Paris Saint-Germain secured their place in the Champions League quarterfinals after overcoming Liverpool 4-1 on penalties. The two-legged tie ended in a 1-1 draw on aggregate, forcing a dramatic conclusion at Anfield. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich dominated Bayer Leverkusen, sealing a comprehensive 5-0 victory over both legs.
Barcelona also advanced thanks to standout performances from Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, who guided them to a 3-1 win over Benfica. Inter Milan confirmed their quarterfinal spot as well, defeating Feyenoord 2-1 and setting up a clash with Bayern in the next round.
At Anfield, Ousmane Dembele scored the only goal of the match, leveling the tie after Liverpool’s late winner in the first leg. This forced extra time and penalties, where PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma played a crucial role. The Italian shot-stopper, criticized for an earlier mistake in the first leg, redeemed himself with two crucial penalty saves.
Donnarumma denied both Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones, while his PSG teammates converted their spot-kicks flawlessly. "It was a fantastic performance. Over the two legs, we absolutely deserved to progress," said PSG captain Marquinhos. Liverpool had opportunities to score, but PSG’s defensive resilience saw them through to victory.
The match inevitably headed to a penalty shootout, where Donnarumma’s brilliance proved decisive. Desire Doue converted the final penalty, sending PSG fans into jubilation. "This was one of the best football matches I’ve ever been a part of," said Arne Slot, acknowledging his team’s valiant effort despite falling short.
In another fixture, Bayern Munich triumphed over Leverkusen with a 2-0 win in the second leg, completing their dominant 5-0 aggregate victory. Harry Kane played a starring role, scoring and assisting in the away leg after netting twice in the first leg. "We wanted to stay aggressive and not just defend our lead," Kane explained after the game.
Elsewhere, Barcelona cruised past Benfica with a 4-1 aggregate win, highlighted by Yamal’s dazzling playmaking and Raphinha’s double. The team dedicated their victory to the late Barcelona club doctor Carles Minarro, honoring him with a pre-match tribute. Meanwhile, Inter Milan continued their strong form, eliminating Feyenoord 4-1 on aggregate to secure their spot in the last eight.
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