The Champions League: Absolute Cinema

Tyler Stearns |

The majesty of the Champions League can't be beat. There is a reason why every team in Europe fights so hard to qualify for the prestigious competition. The aura that UCL nights give off is immense. The biggest stars on the biggest teams always perform.

Real Madrid, Via BBC

This year's Champions League quarterfinal draw was everything the competition should be. It was slightly unfortunate we had to watch Manchester City play Real Madrid in the early stage of the tournament, but of course, both legs still delivered. We witnessed nearly six Puskas-worthy goals being scored in the first leg at the Bernabeu. In the second match, Real Madrid's low block and Manchester City's dominant possession were the main tactical observations. Madrid prevailed and the European kings are going back to the UCL semifinals.

Arsenal versus Bayern was not as exciting, but still a great matchup. Similar to Madrid, Bayern played a low block in both games. Their defense proved to be more successful at the Allianz Arena than it was at the Emirates. For Arsenal, their lack of clinical finishers truly hurt them. Their defenders were not the wall that they have been in 2024 either. All of these factors pushed Bayern to the next round.

Dortmund and Atlético Madrid was another amazing matchup. After Madrid's 2-1 win at home, a 4-2 thriller ensued in Dortmund as BVB continued their thrilling push towards the UCL trophy.

Barcelona versus Paris Saint-Germain was an interesting draw. The first game in Paris ended in an upset with Barcelona heading back to Montjuic with a 3-2 lead on aggregate. However, in the second leg, spotty refereeing and a distraught Blaugrana allowed PSG to capitalize and make a push towards their first-ever Champions League title. It seems likely that they will at least make the final, considering they play Borussia Dortmund, arguably the weakest team of the final four.

Last year's quarterfinals were nowhere near as fun as these matchups. We saw two insane comebacks, one blockbuster that delivered yet again, and a defensive showdown. We saw brilliant managers go head to head and better players shine in the spotlight. Time will tell how the tournament will end up, but Real Madrid is the heavy favorite to take home their fifteenth prize.