UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 2nd Leg Preview and Prediction

Champions League Quarter-Final Second Legs: Can Villa, Dortmund, or Madrid Pull Off Miracles?

Aston Villa face a massive task at Villa Park to keep their Champions League dreams alive. After a 3-1 defeat in Paris, they’ll need to win by at least two goals to have a chance of progressing to the semi-finals.

Unai Emery’s side was left stunned after Nuno Mendes struck a brilliant third goal for PSG in stoppage time. But Villa’s home form in Europe offers some hope—Emery has lost just once in 13 European home games since 2022, winning 11 and drawing one.

Barcelona, meanwhile, travel to Dortmund with a commanding 4-0 lead. The tie looks all but over, and history is firmly against the German side. Out of 159 teams who’ve lost a first leg by four or more goals in European Cup/Champions League history, only one has ever advanced—Barcelona themselves in 2017 after a famous 6-1 comeback against PSG.

Hansi Flick’s Barcelona are also being tipped as a favourite to go all the way this season, and a confident second-leg performance would only strengthen that case.

Arsenal, too, head into their second leg with a 3-0 cushion over Real Madrid after a brilliant first-leg display, featuring two Declan Rice free kicks and a late third from Mikel Merino. While most would think Madrid is done, their rich history in this competition says not to count them out just yet.




That said, Madrid have only beaten English sides by three or more goals twice in their long European history—once against Derby County in 1975 and again versus Tottenham in 2011. Arsenal will be keen to avoid joining that short list and will look to manage the game wisely at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The tightest matchup of the round is between Inter and Bayern Munich. Inter’s 2-1 away win puts them in a strong position, but Bayern remain dangerous. The two sides are evenly matched, with both having a realistic shot at taking the second leg.

Inter’s impressive home record—unbeaten in 14 Champions League games at San Siro—could prove decisive. Having already snapped Bayern’s 22-game unbeaten European run at home, the Italian side looks capable of finishing the job and reaching the final four.

TOTAL ODDS - 7.00