Champions League: Liverpool faced a disappointing elimination at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, while Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan advanced in the tournament.
The Reds suffered their first European defeat of the season at a critical juncture, as PSG stunned the top-seeded team in a tense penalty shootout on Tuesday at Anfield.
With Ousmane Dembélé scoring in the first half, PSG capitalized on their away goal, overcoming Liverpool’s earlier 1-0 victory in Paris.
Here are three key insights from Tuesday’s matches:
Liverpool’s defeat was no fluke
Liverpool has no one to blame but themselves for failing to protect their hard-earned advantage from the first leg. Despite having multiple opportunities, they could not convert their chances into goals.
The Reds unleashed 19 shots on PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, yet the Italian goalkeeper and the woodwork thwarted their efforts. Remarkably, Donnarumma only needed to make three saves throughout the 120 minutes of play at Anfield.
This loss is a significant setback for Liverpool, especially as they are on track to secure their second English title since 1990, holding a commanding 15-point lead in the Premier League.
On the other hand, PSG’s victory is a remarkable achievement, especially after the departure of their star player Kylian Mbappé earlier this season.
If PSG can maintain this momentum, they could be on the verge of clinching their first European title in Munich on May 31.
All-world Lamine Yamal leads Barça past Benfica
Barcelona entered the decisive match against Benfica with determination, having secured a crucial 1-0 win in Portugal despite playing most of that game with only ten players. They came fresh off an emotionally charged weekend, with their La Liga match against Osasuna postponed due to the sudden passing of their club doctor, Carles Miñarro.
The spotlight shone brightly on 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, who dazzled the crowd with an impressive cutback to assist Raphinha’s opening goal just ten minutes into the match.
Yamal quickly responded to Benfica’s equalizer, scoring a spectacular solo goal before halftime, showcasing his immense talent.
Raphinha extended the aggregate score to 4-1 before the break, but Yamal remained the standout performer of the night.
Speculation surrounded Yamal’s next move after his success with the Spanish national team in the Euros last year. His continued excellence on the field confirms his status as one of the world’s top young talents.
Businesslike Bayern; Inter ends Feyenoord’s run
Bayern Munich played a measured game against Bayer Leverkusen, the current Bundesliga champions, having already secured a 3-0 lead in the first leg. They opted for a cautious approach in the first half, with neither team scoring in the opening 45 minutes.
Once it was clear the outcome was settled, Bayern unleashed their offense, adding goals from Harry Kane and Alphonso Davies to finish with a commanding 5-0 aggregate victory.
In Italy, Inter Milan took a dominant 3-0 aggregate lead over Feyenoord, who managed to score once. However, Hakan Çalhanoğlu quickly restored Inter’s three-goal advantage early in the second half, sealing Feyenoord’s fate.
With these results, Bayern and Inter are set to clash in the quarterfinals next month.
