Champions League 2024/25 predictions: Quarter-final second legs | OneFootball

2024/25's Champions League semi-finalists will be confirmed this week as the race to be crowned European champions intensifies.

Last week's first legs provided the drama, tension and quality expected of Europe's premier competition, perennially entertaining audiences across the world with high-stakes fixtures in which the planet's best strut their stuff.

With no stalemates during the first encounters last Tuesday and Wednesday, there are an array of leads to be protected this week. On the flip side of the coin, four teams are looking to conjure up some of the Champions League's fabled magic as they seek memorable comebacks.

Here is how 90min believes the second legs will play out.

Tuesday 15 April

PSG make the journey to Villa Park with a lead to protect / Michael Steele/GettyImages

Many believe this will be the year for Paris Saint-Germain. Having conquered Liverpool in the last 16, they could finally claim Europe's top prize after years of agonising exits, and their 3-1 aggregate lead over Aston Villa puts them in a strong position to reach the semis. The attacking genius of the French champions proved too much for former coach Unai Emery and his side last week and Nuno Mendes' stoppage-time third puts Villa in a tricky predicament.

However, in front of the cacophonous Villa Park crowd, anything is possible. Will it be challenging to overcome a two-goal deficit against the high-flying Parisians? Of course. But Villa have shown their ability to conquer the best on their day and will refuse to throw in the towel.

Villa's hopes of reaching the last four are slim, but Borussia Dortmund have next to no chance of making the cut. They were battered 4-0 by Barcelona during the first leg in Catalonia, Niko Kovac's side torn to shreds by the attacking might of La Blagurana. They could be in for another similarly chastening defeat at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday.

Barcelona have done the hard work during the first leg and it looks inevitable that they will reach the semis for the first time since 2018/19. Whether they can go all the way on the ten-year anniversary of their last Champions League triumph remains to be seen.

Wednesday 16 April

Arsenal have a commanding lead heading into the second leg / Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages

Having humiliated PSV Eindhoven in the last 16, few expected Arsenal to offer defending European champions Real Madrid a similarly humbling experience during the first leg at the Emirates Stadium. But Declan Rice had other ideas as he planted two sensational free kicks beyond Thibaut Courtois to inspire the Gunners to one of their most iconic triumphs.

Their 3-0 victory in north London has placed one foot firmly in the semi-finals - a round Arsenal haven't reached since 2008/09 - but the Santiago Bernabeu, the venue for Wednesday's second leg, has a habit of staging the most memorable European nights. Mikel Arteta's side are by no means guaranteed their place in the last four as the record winners aim to stage another miraculous comeback.

Wednesday's other quarter-final tie offers a repeat of the 2010 Champions League final as Bayern Munich face Inter. The Italians triumphed 15 years ago and were victorious during the first leg at the Allianz Arena, with Lautaro Martinez's beauty and Davide Frattesi's late winner offering them a 2-1 lead ahead of the clash at San Siro.

Inter, who are edging towards the Serie A title, have not been beaten in 12 matches and will progress to the semis if they can extend that run further midweek. Bayern, who are also on the cusp of reclaiming the Bundesliga crown, will have to conquer Simone Inzaghi's stubborn and well-oiled machine on the road.