The UEFA Champions League quarter-finals resume this Tuesday, with the second-leg showdowns set to take centre stage. Aston Villa return to Villa Park aiming to overturn a two-goal deficit against Paris Saint-Germain, while Borussia Dortmund face a monumental task at Signal Iduna Park, trailing Barcelona by four goals heading into the return leg. Below are my thoughts on each fixture, along with a suggested bet for both matchups.
Before diving into the match previews, here’s a look at the latest outright odds: Barcelona have emerged as the new favourites at 2/1, with Paris Saint-Germain close behind at 9/4. Arsenal’s commanding performance last week sees them shorten to 33/10, while Inter Milan are next at 6/1. All remaining contenders are currently priced at 14/1 or greater.
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ASTON VILLA v PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN – Click here to bet
Aston Villa welcome Paris Saint-Germain to Villa Park on Tuesday evening in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final, looking to overturn a 3-1 deficit from the first leg in Paris.
Unai Emery’s men started brightly in the French capital, taking an early lead and looking in control during the opening stages. However, the momentum quickly shifted as PSG responded with three unanswered goals, handing the Ligue 1 champions a commanding two-goal cushion heading into the return leg in Birmingham.
While the scoreline may seem daunting, Villa’s European journey this season offers reason for hope. Despite suffering their third defeat in Europe last week, the Premier League side remain firmly in the tie — especially given their formidable home form. Emery’s side have played five matches at Villa Park in Europe this season, winning four of them and keeping four clean sheets in the process. On three occasions at Villa Park, the hosts secured victory by a margin of two or more goals — a result that would be enough to force extra time on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain arrive in the Midlands brimming with confidence after clinching their 13th Ligue 1 title last week. With domestic duties now wrapped up, Luis Enrique’s side can afford to shift their full focus to Europe — a luxury few clubs enjoy at this stage of the season. PSG have also built serious momentum, winning each of their last seven matches in all competitions.
PSG have played 13 matches in the Champions League this season, winning eight of them. On the road, they’ve collected four wins from six away fixtures, including a 1-0 victory away to Liverpool in the Round of 16, demonstrating their ability to deliver results on difficult European nights. Notably, the only time they have lost by two goals in this campaign was against Arsenal, falling 2-0 in London last October. With that in mind, and given their two-goal cushion, PSG will feel well-positioned to see out the tie.
Head-to-Head
Paris Saint-Germain’s 3-1 victory in last week’s first leg marked the first-ever competitive meeting between the two sides
Betting
Aston Villa 9/4
Draw 28/10
Paris Saint-Germain 23/20
Verdict
Villa Park will undoubtedly be rocking, and Aston Villa have repeatedly shown they’re capable of delivering big performances under the lights. However, PSG’s experience and attacking firepower could prove decisive over two legs. Expect a spirited fightback from the hosts, but ultimately, the French giants should have enough to reach the semi-finals, aided by their two-goal cushion.
Prediction: Full Time Result – Aston Villa at 9/4
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BORUSSIA DORTMUND v BARCELONA – Click here to bet
Borussia Dortmund return to Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday evening, needing a footballing miracle to overturn a 4-0 deficit against Barcelona in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final. After being thoroughly outclassed in last week’s first leg in Spain, Die Schwarzgelben are staring down the barrel of elimination — and only the most optimistic of fans will believe in a comeback of this scale.
To their credit, Dortmund responded to their heavy European defeat with a spirited 2-2 draw away to Bayern Munich in Bundesliga action over the weekend. While the result wasn’t enough to prevent them from slipping to 8th in the league, it does show signs of resilience amid a demanding schedule. Still, with fatigue setting in, Niko Kovač’s men face a daunting challenge against one of Europe’s in-form sides.
Dortmund have played 13 matches in Europe this season, scoring 28 goals and conceding 18. However, their record against Barcelona has been particularly worrying — conceding seven goals across two meetings already, including a 3-2 loss at home in the league phase. While their overall home record in Europe this season includes three wins from six outings, they’ve managed to score four or more goals just once — not ideal when they need at least that to force extra time on Tuesday.
Barcelona, meanwhile, are cruising. Fresh off a 1-0 La Liga victory over Leganés this past weekend — a result that extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 24 matches — Hansi Flick’s side continue to top the domestic standings and now shift their full attention back to Europe, where they’re in a commanding position.
Their 4-0 dismantling of Dortmund last week showcased the gulf in class between the two sides, and the Catalan giants will be confident of finishing the job in Germany. Barca’s European campaign has been impressive — they’re unbeaten in their last ten Champions League games (nine wins, one draw), with their only defeat coming in the opening week against Monaco.
On the road, Barcelona have been particularly ruthless, winning four of their five away matches in this competition while averaging 3 goals per game. That firepower, combined with their recent record against Dortmund this season — makes them strong favourites to progress to the semi-finals.
Head-to-Head
This will be the seventh meeting between Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona in European competition (Champions League and Super Cup). Barcelona have won all of the last three encounters, scoring 11 goals in total — a run that includes their 3-2 victory in Germany earlier this season and last week’s commanding 4-0 win in the first leg of the quarter-finals.
Betting
Borussia Dortmund 28/10
Draw 16/5
Barcelona 17/20
Verdict
Borussia Dortmund’s chances of staging a comeback are, realistically, slim to none. While they may find a goal or two at home, Barcelona’s potent counter-attacking threat is likely to stretch the aggregate lead further — setting the stage for yet another high-scoring encounter between these two sides.
Suggested Bet: Result and Both Teams to Score – Barcelona and Yes at 39/20
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
