5️⃣ things to look out for in the Champions League this week | OneFootball

The Champions League semi-finalists will be decided this week over the course of the four second leg ties from the last eight.

This is what to watch out for from the action.

⚔️ Match of the Week

The most delicately poised quarter-final clash comes from San Siro, where Inter welcome Bayern Munich holding a 2-1 lead thanks to Davide Frattesi's late winner in Germany.

That brought an end to Bayern's five-year, 22-game unbeaten streak at home in Europe and leaves them with a tough task in Milan - although they have won all four of their previous away games against Inter.

However, of the 23 previous occasions in this competition that the Nerazzurri have held a first leg lead, they have advanced in 21 of them, although one of those eliminations did come last season against Atlético de Madrid.

The last six meetings between the teams have also resulted in three wins apiece - leaving this one very much still open and all to play for.

🔎 Team to Watch

How Aston Villa fans dared to dream in Paris last week when Morgan Rogers gave them a lead against PSG that was all too brief, and the home side's late third goal in a 3-1 win was a killer blow that may have put the tie out of reach.

"We have enough quality to cause any team in the world problems," Villa's goalscorer insisted. "We've got nothing to lose so why not go for it?"

With the backing of a boisterous Villa Park behind them, things could certainly get interesting if the hosts can manage the opening goal and there are also reasons for optimism.

PSG have won on only four of their 17 trips to England and have also been eliminated three times of the seven occasions they've taken a two goal lead into a second leg, while Unai Emery has lost just one of his last 13 home games in European competition.

Don't write the Villans off yet...

🔥 Player to Watch

What a season Barcelona star Raphinha is enjoying in this competition.

In 11 Champions League outings, he has been directly involved in 19 goals, scoring 12 times in addition to providing seven assists.

If he scores or sets up a team-mate in Dortmund, he'll become just the third player to enjoy a 20+ goal involvement season in Europe's premier club competition after Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski.

The Portuguese superstar holds the season record with 21 goal involvements in 2013/14. Boosted by the extended format, could Raphinha even break that record this year?

👀 Potential upset

It isn't often Real Madrid emerging victorious from a Champions League knockout clash would be classed as an upset but their poor performance and 3-0 loss in London has left them with a mountain to climb against Arsenal.

However, this is Real Madrid at home on a Champions League night. Things happen in these circumstances that cannot be explained and you only have to ask the likes of Manchester City, Bayern Munich and others about being left punch drunk by a rousing Real comeback when all hope seemed gone.

Since the start of 2015/16, Los Blancos have played 16 second leg knockout ties at home and have only failed to progress on one occasion, even if the circumstances are much more difficult this time around.

If they do it, it would perhaps be their most impressive escape act yet.

📊 Fascinating stat

Last week, Arsenal extended their unbeaten run against Real Madrid to three games and could be the first team ever in Europe to keep four successive clean sheets against the record holders.

📸 Justin Setterfield - 2025 Getty Images