Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Atlético Madrid have advanced to the semifinals of the Champions League following contrasting quarterfinal victories.
PSG secured a 4-0 aggregate triumph over Liverpool, while Atlético Madrid progressed despite suffering a 2-1 defeat at home, overcoming Barcelona with a 3-2 aggregate score.
In a concerning turn of events, Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike was stretchered off the field with a leg injury in the first half, casting doubt on his availability for the upcoming World Cup with France.
Ousmane Dembélé played a pivotal role in PSG’s advancement, scoring twice to help the team achieve a 2-0 victory at Anfield, resulting in a 4-0 aggregate win in their quarterfinal matchup, which took place in inclement weather.
The reigning champions absorbed significant pressure from Liverpool in the second half, bolstered by a passionate home crowd, but maintained the advantage they had built during the first leg in Paris last week, marking their fifth semifinal appearance in seven years.
Dembélé netted his first goal in the 72nd minute, receiving a pass from Bradley Barcola and curling a shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards. He added a second goal in stoppage time, finishing off another assist from Barcola.
PSG is set to face either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the semifinals, with Bayern leading 2-1 ahead of their second-leg match.
“We remained resilient and defended well,” said PSG defender Marquinhos in an interview with Canal+. “The team has shown significant growth and gained valuable experience.”
The match was marred by a video assistant referee (VAR) decision to overturn a penalty awarded to Liverpool, following a challenge by Willian Pacho on Alexis Mac Allister.
The first half was overshadowed by Ekitike’s injury, which left him visibly distressed as he exited the field, raising concerns about his fitness for the World Cup starting in June. Liverpool manager Arne Slot commented, “The situation is not ideal. We will have to wait for more information.”
PSG controlled much of the first half, with Dembélé initially missing a couple of scoring opportunities, including a close-range attempt that went over the bar and another that was cleared by goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
In the second half, Liverpool dominated play, with players like Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo, Joe Gomez, and Mac Allister all failing to convert promising chances. Milos Kerkez nearly scored following a superb pass from Mohamed Salah, but he sent the ball wide.
Dembélé’s first goal, which came against the run of play, effectively ended Liverpool’s hopes of a comeback, as the team struggled following earlier exits from both the FA Cup and League Cup.
“Today’s match meant a lot to us because facing a stronger PSG compared to last season, we demonstrated what we can achieve,” stated Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté. “It is essential for Liverpool to be in the Champions League, and we must give our all in the remaining Premier League matches.”
Meanwhile, in Spain, Atlético Madrid secured their first Champions League semifinal berth in nine years, narrowly overcoming Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate despite a tense 2-1 defeat at home.
Diego Simeone’s squad had previously built a cushion with a 2-0 victory at the Camp Nou, which proved crucial as Barcelona started strong, scoring twice in the first half to level the aggregate score.
Lamine Yamal took advantage of a mistake by Clément Lenglet to score the opening goal just four minutes into the match, and Ferran Torres quickly followed with a second goal in the 24th minute, putting Barcelona ahead in the tie.
Atlético found a way back into the match in the 31st minute, with Marcos Llorente providing a low cross that Ademola Lookman converted, restoring Atlético’s aggregate lead.
After halftime, Barcelona maintained possession and had a third goal disallowed due to offside. The situation intensified when Barcelona’s Eric García received a red card for a last-man foul, but Atlético held on to secure their place in the semifinals against either Arsenal or Sporting, who were set to compete on Wednesday with Arsenal leading 1-0.
Barcelona capitalized on a defensive error from Lenglet, who was filling in due to injuries and suspensions. His poor back pass allowed Yamal to score, and after another turnover, Torres executed a well-timed run to net a goal, leveling the tie before Lookman’s response shifted momentum back to Atlético.
