Champions League quarter-final draw already completed as Arsenal and Aston Villa plan route to Munich but Liverpool out
With the Champions League last-16 ties now completed, clubs will be setting up their quarter-final clashes at the same time. That is because when the last draw was made, the entire route to the final in Munich was mapped out for each team. Liverpool’s European dreams are overGetty No such problems for Aston Villa and Arsenal though, they are in the last eightGetty After topping the league phase, Liverpool were handed a very tough tie against a newly rampant Paris Saint-Germain side. The Reds stole a 1-0 win in Paris last week heading into the second leg. However, they were beaten 1-0 on the night at Anfield before losing 4-1 on penalties to crash out of the Champions League. No issues for Arsenal and Aston Villa though as they sealed their places in the quarter-finals of the competition with ease. The Gunners beat PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate after a 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium while Villa’s easy win over Club Brugge on Wednesday sees them through 6-1 on aggregate. Villa have been rewarded with a tie against Liverpool’s conquerors PSG, while Arsenal will face record winners Real Madrid. Speaking of which, there was also a huge twist in the Madrid derby tie, which Real won 4-3 on penalties. The key moment in the shootout saw Julian Alvarez’s strike, which beat Thibaut Courtois, was deemed illegal as the Argentine inadvertently kicked the ball twice as he slipped when running up to take the spot-kick. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona and Inter Milan sealed their place in the quarter-finals. Usually, fans would then be awaiting a quarter-final draw after the last 16, but that’s different this year. Arteta took Arsenal to the Champions League quarter-finals last seasonGetty Emery has guided Villa to their first European Cup quarter-final since 1983Getty We already know who each team will face on their route to the final after the entire draw was mapped out. With the English teams on the same side of the draw, it also means it could lead to an Arsenal vs Villa semi-final. On the other side of the draw, Barcelona and Bayern Munich know they have their work cut out to reach the final at Munich’s Allianz Arena. Barcelona saw off Benfica in the last 16, while Bayern thrashed Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 on aggregate to move into the next round. Barca will come up against either Borussia Dortmund, who edged past French side Lille on Wednesday night with a 3-2 aggregate win. As for Bayern, they will play Inter Milan, who saw off Feyenoord 4-1. It means that Barca could face Bayern in the semi-finals – a repeat of their league phase meeting from October, which saw the Spanish side ease to a 4-1 win. Below is the route to the final, with each team’s road to Munich mapped out… UEFAThe English teams have landed on the same side of the draw[/caption] Champions League draw: What has been said? After losing to PSG over two legs, Liverpool manager Arne Slot was full of praise for his team. Speaking after the game, he said: “It was the best game of football I have ever been involved in. “It was an incredible performance, especially if you compare it with last week. We were creating chances and then we were 1-0 down. We ran out of luck after last week. “We played the perfect game, except for scoring a goal. It was similar to Paris last week, when they played the perfect game. And then in extra time, they were maybe a little bit better.”
With the Champions League last-16 ties now completed, clubs will be setting up their quarter-final clashes at the same time.
That is because when the last draw was made, the entire route to the final in Munich was mapped out for each team.
After topping the league phase, Liverpool were handed a very tough tie against a newly rampant Paris Saint-Germain side.
The Reds stole a 1-0 win in Paris last week heading into the second leg.
However, they were beaten 1-0 on the night at Anfield before losing 4-1 on penalties to crash out of the Champions League.
No issues for Arsenal and Aston Villa though as they sealed their places in the quarter-finals of the competition with ease.
The Gunners beat PSV Eindhoven 9-3 on aggregate after a 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium while Villa’s easy win over Club Brugge on Wednesday sees them through 6-1 on aggregate.
Villa have been rewarded with a tie against Liverpool’s conquerors PSG, while Arsenal will face record winners Real Madrid.
Speaking of which, there was also a huge twist in the Madrid derby tie, which Real won 4-3 on penalties.
The key moment in the shootout saw Julian Alvarez’s strike, which beat Thibaut Courtois, was deemed illegal as the Argentine inadvertently kicked the ball twice as he slipped when running up to take the spot-kick.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona and Inter Milan sealed their place in the quarter-finals.
Usually, fans would then be awaiting a quarter-final draw after the last 16, but that’s different this year.
We already know who each team will face on their route to the final after the entire draw was mapped out.
With the English teams on the same side of the draw, it also means it could lead to an Arsenal vs Villa semi-final.
On the other side of the draw, Barcelona and Bayern Munich know they have their work cut out to reach the final at Munich’s Allianz Arena.
Barcelona saw off Benfica in the last 16, while Bayern thrashed Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 on aggregate to move into the next round.
Barca will come up against either Borussia Dortmund, who edged past French side Lille on Wednesday night with a 3-2 aggregate win.
As for Bayern, they will play Inter Milan, who saw off Feyenoord 4-1.
It means that Barca could face Bayern in the semi-finals – a repeat of their league phase meeting from October, which saw the Spanish side ease to a 4-1 win.
Below is the route to the final, with each team’s road to Munich mapped out…
Champions League draw: What has been said?
After losing to PSG over two legs, Liverpool manager Arne Slot was full of praise for his team.
Speaking after the game, he said: “It was the best game of football I have ever been involved in.
“It was an incredible performance, especially if you compare it with last week. We were creating chances and then we were 1-0 down. We ran out of luck after last week.
“We played the perfect game, except for scoring a goal. It was similar to Paris last week, when they played the perfect game. And then in extra time, they were maybe a little bit better.”
