The big debate: Arsenal is taking on Real Madrid in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, while Aston comes across Villa
If you want to be the best, you should beat the best. And that is exactly what both Arsenal and Aston Villa will have to do in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
After a season full of football with football, it has been a change of pace to go almost a month since we had some action from the European Elite competition. But now we are ready for a party of football in the next fourteen days, while the first and second legs are taking place.
On Tuesday, Arsenal sees 15-way winners and holders of the Champions League Real Madrid to the Emirates, while Bayern Munich is an internal Milan host in an equally delightful matchup. Subsequently, Villa makes the trip to Paris in the hope that it will go as a new famous evening in their season, all while Borussia Dortmund, the surprise finalists of last season, visits Barcelona.
But which teams from each side of the draw will make the trip to the Allianz of Munich on 31 May? Shall we have an El Clasico -final for the first time in the history of the European cup or can a Premier League club disrupt the opportunities?
We asked the mirror football team for their predictions.
John Cross
El Clasico in the final of the Champions League. Imagine that … and so I think it will come out for Munich on 31 May.
Real Madrid are red -hot favorites to see Arsenal in their quarterfinals of Champions League because of their experience and know -how in Europe. They have not won the trophy 15 times for nothing. Even if they don't play well, they know how to get the job done.
I would give Arsenal a 20 percent chance – so they have a chance – but in the end the lack of a striker and Gabriel Missing can also be enormous. Paris Saint-Germain was brilliant about two legs with Liverpool and I like to see from Aston Villa, although Unai Emery's experience will give them a real chance. But Real will see in every semi -final of PSG.
On the other hand, I am looking forward to Barcelona to get through both the quarters and the semi -final because they have been such an attacking force. What a player Raphinha has been! Incredible. And what last it could be.
Prediction: Real Madrid vs Barcelona
Which teams will you think will reach the final of the Champions League? Give us your prediction in the commentary section.
Jeremy Cross
Without running the risk of becoming a traitor, all Champions League roads can go to the dream final this season. Real Madrid versus Barcelona in Munich.
An El Clasico in the biggest club game of all. Arsenal, Aston Villa and Harry Kane's Bayern Munich may have something to say about this.
But it is difficult not to look beyond the two Spanish giants and bitterest rivals when it comes to asking you who can be in the showpiece. And despite all their success in recent decades, Real and Barca have never met in the European Cup final.
Could it finally be time to change this?
Prediction: Real Madrid vs Barcelona
David McDonnell
Given their formidable record in the competition, winning a record 15 times – including five of the last nine years – it is difficult to look beyond Real Madrid as finalists.
If they can pass Arsenal to reach the semi-final, they will probably be confronted with Paris Saint-Germain, who should overcome Aston Villa to end the Premier League interest in the tournament.
If Real and PSG achieve it through the Semis, the team of superstars of Carlo Ancelotti will have it all to get past the impressive side of Luis Enrique, who soon came out the Premier-Kampioenen Liverpool in the final round.
Despite Real's unparalleled pedigree in the Champions League, PSG is perhaps the best team left in the tournament about the current form. They kept their Ligue 1 title at the weekend with six more games to play and can finally go all the way in the Champions League, after having lost in the final of Bayern Munich five years ago.
On the other side of the draw, Barcelona are joint favorites, together with PSG, to win the tournament and to have what it takes to reach the final. They have opened a four -point lead over Real in Laliga and are unbeaten in 2025, with Boss Hansi Flick made a big impression in his first season that was in charge.
Prediction PSG vs Barcelona
Neil Moxley
This is the business end of the competition – and I do my money that it is an El Clasico final. Why? Goals, honey.
To be honest, I don't think there is much between the semi-finalists that I propose, but the question has been asked. For that reason I can see no further than Real Madrid who forces their way to Arsenal and ensure that Mikel Arteta has a new bars campaign at the Emirates.
Despite the return of Bukayo Saka, the Gunners found it difficult to find the net. And Los Blancos have enough in their own arsenal. No apologies of the pun. If there were a counter argument for my selection, Paris Saint-Germain could offer it.
The Aston Villa of Unai Emery enjoyed an excellent campaign, except for a blip like the winter approached. But based on the implementation against Liverpool, PSG has the ability and the desire to finally put a mark on European competition.
