On April 15, 2025, the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals reached a thrilling conclusion as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Barcelona both advanced to the semi-finals despite losing their respective second-leg matches. PSG faced Aston Villa at Villa Park, while Barcelona took on Borussia Dortmund in a match that saw the German side put up a fierce fight.
In a rain-soaked encounter at Villa Park, PSG, who had secured a 3-1 victory in the first leg, initially appeared to be in control. The French giants took the lead in the 11th minute when Achraf Hakimi capitalized on a mistake by Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, scoring the opener after a clever assist from Ousmane Dembélé. Just 16 minutes later, in the 27th minute, Dembélé was again involved, assisting Nuno Mendes for a low shot that doubled PSG's lead to 2-0, extending their aggregate advantage to 5-1.
However, Aston Villa, displaying remarkable resilience, fought back just before half-time. In the 45+3 minute, Youri Tielemans scored with a powerful shot, reigniting Villa's hopes. The second half saw Villa come out with renewed energy, and they equalized in the 55th minute through John McGinn's long-range effort. Just two minutes later, Ezri Konsa put Villa ahead 3-2, leaving PSG on the edge of their seats as the aggregate score tightened to 5-4.
Despite the pressure, PSG's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made critical saves to deny Villa further goals, preserving PSG's slender aggregate lead. "This victory allows us to grow and proves that the team has top competitiveness," said PSG coach Luis Enrique, reflecting on the match's tense moments.
Meanwhile, in the other quarter-final match, Barcelona faced Borussia Dortmund needing to protect a commanding 4-0 lead from the first leg. However, Dortmund was determined to overturn the deficit. The match started with a bang for the home side when Serhou Guirassy converted a penalty in the 10th minute after a foul by Barcelona's goalkeeper. Guirassy continued to shine, scoring again in the 49th minute with a header, bringing the score to 2-0.
Barcelona managed to pull one back in the 55th minute from an own goal by Dortmund, but Guirassy completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute, scoring his third goal of the night to make it 3-1. Despite the loss, Barcelona advanced to the semi-finals with an aggregate score of 5-3, marking their first appearance in the last four of the Champions League since the 2018-2019 season.
This season has been historic for Guirassy, who now leads the Champions League scoring chart with 13 goals, setting a new record for African players in a single season of the competition. "It was a great performance, but we have to look forward now," Guirassy stated after the match.
As the dust settles on these thrilling quarter-finals, PSG will face the winner of the tie between Arsenal and Real Madrid in the semi-finals, while Barcelona awaits the victor of Inter Milan and Bayern Munich. PSG's journey to the semi-finals marks their return to the top of European football after two years, and they will aim for their first Champions League title on May 31, 2025, in Munich.
In the aftermath of the matches, the excitement is palpable. PSG, having already secured the Ligue 1 title six rounds in advance, is eager to add the Champions League trophy to their collection. Meanwhile, Barcelona, having endured a challenging season, is looking to build on their recent successes and make a significant impact in the semi-finals.
As the Champions League progresses, fans around the world are eager to see how these storied clubs will fare against their formidable opponents. The stage is set for an exhilarating conclusion to this season's Champions League, with both PSG and Barcelona poised to make their mark in the semi-finals.
