5️⃣ things learned from Tuesday's dramatic Champions League action | OneFootball

The Champions League delivered in a big way tonight, as four teams booked their places in the quarter finals.

Here is what we made of it all.

PSG show their mettle on famous night

📸 Julian Finney - 2025 Getty Images

In any other world, PSG would have finished their tie against Liverpool off last week after utterly dominating the Premier League leaders for almost the entire 90 minutes. However in this world, they somehow fell to a 1-0 defeat, and were facing yet another Champions League collapse ahead of tonight's game at Anfield.

Instead, they flipped the script and showed that this might just be a new era for the Parisians, one without so-called superstar names but with incredibly talented young players and, equally important, incredible spirit and belief.

Ousmane Dembélé levelled the tie early on, but from there it was a backs to the wall job for large parts, with Willian Pacho and Nuno Mendes, among others, stepping up when they were needed most.

In the shootout, Gianluigi Donnarumma did it again in England, saving two spot kicks, while they were a perfect four from four against arguably the world's best in Alisson.

Not only were they facing the Brazilian, they were facing their own European history as well as Liverpool's.

They overcame it all on a famous night for Luis Enrique and his side, and they will now fancy their chances of finally lifting the trophy they crave most.

Liverpool left to lick their wounds

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It's the first deep blow in the Arne Slot era at Anfield, but one that they can not have too many complaints about given how last week should have unfolded.

Still, after a much-improved performance and the agony of a penalty shootout loss, it will hurt for a while, but there is still so much for the Reds to play for this season.

Like in 2020 when they coasted to the title, their European journey has ended at the round of 16 on the exact day, but the league is as good as done, and there is also the perfect game to pick themselves up for.

Sunday sees Slot handed the chance for his first piece of silverware with the club, as his side take on Newcastle in the EFL Cup final.

A tough night for all at Anfield but a special season will have at least one trophy, and maybe two.

Wing wizards have Barcelona dreaming

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Barcelona are the most exciting team to watch on a weekly basis in Europe right now, and a lot of that has to do with Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, as well as the haphazard high line employed by Hansi Flick.

Against Benfica, the two attackers grabbed all three goals and generally caused chaos throughout, continuing their incredible attacking seasons.

The brilliant Brazilian made it five in the matter of six weeks against the Portuguese giants, breaking their heart again with two goals either side of a sensational strike from the 17-year-old Spanish superstar.

No side in Europe has scored more goals than their ridiculous 128 so far this season, while their 32 is by far the most in the Champions League.

However, they do give up plenty of chances, and Benfica were unlucky not to score more tonight. More ruthless sides might just do in the coming months.

The only thing we know for sure is Flick's Kevin Keegan-like "you score four, we'll score five" approach will be fun to watch, as will his wing wizards.

Kane leads the way as Bayern return to their perch

Normal order has been restored in Germany after a year-long sabbatical.

Last season saw Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen storm to a league and cup double, becoming the first side to go unbeaten in a Bundesliga campaign and ending Bayern Munich's 11-year stranglehold over the title.

Bayern had also failed to win any of the last six meetings between the two sides, dating back to 2022.

An eight-point lead in the league suggested they had returned to their perch, but outright dominance in an all-German European affair confirms it.

Harry Kane led the way, with three goals across the two legs making him the first English player to hit 10 in a single Champions League campaign, while for Vincent Kompany, it is a huge boost and a first major away win in Europe with the potential of more to follow.

On the other end, Leverkusen's lack of experience at this level was shown, but Alonso could not have anticipated his side shooting themselves in the foot so often over the last six days.

Near-impregnable Inter march on

If Bayern are to continue their quest for European title no.7, they will have to somehow break down Simone Inzaghi's near-impregnable Inter side over two legs.

Before tonight's 2-1 win against Feyenoord, which sealed an easy 4-1 aggregate win, they had conceded just one goal in nine games, and trailed for just 285 seconds. Even the goal let in tonight came from the penalty spot.

There's goals at the other end too, with Marcus Thuram making it a strike in each leg with a stunning effort in the first half, and captain Lautoro Martínez a proven match winner on his day.

Not that the skipper was needed tonight, as Simone Inzaghi rested several big hitters ahead of a crucial Serie A match with title rivals Atalanta at the weekend.

Not a bad way to celebrate game number 200 in charge of the Nerazzurri, and having made the final in 2023, the Inter boss will fancy his chances of doing it again this year.

📸 OLI SCARFF - AFP or licensors