5️⃣ things we learned from Wednesday's Champions League action | OneFootball

Another breathless evening of Champions League football has just concluded, with little clue as to who will end up in the semi-finals of the competition.

Here are five key things we picked out from the ties.

Old habits die hard for PSG

Three things are certain in life; Death, taxes and Paris Saint Germain disappointing in the Champions League.

The French giants have always promised plenty in Europe’s top competition, but more often than not exit the competition with a whimper, and swap managers a few weeks later ready to do it all over again.

It seemed finally like they were overcoming that issue when they scored twice in 90 seconds in the second half to lead Barcelona in Paris, but they continued their uncanny knack of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory as Raphinha and Andreas Christensen turned the game back in Barcelona’s favour.

Now a goal down and having to travel to Barcelona in a week’s time, Luis Enrique may be preemptively packing his bags.

Lino comes back to bite Dortmund

Dortmund have a reputation for uncovering gems; unfortunately, Atlético noticed Samuel Lino too. Though the German side tried to hijack a deal for the Brazilian, he made the switch to the Wanda Metropolitano in 2022.

Now, as if to rub salt into the wounds, he found the back of the net against his former suitors, and could have had a second were it not for a fine save from Gregor Kobel in the second half.

Loving life in the Spanish capital, the wing-back won’t be able to take part in the second leg through suspension, something Dortmund might be quite grateful for.

Future looking bright for Barcelona

Though there has been plenty made about Barcelona’s financial issues, they always appear to find a way around it via their famed academy, La Masia.

The likes o Gavi and Lamine Yamal have all gone on to become household names, but Pau Cubarsí could well be the next cap off the rank.

The 17-year-old became the youngest defender to ever start a Champions League quarter final, and looked one of the most composed players on the pitch.

Where his opposite number Lucas Beraldo (20) looked shaky at the heart of the PSG defence, there was no such issue for the Barca youngster, and he seems destined to become a household name in the months and years to come.

Barcelona look to have done it again.

Excellent decision to scrap away goals rule

When UEFA opted to get rid of the away goals rule, there was concern that games would become more stale.

However, the opposite has proved true, with both sides always pushing for goals in both legs of the ties.

Across the four first legs, there were a mammoth 18 goals with every side finding the back of the net.

Though it won’t have suited everyone (sorry Diego Simeone), it is just five goals short of the total number scored in the 2021-22 quarter finals, the last ones with the away goals rule applied, and we are only halfway through the drama.

Every tie on a knife edge

After a blockbuster two nights of action, it is virtually impossible to predict who any of the final four of the competition will be with any certainty.

Both Manchester City and Bayern Munich picked up vital away draws and will enjoy the home advantage as they look for the killer blow in the second leg.

Meanwhile, Dortmund trail Atlético by just a goal ahead of welcoming them to their famous Signal Iduna Park.

PSG arguably hold the toughest path to the semi-final, trailing by just a goal heading back to Barcelona. But then again, they also have Kylian Mbappé.