Liverpool’s Champions League Exit: A Shift in the Competition Landscape
Liverpool’s recent departure from the Champions League, following a defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night, has narrowed the field to just two English clubs remaining in the prestigious tournament. Arsenal and Aston Villa both head into their respective return ties on Wednesday with favorable first-leg leads; Arsenal triumphed 7-1 against PSV in Eindhoven, while Aston Villa secured a 3-1 victory over Club Brugge.
This season’s revamped tournament format assigns clubs their pathway to the final beginning from the first knockout round, allowing Arsenal and Villa to clearly understand the challenges that lie ahead in their quest for glory. Should both teams maintain their leads in the upcoming home matches, here’s a detailed look at their routes to potential European triumph.
Arsenal’s Quarter-Final Draw and Path to the Final
For Arsenal, the Champions League represents their last opportunity for silverware this season, a chance to transform the disappointments of their league campaign into a memorable triumph. However, the road to the trophy is fraught with challenges, starting with a quarter-final clash against one of the formidable Madrid giants.
Real Madrid currently holds a 2-1 advantage over Atletico Madrid after their first leg at the Bernabeu, with Brahim Diaz netting the decisive goal. Both Spanish clubs are vying for supremacy in La Liga, with Atletico trailing closely behind the 13-time Champions League winners. If Mikel Arteta can navigate his squad past these titans, the likely semi-final opponent would be PSG, who are set to face Aston Villa in the last eight.
Both potential semi-final adversaries present unique challenges; PSG’s recent victory over Liverpool highlighted their resurgence since their earlier defeat at the Emirates last October. Additionally, Arsenal has struggled against Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, managing just one win in their last four encounters, a 2-0 victory last August.
Should Arsenal successfully overcome these hurdles, they are likely to meet one of five formidable teams in the final. While Arteta may feel confident against Lille or Borussia Dortmund, any potential matchup against Barcelona, Bayern Munich, or Inter Milan would undoubtedly be daunting.
- Quarter-final: Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid
- Semi-final: PSG, Aston Villa, or Club Brugge
- Final: Barcelona, Lille, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, or Inter Milan
Aston Villa’s Quarter-Final Draw and Path to the Final
In contrast, Aston Villa already knows their quarter-final opponent: the in-form PSG. Villa’s recent penalty shootout victory over Liverpool solidified their status as serious contenders in this competition. Manager Unai Emery will need to rely on his extensive knockout tournament experience to guide Villa through to the semi-finals.
If Villa can achieve victory, they may face Arsenal, a matchup they would approach with a certain level of confidence given their recent successes in domestic competitions. Alternatively, they could find themselves up against one of the Madrid clubs, an enticing prospect that would undoubtedly be an electrifying occasion, though Villa would enter as the underdog.
On the same side of the draw as Arsenal, Villa’s potential opponents in the final remain unchanged. However, having previously triumphed over Lille in the Conference League last April and defeating Bayern Munich during the group stage, Villa has demonstrated that they are capable of achieving the extraordinary.
- Quarter-final: PSG
- Semi-final: Arsenal, PSV, Atletico Madrid, or Real Madrid
- Final: Barcelona, Lille, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, or Inter Milan
