Huge turnaround on UCL quarter finals night 3

It's only a week ago when we wrote both Spanish teams were in a very good position to give us a Spanish Champions League semi-final. Barcelona and Atletico Madrid both had the upperhand in their tie. Now everything changed, both their opponents managed to overcome a bad result from leg 1, resulting into a non Spanish semi-final.

Dortmund on fire

Borussia Dortmund delivered an exhilarating performance at Signal Iduna Park to overturn a first-leg deficit and defeat Atlético Madrid 4-2, securing their place in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2013. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions and momentum shifts, captivating fans with its unpredictability.

Dortmund began their comeback with a magnificent deep pass from Mats Hummels to Julian Brandt, who found the net to level the aggregate score early in the match. Ian Maatsen, a rising star likely headed to the Euros with the Netherlands, soon doubled Dortmund's lead with a powerful strike, marking his first Champions League goal.

The second half saw more drama as Mats Hummels unfortunately scored an own goal, giving Atlético a lifeline. However, Dortmund responded aggressively, with Niclas Füllkrug’s stunning header and Marcel Sabitzer’s brilliant finish securing a memorable 4-2 victory. Sabitzer was particularly outstanding, contributing two assists and a goal.

Barcelona’s night to forget against PSG

In stark contrast, FC Barcelona faced a night of turmoil and disappointment. Despite entering the match with an advantageous 3-2 aggregate lead from the first leg, Barcelona's hopes were dashed by a red card to defender Ronald Araújo for a foul on PSG's Bradley Barcola. This pivotal moment shifted the balance, allowing PSG to dominate the remainder of the game.

PSG equalized before halftime through former Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembélé. In the second half, the Parisians took full advantage of their extra player, with Vitinha striking a precise shot from distance and Kylian Mbappé converting a penalty after a careless foul by João Cancelo. Mbappé later added a second goal to cap a dominant 4-1 win, as Barcelona’s coach Xavi also saw red in a moment of frustration.

Semi-finals

As PSG marches on with dreams of finally capturing the elusive Champions League title, Barcelona must reflect on what could have been. They will now focus on domestic challenges, while PSG, boosted by Mbappé's imminent departure to Real Madrid, looks forward to the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Dortmund’s victory sets them up as formidable contenders for the title, demonstrating resilience and tactical acumen under high pressure. Their next challenge will be just as demanding, with the competition heating up.

With Manchester City-Real Madrid and Bayern Munich-Arsenal still to play, the road to the Champions League final remains fiercely contested. As teams battle for a spot in the semi-finals, the drama and excitement only promise to intensify.