Liverpool and Barcelona face must-win Champions League nights as quarter-final second legs arrive
The Champions League quarter-finals reach their conclusion this week with four second legs spread across Tuesday and Wednesday. Two ties look done, two are wide open, and there is still room for at least one Anfield-sized upset.
Tuesday: Liverpool vs PSG (first leg: 0-2)
Liverpool head into their home leg trailing 2-0 after a miserable night at the Parc des Princes. Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored for the holders, and Liverpool managed just 0.17 expected goals across 90 minutes, Arne Slot's lowest figure in charge.
The task is steep but not impossible. Liverpool famously overturned a 3-0 deficit against Barcelona at Anfield in 2019, and a 2-0 Premier League win over Fulham on Saturday has lifted some of the gloom. Curtis Jones is almost certain to miss out with a groin injury, but Slot is expected to revert to an attacking 4-3-3 after the failed three-centre-back experiment in Paris. PSG could welcome Bradley Barcola back from an ankle problem, and they come into the tie well rested after a free weekend.
Tuesday: Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona (first leg: 2-0 to Atletico)
Atletico took a commanding lead in the first leg at Camp Nou through Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth, taking full advantage of Barcelona being reduced to 10 men. Barcelona have not reached the Champions League semi-finals since 2018-19, and they will need something special at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano to change that.
There is some recent encouragement: Barcelona won 2-1 at Atletico in La Liga on April 4. Raphinha and Pau Cubarsi are both missing through injury and suspension respectively, which thins Hansi Flick's options. Atletico will sit deep, protect the lead and look to hit on the counter through Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann.
Wednesday: Arsenal vs Sporting (first leg: 1-0 to Arsenal)
Kai Havertz's 91st-minute winner in Lisbon gave Arsenal the slimmest of advantages. Sporting created chances across the first leg and will not come to north London just to defend, which could play into Arsenal's hands at the Emirates. Mikel Arteta's side will want to put this tie to bed early. A clean sheet would do it.
Wednesday: Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid (first leg: 2-1 to Bayern)
Bayern won at the Bernabeu through a first-half goal from Luis Diaz and Harry Kane's early second-half strike, before Kylian Mbappe pulled one back from a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross late on. That away goal keeps Real Madrid firmly in the tie. Bayern have not reached the Champions League semi-finals since 2023-24, when they were knocked out by these same opponents. Vincent Kompany's side will fancy their chances at the Allianz Arena, but nobody writes off Real Madrid in Europe. They have a habit of finding a way.
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