Football 5g2n52
Champions League 2024-25 Quarter-Finals: Top 5 Standout Performers and 5 Major Disappointments 4t161h
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The 2024-25 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals exceeded expectations, delivering eight action-packed matches over two legs. Here at SportsCasting, we have compiled a list of the best and worst players from the last eight.
Champions League 2024-25 Quarter-Finals: Quick Round-Up 6y5l6l
Arsenal 5-1 Real Madrid 5r6057
Real Madrid, who conquered Europe for a record-extending 15th time in 2024, squared off against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium for the first leg of their 2024-25 Champions League quarter-final. The Gunners produced a jaw-dropping display in north London, cruising to a 3-0 victory.
Los Blancos fancied themselves to make a comeback at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, but Arsenal, once again, came out on top. They sealed a 2-1 win in Madrid, progressing to the semi-finals with a 5-1 aggregate scoreline.
Inter Milan 4-3 Bayern Munich 3u2n5m
Inter Milan were at the top of their game in their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. In the German giants’ backyard, the Nerazzurri scored one goal each on either side of half time to secure a 2-1 victory.
The Bavarians needed to play a flawless game to overturn the deficit at San Siro. They came close, but Inter held firm, restricting them to a 2-2 draw. They qualified for the final four with a 4-3 aggregate victory.
Barcelona 5-3 Borussia Dortmund 5a5d70
One of the favourites for the 2024-25 Champions League campaign, Barcelona thoroughly dominated Borussia Dortmund in the first leg at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium. The Blaugrana secured a 4-0 win, all but guaranteeing their place in the semis.
Dortmund, however, refused to bow out with a whimper. They took the fight to the LaLiga side and secured a 3-1 victory. The Germans did lose 5-3 on aggregate, but their second-leg push was commendable.
PSG 5-4 Aston Villa 3d1l40
Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) had to dig deep to get the better of Unai Emery’s Aston Villa in the 2024-25 Champions League quarter-finals. In the first leg at the Parc des Princes, the Parisians came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory.
In the reverse fixture at Villa Park, the hosts came from two goals down to clinch a 3-2 victory. PSG moved on with a 5-4 aggregate victory, but had Villa been a tad more clinical, the Premier League would have had a representative in the Champions League final four.
5 Underperformers in Champions League 2024-25 Quarter-Finals 174j2i
#5 David Alaba (Real Madrid) 405f67
With Ferland Mendy out with an injury, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti deployed David Alaba as the left back against Arsenal. Since he used to thrive in that role at Bayern Munich, he should not have been uncomfortable out on the left.
Unfortunately for the Real Madrid faithful, that did not turn out to be the case, with Bukayo Saka toying with him in both games. Alaba was particularly disappointing in the second leg, as he brought Saka down with an unnecessarily heavy challenge in the fourth minute. The referee gave him a yellow card, forcing him to play with more caution for the remainder of the game. It made things easier for Saka, as the defender avoided making in the second leg.
#4 Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich) 5w3x1f
From superstardom to relative obscurity, Leroy Sane has gone through a bit of a rollercoaster in his career. At Bayern Munich, he has the chance to do something really special, to become one of the best forwards in the business.
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany expected Sane to bring his A-game to the quarter-final clash with Inter Milan, as it was the perfect place to make a statement. Unfortunately, the former Manchester City man could not capitalise, failing to deliver a performance of significance.
In the first leg, Sane neither created a chance nor managed to lodge an effort on target. He just played three es into the final third and lost three duels. The second leg was not any better, as he once again drew a creative blank and only tested the goalkeeper once. The 29-year-old also misplaced both his attempted crosses and could not create a goalscoring opportunity.
#3 Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa) 542438
One of the most highly rated goalkeepers in the world, Emiliano Martinez, was not at the top of his game in the Champions League quarter-finals. In the first leg, he conceded three goals despite facing an xGOT of 2.20. He also misplaced 11 of 19 long balls.
Villa needed a spotless performance in the second leg to proceed to the Champions League semi-finals. The goalkeeper seemingly did not get the memo, as he made a massive mistake just 11 minutes in. The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner spilt Bradley Barcola’s box inside the area, allowing Achraf Hakimi to turn it in. He also misplaced 11 of 12 attempted long balls.
#2 Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) 242ld
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham won the UEFA Champions League in his debut season, delivering world-class performances on cue. This season, he failed to live up to expectations, dropping the ball against Arsenal in both Champions League quarter-final matches.
