A quiet second leg of the quarterfinals?

The first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals wrapped up last Wednesday evening with clear victories for the two favorites for the final. As the second leg approaches, it’s clear that four teams are already in a strong position for the semifinals. Is the thrill gone already?

Aston Villa – PSG

After a brief scare when they allowed the first goal, PSG won the match 3 goals to 1. The result wasn’t really in doubt for too long, though, as it took just 4 minutes for Désiré Doué to tie things up, with Kvaratskhelia then putting the French side into the lead just after halftime. The icing on the cake was Nuno Mendes’ goal at the very end of the match to put it out of reach.

The fact is, there was never any serious doubt here as Paris were clearly superior in every aspect of their play. With 75% possession, the Parisians kept the ball away from the English side throughout the entire match, launching attack after attack until the defense gave way.

In the second leg, Aston Villa will have to bring a very different level of play if they want even a chance to challenge Enrique’s squad.

Borussia Dortmund – FC Barcelona

Dortmund’s chances to qualify, according to the specialists at Opta Football: 0%. That single number sums up how completely the Catalans dominated the first match.

After their decisive 4-0 win, it’s hard to see how Barça could let qualification slip through their fingers. Will the trio of Yamal, Raphinha and Lewandowski strike again?

Inter – Bayern Munich

This may be the only matchup with a bit of suspense still left. After a 1-2 victory at Allianz Arena, Inter will host the Bavarians for the second leg.

While Bayern often controlled play, Inzaghi clearly won the tactical battle over Kompany. The second round in Milan promises to be an interesting one, even though the Nerazzurri have a head start which should make things easier for them.

Real Madrid – Arsenal

“A por la remontada” has been the mantra from Real Madrid since last Tuesday evening, when Declan Rice and Arsenal dealt Ancelotti’s squad a 3-0 defeat. And while a score like that, earned with that kind of play, would normally almost ensure qualification for the Gunners, this is Real Madrid that we’re talking about. Ninety minutes at Santiago Bernabéu can be a very, very long time.

At the post-game press conference, Carlo Ancelotti put on a serene expression — and even a slight smirk. Yet the Italian has come in for plenty of criticism. His tactics fell completely flat, and the responsibility for the Merengues’ loss lies primarily with him. If Madrid are eliminated, his future with the team will be in serious question.

Arsenal remains the strong favorite, and it seems unlikely that they’ll be eliminated. But with Real, anything can happen.

Circus Sport offers BetXtra, best odds, and quizzes on the Champions League trophy.