General view of the UEFA Champions League logo. /CFP
In a twist of fate, Inter Milan suffered this year's first defeat, and it came at a heavy cost.
Prior to this week, penalty shootouts in the UEFA Champions League had been a rarity since 2016. However, within a span of two days, two penalty shootouts took place, the first being Arsenal's nerve-wracking triumph over Porto in the last-16 tie on Tuesday night.
Trailing by a solitary goal from the first leg, Atletico Madrid seemed destined for elimination when Inter's Federico Dimarco slotted in the opener. Nevertheless, Antoine Griezmann swiftly leveled the score for the hosts, and just three minutes before the end of the regulation 90 minutes, substitute Memphis Depay clinched a 2-2 draw and forced the tie into extra time with a splendidly executed low finish.
Atletico Madrid's players celebrate victory at the end of their clash with Inter Milan at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, March 13, 2024. /CFP
This set the stage for the decisive penalty shootout. Unfortunately for Inter, who have been in exceptional form and hold a commanding 16-point lead at the top of Serie A, their captain Lautaro Martinez faltered, sending his spot-kick way off target, resulting in Atletico securing a spot in the quarterfinals at the expense of last season's runners-up.
As Atletico Madrid continue their unbeaten streak of 17 knockout matches on their home turf, Borussia Dortmund also revel in the triumph of their round of 16 victory over PSV Eindhoven on the same night.
The lively Jadon Sancho, on loan from Manchester United, propelled Dortmund ahead with a powerful low shot from the edge of the penalty area in the third minute. Then, in the dying moments of stoppage time, substitute Marco Reus capitalized on a PSV error and confidently finished a one-on-one opportunity against the opposing goalkeeper Walter Benitez, effectively sealing the tie in Dortmund's favor.
Dortmund's Jadon Sancho celebrates after scoring the opening goal during their clash with PSV Eindhoven at the Signal Iduna stadium in Dortmund, Germany, March 13, 2024. /CFP
As the curtains fell on the last-16 stage on Wednesday night, the quarterfinal line-up took shape with a strong presence from Europe's top leagues. Three Spanish giants, two English powerhouses, two German titans, and one French contender have all earned their places in the last eight of this season's showpiece event.
Reigning champions Manchester City booked their spot in the next round, triumphing over FC Copenhagen with convincing 3-1 victories in both legs. Paris Saint-Germain, led by the impressive Kylian Mbappe, edged out Real Sociedad, with Mbappe's three goals across the two matches proving decisive.
Bayern Munich displayed their resilience, overturning a 1-0 loss in Rome to thrash Lazio 3-0 at the Allianz Arena, courtesy of two goals from England skipper Harry Kane. Barcelona, guided by Bayern's former talisman Robert Lewandowski, secured victory against Napoli, with Lewandowski finding the back of the net in both legs.
Last but not least, the storied behemoth Real Madrid, with their illustrious history of 15 European titles, also punched their ticket to the last eight with a narrow win in Leipzig and a draw at the Bernabeu.
The UEFA Champions League draw is set to take place on Friday. /CFP
When is the Champions League draw?
The highly anticipated draw for the quarterfinals, as well as the subsequent stages of this tournament, is set to take place on Friday at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. In a departure from previous rounds, teams from the same nation will not be kept apart, adding an extra element of unpredictability and excitement to the proceedings.
Additionally, there will be no seedings, meaning that all teams will have an equal chance of being matched up against any opponent. Football fans around the world would eagerly await the unveiling of the quarterfinal matchups, as well as the subsequent draws for the semifinals and the final. This pivotal event will enable supporters to visualize the potential paths their beloved teams may take on their quest for glory.
The UEFA Champions League trophy on display. /CFP
When will the quarterfinals ties be played?
The quarterfinals will unfold with the first legs taking place on April 9 and 10, followed by the second legs a week later on April 16 and 17. As the tournament progresses, the stakes will only get higher. The excitement builds for the semifinals, with the first legs scheduled for April 30 and May 1, and the return legs set for May 7 and 8.
The pinnacle of European club football, the final, will grace London's iconic Wembley Stadium on June 1. This unique opportunity to compete in club football's biggest game on home soil could serve as an additional incentive for teams like Arsenal and Manchester City.