PSG and Barcelona Through to Champions League Semi-Finals Despite Second-Leg Defeats

PSG arrived at Villa Park with a 3-1 cushion from their first-leg triumph in Paris, and it appeared the French giants would cruise through after early strikes from Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes gave them a commanding 5-1 aggregate lead. However, Aston Villa rallied in front of a roaring home crowd and turned the second leg into a dramatic contest.

Youri Tielemans’ deflected effort breathed life into the hosts, before John McGinn sparked hopes of a sensational turnaround with a beautifully curled strike into the top corner. The pressure continued to mount on Luis Enrique’s side when Ezri Konsa added a composed third, but PSG managed to hold their ground to clinch a 5-4 victory across both legs and advance to the final four.

Despite the defeat, PSG’s overall attacking quality proved too much over the two matches, and they will now prepare for a semi-final showdown with either Real Madrid or Arsenal—two of Europe’s most prestigious clubs, both expected to pose significant threats.

Barcelona Survive Dortmund Scare

Over in Germany, Barcelona endured a nervy evening as Borussia Dortmund stunned them with a 3-1 victory at Signal Iduna Park. Yet, the Catalan side’s dominant 4-0 win in the first leg at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys proved to be enough, securing their progression with a 5-3 aggregate triumph.

Barcelona started slowly and were punished by an aggressive Dortmund side desperate to turn the tie around. However, a key away goal settled their nerves and limited the damage. Despite conceding three goals on the night, Xavi's men showed enough resilience to see out the result and book their first semi-final appearance in the competition since 2019.

Their next opponents will be determined when Inter Milan take on Bayern Munich—two former Champions League winners locked in a high-stakes clash.

Looking Ahead

With both PSG and Barcelona back in the last four, the Champions League promises an electrifying finish. PSG, chasing their first-ever UCL title, will await either 14-time champions Real Madrid or Premier League contenders Arsenal. Meanwhile, Barcelona, looking to reclaim continental glory after years of rebuilding, are bracing for a heavyweight clash against either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich.

The semi-final picture is shaping up with storied clubs, star power, and plenty of intrigue—setting the stage for a dramatic race to the final.

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