Barcelona's electrifying winger, Raphinha, has been a revelation in the competition, netting an impressive 11 goals en route to the quarterfinals. He will be directly pitted against Dortmund's prolific forward, Serhou Guirassy, who has also enjoyed a stellar campaign, bagging 10 goals, a tally he shares with Bayern Munich's Harry Kane. Notably, both Raphinha and Guirassy found the back of the net when Barcelona edged out Dortmund 3-2 in their thrilling league phase encounter back in December.
Adding further firepower to the Barcelona attack is veteran striker Robert Lewandowski. The Polish international, currently the top scorer in the Spanish league with a remarkable 25 goals, has also contributed significantly in Europe with nine Champions League goals this season. This match holds extra significance for the 36-year-old, as he previously enjoyed a successful three-year spell at Borussia Dortmund from 2011 to 2014, where he scored 17 of his staggering 103 career Champions League goals. Barcelona will be hoping Lewandowski's experience and clinical finishing can propel them to their first Champions League semifinal appearance since the 2018-19 campaign.
However, Dortmund will be without a key defensive figure in Nico Schlotterbeck. The club announced on Monday that the defender has suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. This absence will undoubtedly present a challenge for Dortmund as they aim to contain Barcelona's potent attack.
PSG Host In-Form Aston Villa in Another Quarterfinal Showdown:
Tonight also features another intriguing quarterfinal first leg as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) plays host to a resurgent Aston Villa. This encounter pits two of the most in-form teams in European football against each other.
Despite finishing a relatively low 15th in the league phase back in January, PSG has since undergone a remarkable transformation, securing an impressive 16 wins in their last 17 matches across all competitions. Their only blemish during this period was a narrow 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie at the Parc des Princes, a match in which they arguably outplayed their opponents for the majority of the contest.
Aston Villa, under the guidance of Unai Emery, arrives in Paris riding a wave of momentum, having won their last seven consecutive matches. This quarterfinal appearance marks a significant milestone for the Birmingham-based club, as it is their first time reaching this stage of the competition in 42 years.
Intriguingly, Unai Emery has a prior history with PSG, having managed the French giants. His tenure is perhaps most infamously remembered for one of the Champions League's most stunning comebacks. Eight years ago, while in charge of PSG, his team squandered a seemingly insurmountable 4-0 first-leg lead against Barcelona in the Round of 16, ultimately succumbing to a 6-1 defeat in the return leg, resulting in their elimination.
Adding another layer of narrative to the PSG-Villa clash is the presence of Marcus Rashford in the Aston Villa squad. Back in the 2018-19 season, after Emery's departure from PSG, Rashford, then playing for Manchester United, scored a dramatic late penalty in stoppage time to eliminate the French club in the Round of 16 on away goals, adding to PSG's history of Champions League heartbreak.
Tuesday's Quarterfinal Results:
Yesterday's Champions League quarterfinal first-leg matches saw Arsenal secure a commanding 3-0 victory over the reigning champions, Real Madrid, in London. Meanwhile, Inter Milan emerged victorious with a 2-1 away win against Bayern Munich, setting the stage for compelling second-leg encounters.