Paris secured a 1-0 victory at Anfield before Gianluigi Donnarumma’s penalty shoot-out heroics helped them edge past Liverpool and book a spot in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
Barcelona were the first team to seal their place in the last eight, delivering a dominant second-leg performance against Benfica in the early kick-off. Bayern München also progressed comfortably, defeating Bundesliga rivals Leverkusen, and will face Inter in the quarter-finals after the Nerazzurri wrapped up their tie against Feyenoord. Here’s a roundup of all the action.
Table of Contents
Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Round Up
Donnarumma Shines as Paris Edge Past Liverpool on Penalties
Liverpool 0-1 Paris (Agg: 1-1; 1-4 pens)
Gianluigi Donnarumma was the hero for Paris, making two crucial saves in the shoot-out as his side overturned a first-leg deficit to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
Ousmane Dembélé leveled the tie with a well-taken goal in the 12th minute, but Liverpool took control after the break. Donnarumma produced a stunning save to deny Luis Díaz’s header, keeping Paris in contention.
The visitors had the better chances in extra time, and in the penalty shoot-out, Donnarumma denied both Darwin Núñez and Curtis Jones before 19-year-old substitute Désiré Doué calmly slotted home the winning spot-kick.
Player of the Match: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris)
Barcelona Cruise Past Benfica to Reach Quarter-Finals
Barcelona 3-1 Benfica (Agg: 4-1)
Raphinha and Lamine Yamal delivered a stellar performance as Barcelona stormed into the last eight. The duo linked up for the opener in the 11th minute, with Yamal providing a pinpoint cross for Raphinha to volley home. Benfica responded almost immediately through Nicolás Otamendi’s header.
Yamal then produced a moment of magic, curling in a stunning strike in the 27th minute before Raphinha netted his 11th goal of the season to seal the victory before the break.
Player of the Match: Pedri (Barcelona)
Inter Ease Past Feyenoord to Secure Quarter-Final Spot
Inter 2-1 Feyenoord (Agg: 4-1)
Inter advanced to the quarter-finals for only the second time since 2010/11, completing a dominant aggregate victory over Feyenoord.
Marcus Thuram opened the scoring in spectacular fashion just eight minutes in, dribbling past defenders before unleashing a stunning long-range strike. Feyenoord pulled one back before half-time through Jakub Moder’s penalty, but Inter quickly restored their cushion after the break when Hakan Çalhanoğlu converted from the spot—his second-ever Champions League knockout goal, nearly a decade after his first in 2015.
Player of the Match: Marcus Thuram (Inter)
Bayern Dominate Leverkusen to Secure Quarter-Final Spot
Leverkusen 0-2 Bayern München (Agg: 0-5)
Bayern München cruised into the quarter-finals with a commanding aggregate victory over Leverkusen, thanks to goals from Harry Kane and Alphonso Davies.
Kane, who was twice denied early on by Lukas Hrádecký, finally broke the deadlock in the second half, pouncing on a rebound after Patrik Schick’s clearance fell into his path. The England striker then turned provider, threading a perfect pass to Davies, who finished with precision.
Bayern pushed for more in the latter stages, with Jamal Musiala hitting the woodwork twice, but their place in the last eight was already secured.
Player of the Match: Harry Kane (Bayern)
Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League Fixtures
Football fans can look forward to an exciting set of matches as the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 action continues on Wednesday.
- Lille vs Borussia Dortmund (11:15 pm)
- Arsenal vs PSV (1:30 am)
- Aston Villa vs Club Brugge (1:30 am)
- Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid (1:30 am)
A thrilling Madrid derby headlines the night, while Arsenal and Aston Villa look to capitalize on home advantage. Borussia Dortmund will aim to navigate a tricky away fixture against Lille in the early kickoff.
Read More: Manchester United Unveils Plans for a New 100,000-Seater Stadium
FAQs
How did PSG defeat Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League?
PSG overturned a first-leg deficit, winning 1-0 at Anfield before Gianluigi Donnarumma’s penalty shoot-out heroics secured a quarter-final spot.
Who were the standout players in Barcelona’s win over Benfica?
Raphinha and Lamine Yamal starred, with Yamal scoring a stunning goal and Raphinha netting twice to seal a dominant 3-1 victory.
How did Inter Milan secure their quarter-final place?
Marcus Thuram’s sensational solo goal and Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s penalty helped Inter overcome Feyenoord with a 4-1 aggregate win.
What was Bayern Munich’s key to success against Leverkusen?
Harry Kane and Alphonso Davies scored in a comfortable 2-0 win, while Bayern dominated across both legs to win 5-0 on aggregate.
What are the key UEFA Champions League fixtures on Wednesday?
Lille faces Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal takes on PSV, Aston Villa meets Club Brugge, and Atlético Madrid battles Real Madrid in a high-stakes derby.
