to kick off at midnight Astana time on April 10, fans around the world eagerly await these encounters. The stakes couldn't be higher, and the excitement is palpable as Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, PSG, and Aston Villa vie for a coveted spot in the Champions League semi-finals.