They should have gained comfortably in the French capital. Although Villa enjoys a return leg in Villa Park, I think they are making progress. I don't think they have enough to overthrow Los Blancos, but would not be surprised if they did.
In the other half of the draw, Inter has the defensive opportunity to Harry Kane & Co. To keep that regularly benefits from what I think is a weak Bundesliga. Similarly, I think Barcelona will have too much for Borussia Dortmund who are not as strong as last season.
The semi -final can touch and go, but Barca's larger firepower will tell. That means it is set up for the Spanish Great in Munich.
Prediction: Real Madrid vs Barcelona
Chris McKenna
It is very difficult to predict with four large quarter finals, but there is a growing feeling that this could be an El Classico final in Munich in May. You would expect Real Madrid to get better from Arsenal, and PSG to overcome Aston Villa will put an end to the English interest in the competition and a blockbuster semi-final set-up that can be won on both sides.
In the other half of the draw, Bayern Munich will be desperate to reach a final at home grass and should be too good for Inter Milan. But will Harry Kane Barcelona be able to conquer?
The Liga leaders have a number of unreal attacking players and you would have to provide them with two legs. It should be a fascinating week with these quarterfinals, but the Spanish giants may just have too much for their rivals.
Prediction: Real Madrid vs Barcelona
Nathan Ridley
This season I have watched almost every Barcelona match, which is more than enough to know how brilliant the team of Hansi Flick is – and where they have weaknesses. Whether it is their number-pumping attack by Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Super Sub Ferran Torres-Die perhaps even these knockout matches start-the best midfielder on the planet in Pedri or the student-and-master center coupling of Pau Cubarsi or Inigo.
But fatigue uses. The 1-1 draw from Saturday at home was Real Betis clearly difficult, which does not predict well when you try to win a Treble. The priority of Barca will convert their four -point lead at the top of Laliga into a title win, plus they have the Copa del Rey final that will come on 26 April – against Real Madrid no less.
That is why I think that the imperious defense of Inter Milan and their deadly counterattacks will be the perfect foil for Flick's side in the semi -final, after Simone Inzaghi & Co. To be organized for a non-transmitting Bayern Munich side. On the other half of the draw I see Luis Enrique's PSG having too much energy for Madrid – especially during the second stage that is not in the Bernabeu.
Prediction: PSG vs Inter Milan
Sam Meade
The Spanish giants look back on their best and shoot in their own country and in Europe. They seem to have followed an attacking approach, sometimes just operating on a 'we will score more than you'. They have firepower that almost every team would be jealous of and they found shape at a good time.
Those attacking exploits will be needed, the last four, where they are confronted with Bayern Munich or Inter Milan, but otherwise they look good under a manager in Hansi Flick who has won the Champions League in the past.
On the other half of the draw it looks like a PSG – Real Madrid Semi and the Parisians peaks. The stories are endless as a team, which are more collective than ever, look like in their post-Kylian Mbappe era to put down the man who really left them behind.
PSG stumbled through the competition phase, but was sensational in two games against Liverpool. Really have the know -how, and that is huge, but the French side has a solidarity that we have never seen before and, with a touch of revenge in the air, they may just have enough to lose the defensive champions and the final against Barcelona.
Prediction: PSG vs Barcelona
Oli gamp
Everything points to a final of El Clasico, but for some reason – I don't think it will be that simple. The Champions League often throws in a few shocks and one of the favorites is usually thrown out early.
Sorry, Arsenal -fans, I don't think you have the chance to make Real Madrid Van Streek. I believe that the men of Carlo Ancelotti have too much for an exhausted Arsenal side and people like Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham have to cause real damage.
And I don't see Aston Villa or PSG overcome the 15-times champions, so they have to make their second consecutive final. On the other side of the draw, I think Laliga leaders Barcelona will sail past Dortmund, but will not be captured against Bayern Munich.
It should be the Spanish leaders against German leaders if the men of Vincent Kompany of Inter Milan can see and you only have to look in the history books to see why I support Bayern against Barca. The Bundesliga side has won 10 games to the three of Barcelona in the history of Champions League – including the last six games in a row.
Barcelona could not score in the last four of them and who could forget that moving 8-2 defeat in 2020, or the 7-0 aggregated victory in the semi-final of 2012-13. It will be Kane vs Lewandowski and a squat competition, but Bayern has Barcelona's song and I think they are again on the right side of history to reach the final.
Prediction: Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich
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