(foto: UEFA)
Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid renew their rivalry in a tense Champions League clash, Aston Villa eyes quarter-finals, and Arsenal enjoys a comfortable advantage as PSV faces an impossible task.
The second leg of the Champions League last 16 continues tonight, featuring four decisive clashes, headlined by the intense Madrid derby between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.
In France, Lille hosts Borussia Dortmund after a 1-1 first-leg draw. Lille, coached by Bruno Genesio, must leverage their strong defence and passionate home fans to contain Dortmund’s dangerous attack. Dortmund, meanwhile, aim to secure a vital away victory despite struggling in Germany.
The winner of this match will advance to face Barcelona, who secured their quarter-final berth already.
Aston Villa enter their home leg against Club Brugge confidently after winning 3-1 in Belgium. Unai Emery’s men impressed offensively in the first leg and are favourites to advance. Brugge must score early to have any realistic chance of overturning the tie. The winner faces PSG, who eliminated Liverpool.
The standout fixture tonight is the Madrid derby, with Atletico seeking revenge after losing 2-1 in the first leg at Santiago Bernabeu. Carlo Ancelotti’s side has the advantage, but Atletico thrives under pressure. Real Madrid will rely on stars such as Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo.
Meanwhile, Arsenal host PSV Eindhoven with the outcome essentially decided after their 7-1 win in the Netherlands. Mikel Arteta’s team will likely rest key players, while PSV, according to Opta's supercomputer, faces virtually no chance of a comeback.
The quarter-final stage is already shaping up, with PSG awaiting Villa or Brugge, Bayern Munich facing Inter Milan, and Barcelona matched against the winner between Lille and Dortmund.