There are some new faces in the Champions League quarter-finals, and some not so new.
While Aston Villa lifted the trophy in 1982 when it was named the European Cup, this is the first time they have entered the tournament under its current guise. They are, therefore, Champions League quarter-final first-timers.
They face Paris-Saint Germain in the last eight, who, to everyone’s surprise, must now be considered among the firm favourites to lift the trophy for the first time.
Elsewhere, Barcelona must be considered favourites against Borussia Dortmund, though last year’s losing finalists have a happy knack of progressing deep in the tournament. The winners of that quarter-final will face Bayern Munich or Inter, two European giants.
But, of course, Real Madrid are the most likely team to lift it again. They have a striker-less Arsenal in the quarters, the English side having dropped off significantly in the Premier League in recent weeks.
Win that and Madrid would face either PSG or Villa. And, no matter how good their opponents are, it’s Real Madrid in the Champions League: as Wednesday proved, they just win.
Champions League Briefing: Breaking down a bizarre shootout as Real Madrid go through
