Borussia Dortmund of Germany is seeking to break its jinx against Spain’s Barcelona when it visits them on Wednesday for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.
While French champions Paris Saint-Germain fear an upset from English side Aston Villa.
In their five previous encounters, Dortmund has never beaten Barcelona, who are steadily closing in on the La Liga title at the expense of their rivals Real Madrid.
However, this will be their first-ever knockout stage clash.
With the last meeting in the group stage ending in a narrow 3-2 win for Barcelona in Dortmund.
Then coached by Turkey’s Nuri Şahin.
Huge Changes on the Competing Teams in UEFA Champions League 2025
Much has changed since that December match.
Especially with the arrival of Croatian Niko Kovač to replace Şahin.
Kovač knows Barcelona manager Hansi Flick well, having worked together at Bayern Munich in the 2019 season.
Kovač noted: “He was my assistant, now we compete together.”
Barcelona’s Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, a former Dortmund player (2010–2014), knows his old club well—he has scored 27 goals in 27 matches against them since.
Lewandowski is currently fourth in the Champions League scoring chart with 9 goals.
Two behind his teammate Raphinha and one behind both Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) and Serhou Guirassy (Dortmund).
Barcelona and Real Madrid Reached the Quarterfinals
Barcelona, five-time Champions League winners (last in 2015), boasts a potent attack that has scored 83 La Liga goals this season.
Compared to Real Madrid’s 63. They’ve reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 2020.
On the other hand, Dortmund, European champions in 1997, are struggling domestically.
Sitting eighth in the Bundesliga—27 points behind Bayern.
Still, the Ruhr club hopes to replicate last season’s Champions League success when they surprised many by reaching the final, ultimately losing 2-0 to Real Madrid.
The winner of this tie will face the victor between Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in the semifinals.
A Strong Message from PSG
After sending a strong message by eliminating Premier League leaders Liverpool via penalties…
Paris Saint-Germain now emerges as a Champions League favorite—on paper facing a relatively easier opponent in Aston Villa.
PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi commented:
“We’re still far from our goal.
We must remain humble.
We have a young team, and we want to build something.”
Exciting End
Despite Qatar’s 2011 acquisition of PSG and the signing of superstars like Messi, Neymar, and Ibrahimović, the club has yet to win the Champions League.
Brazilian defender Marquinhos, who will miss Wednesday’s match due to suspension, said:
“This is an exciting end of the season with beautiful objectives we aim to achieve.”
Coach Luis Enrique has been gradually shaping the team, clinching their 13th Ligue 1 title last Saturday with a star-light lineup led by revived forward Ousmane Dembélé.
Still, Enrique cautioned: “We can’t be a 9 or 10 out of 10 every game, some games we are weaker or strange.
But I’m sure the team will fly on Wednesday.
We’re all in sync… I see it every day in training.”
PSG is aiming to reach their fourth semifinal in six seasons—and the second under Luis Enrique.
In contrast, Aston Villa, who recently signed Marcus Rashford after his slump at Manchester United, are on a seven-match winning streak in all competitions.
Even if their away form remains inconsistent.
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Aston Villa Might Surprise Us in UEFA Champions League 2025
Unlike PSG, Villa has won the European Cup (now the Champions League) once—in 1982.
This is their first quarterfinal appearance since 1983, when they lost to Juventus 5-2 on aggregate.
That was also their last appearance in the top-tier European competition until this season.
At Parc des Princes, Luis Enrique will face a familiar opponent: Unai Emery, now coaching Villa, previously managed PSG between 2016 and 2018.
Emery witnessed two historic nights in 2017—PSG’s 4-0 first-leg win over Barcelona in the Round of 16.
Followed by Barça’s epic 6-1 comeback (“La Remontada”).
Villa, currently seventh in the Premier League, also features PSG alumni: Lucas Digne and Marco Asensio, the latter on loan from PSG.
The winner of PSG vs. Aston Villa will meet the winner of Real Madrid vs. Arsenal in the semifinals.
