The action heats up in the UEFA Champions League as we head into Wednesday’s quarter-final first legs. Barcelona host Borussia Dortmund at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, while Paris Saint-Germain welcome Aston Villa to the Parc des Princes. Both ties promise plenty of excitement, as the two-legged battles kick off with teams striving for an early advantage on the road to the semi-finals.
Before we get into the match previews, let’s take a look at the updated outright odds. Barcelona and PSG are now joint-favourites at 33/10, with Real Madrid close behind at 15/4. Bayern Munich are priced at 11/2, while Arsenal follow at 15/2. The remaining teams are currently available at 10/1 or longer.
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BARCELONA v BORUSSIA DORTMUND – Click here to bet
Unbeaten in their last 22 matches across all competitions, five-time Champions League winners Barcelona return to European action on Wednesday night as they welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Estadi Olímpic for the first leg of what promises to be an entertaining quarter-final tie.
Hansi Flick’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Betis over the weekend—a result that ended their seven-game winning streak but keeps them four points clear at the summit of La Liga. That slight dip aside, the Catalans have been in formidable form, both domestically and in Europe, with momentum firmly on their side.
Barcelona’s Champions League campaign has been clinical. Despite opening with a 2-1 loss away to AS Monaco, they rebounded strongly—winning eight of their next nine matches while racking up an impressive 31 goals along the way. In the round of 16, they comfortably saw off Benfica 4-1 on aggregate, and they already boast a psychological advantage over Wednesday’s opponents after beating Dortmund 3-2 in Germany during the group stage.
For Borussia Dortmund, the task is clear: earn a first-ever competitive win over Barcelona. They’ve come up short in each of their previous meetings, and with the first leg in Spain, Niko Kovač’s men will need to dig deep. Still, they arrive in decent form, following up a 3-1 win against Mainz with a confident 4-1 away victory at Freiburg on Saturday—keeping their hopes of European qualification via the Bundesliga alive as they sit 8th with six games remaining.
Dortmund’s European campaign has had its ups and downs. After navigating the playoff stage, they’ve suffered three defeats in the competition but have shown attacking flair, scoring 28 goals so far. That said, their defensive vulnerabilities—especially against top Spanish sides—remain a concern. They’ve conceded eight goals across their two meetings with Real Madrid and Barcelona this season, raising questions about their ability to contain elite attacks on the road.
Head-to-Head
This will be the fourth competitive meeting between the two sides in the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona remain unbeaten in the previous three, with two wins and a draw. The most recent encounter saw the Catalans edge out Dortmund 3-2 at the Signal Iduna Park in the group stage back in December.
Betting
Barcelona 4/10
Draw 9/2
Borussia Dortmund 6/1
Verdict
Borussia Dortmund have displayed plenty of attacking intent throughout the competition, but their defensive vulnerabilities—particularly against top-tier opposition—remain a significant concern. With two defeats already against Spanish sides this campaign, conceding eight goals in the process, Barcelona look well placed to secure a relatively comfortable first-leg advantage before the return leg in Germany.
Suggested Bet: Handicap – Barcelona -1.5 at 1/1
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PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN v ASTON VILLA – Click here to bet
Fresh from clinching a record-extending 13th Ligue 1 title with six games to spare, Paris Saint-Germain return to continental action on Wednesday as they welcome Aston Villa to the Parc des Princes for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash.
Luis Enrique’s men secured the domestic crown with a narrow 1-0 win over Angers on Saturday, preserving their unbeaten league record this season. With the domestic job done, full focus now shifts to Europe—where PSG are chasing a maiden Champions League title and just their second-ever final appearance. After a shaky start to their European campaign—losing three of their opening five matches—they’ve grown stronger with every game. The Parisians have now won six of their last seven in the competition, including an eye-catching 4-2 victory over Manchester City and a dramatic penalty shootout win over Liverpool in the last 16.
However, PSG will know better than to underestimate an Aston Villa side that has quietly built momentum under the watchful eye of Unai Emery. The Villans are flying high after a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest at the weekend extended their winning run to eight games in all competitions, leaving them sixth in the Premier League standings and full of confidence heading into this high-stakes tie.
Villa qualified directly for the knockout stage by finishing in the top eight of the league phase and have been a model of consistency in Europe. They’ve lost just twice in ten Champions League outings this season, scoring 19 goals and showcasing their attacking intent. In the round of 16, they dismantled Club Brugge 6-1 on aggregate, with performances that suggested they’re more than capable of holding their own against Europe’s elite.
Head-to-Head
This will be the first-ever competitive meeting between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa.
Betting
Paris Saint-Germain 4/10
Draw 4/1
Aston Villa 6/1
Verdict
Aston Villa have enjoyed a dream run in Europe and arrive in superb form, but this marks a significant step up in quality. PSG have hit their stride at just the right time and, with the title race wrapped up domestically, they can pour everything into this tie. The Parisians’ firepower and depth—especially at home—should give them the edge. Expect Luis Enrique’s side to assert control and take a first-leg advantage back to Birmingham.
Suggested Bet: Handicap – Paris Saint-Germain -1.5 at 21/20
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Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
