The UEFA Champions League quarterfinals have produced a series of decisive first-leg results, with home teams establishing significant advantages across all four ties.
Arsenal delivered perhaps the most stunning result, dismantling 15-time European champions Real Madrid 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium. Declan Rice was the unexpected hero, scoring two remarkable free-kicks – his first-ever set-piece goals in professional football – before Mikel Merino added a third to put the Gunners in a commanding position ahead of the return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Barcelona matched Arsenal’s dominance with an equally impressive 4-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund. Raphinha continued his exceptional European campaign by opening the scoring and providing two assists, while Robert Lewandowski punished his former club with a clinical double. Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal completed the rout, becoming the first player to score multiple Champions League knockout goals before turning 18.
Paris Saint-Germain overcame an early deficit to defeat Aston Villa 3-1 at the Parc des Princes. After Morgan Rogers had given the Premier League side a surprise lead, PSG responded through Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Nuno Mendes to take control of the tie.
The closest contest came in Munich, where Inter Milan secured a valuable 2-1 away victory against Bayern. Thomas Müller had equalized for the German side in the 85th minute, but Inter struck just three minutes later to claim a crucial advantage heading into the second leg at the San Siro.
These results suggest we could see significant changes to the semifinal lineup compared to recent seasons, with traditional powerhouses like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich facing uphill battles to progress. The return fixtures, scheduled for next week, will determine which teams advance to the final four of Europe’s premier club competition.
