Aston Villa’s hopes of Champions League glory came to an end on Tuesday, despite a spirited comeback. Paris Saint-Germain advanced to the semi-finals with a 5-4 aggregate win, holding off Villa’s challenge after a 3-2 defeat at Villa Park.
PSG could face Arsenal in the next round, with the Gunners in a commanding position after securing a 3-0 advantage over Real Madrid ahead of their second-leg clash at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, Barcelona moved into the semi-finals with a 5-3 aggregate victory against Borussia Dortmund. The German side claimed a 3-1 win in the second leg but fell short overall. Meanwhile, Inter Milan host Bayern Munich in Italy on Wednesday, having won the first leg 2-1.
Champions League: How it spanned out
When are the semi-finals and final?
The semi-final first legs are scheduled for 29 and 30 April, with the return legs on 6 and 7 May. The final will be held at the Allianz Arena in Munich on 31 May.
Could there be a Clasico final?
Yes – a Barcelona vs. Real Madrid final is still possible. Though the two sides have never faced off in a Champions League or European Cup final, they are on opposite sides of the draw and could meet in Munich.
England Secures Fifth Champions League Spot
Thanks to Arsenal’s victory over Real Madrid, England remains at the top of the UEFA coefficient rankings, guaranteeing a fifth Premier League team in next season’s Champions League.
As it stands, the top five Premier League finishers will all qualify. There’s even a scenario where up to seven English clubs could participate—if Arsenal were to win the Champions League but finish outside the top five, and either Manchester United or Tottenham claim the Europa League title.
The second extra Champions League spot is likely to go to either Serie A (Italy) or La Liga (Spain), though the Bundesliga (Germany) still has a slim chance of securing it.