In the first leg, he created a couple of chances and had just one effort on target. The Englishman had a tough time penetrating the box and lacked ingenuity. He talked up Madrid’s comeback chances ahead of the second leg, but could not walk the talk. His showing was even poorer in the second leg, as he lost possession two times, committed two fouls, created just one chance, and failed to test the goalkeeper.
#1 Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid) 30b5i
Fans expected great things when Real Madrid added Kylian Mbappe to the squad in July 2024. Now, standing at the business end of the season, the decision does not look as well thought-out as many had expected.
With Vinicius Junior doing well on the left flank, Mbappe has been trying to adapt to life in the middle. He has done a decent job in some games and fallen flat in others.
The Frenchman cut a frustrating figure in both quarter-final legs against Arsenal. He made some good runs in the first leg, but always lost his cool in the final third. At the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Mbappe failed to get any efforts on target, was out of position time and again, and could not put pressure on the Arsenal defence. A disappointment.
5 Best Performers in Champions League 2024-25 Quarter-Finals 4f2n1a
#5 Mikel Merino (Arsenal) k642v
Arsenal’s makeshift centre forward, Mikel Merino, was a handful for Real Madrid in the 2024-25 Champions League quarter-finals. Merino — a central midfielder by nature — drifted in and out of the box with ease, making it mighty difficult for Antonio Rudiger and Raul Asencio to track him.
In the first leg, Merino scored Arsenal’s insurance goal, dispatching a thumping, first-time effort to send Myles Lewis-Skelly’s cutback into the back of the net. In the second leg, Merino turned provider, sending Bukayo Saka through for the first goal and then, Gabriel Martinelli for the winner in injury time. Merino also won a penalty against Real Madrid, but Saka failed to convert.
#4 Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) 456m6q
Arguably the best striker in LaLiga at the moment, Robert Lewandowski was at the top of his game in the first leg of Barcelona’s Champions League quarter-final clash with Borussia Dortmund. The Polish striker put pressure on the Dortmund backline, penetrated the box at will, and scored two lovely goals, allowing Barca to take control of the tie.
Lewandowski scored his first goal in the 48th minute, nodding in Raphinha’s layoff from close range. Lewandowski struck against his former club once more in the 66th minute, applying a first-time finish to send Fermin Lopez’s delivery into the back of the net. He took six shots against Dortmund in the first leg, with five landing on target.
Lewandowski could not make an impact in the second leg, but the damage was already done.
#3 Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan) f5r1e
Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez led his team to a brilliant 4-3 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich. The Argentine striker was in extraordinary form in both legs, tormenting the defence with his mazy runs, sharp exchanges, and, of course, clinical finishing.
Martinez scored the first goal of the tie in the 38th minute of the first leg in Munich. The 27-year-old read Marcus Thuram’s intention and applied a clinical finish to send his flick into the back of the net.
Martinez once again led the way in the second leg, equalising for the Nerazzurri in the 58th minute. He pounced on Joshua Kimmich’s botched clearance and arrowed it into the back of the net. ‘El Toro’ also completed the most dribbles (5) and won a game-high 13 duels against Bayern at San Siro.
#2 Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund) 4m48f
Barcelona ran circles around Borussia Dortmund in their first-leg meeting in Spain, cruising to a 4-0 victory. In the second leg, Dortmund bounced back, giving the Blaugrana a real scare thanks to the brilliant Serhou Guirassy.
The talented striker landed the first blow in the 11th minute, beating Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny from the penalty spot. He waited for the goalkeeper to dive before dinking the ball straight down the middle. Four minutes into the second half, the striker struck again, heading in Ramy Bensebaini’s lay-off from close range.
He completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute, sending Ronald Araujo’s botched clearance into the back of the net. His performance gave Dortmund a glimmer of hope, but Barca somehow held on to come away with a victory.
#1 Declan Rice (Arsenal) 5b122p
Arsenal midfield maestro Declan Rice delivered two back-to-back Man of the Match-winning performances against Real Madrid in the 2024-25 Champions League quarter-finals. In the first leg, the Englishman scored from two unstoppable free-kicks, giving world-class goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois no chance whatsoever. Rice became the first player in history to score two free-kicks in a Champions League knockout game.
Rice could not score or assist in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, but he outmuscled and outsmarted Los Blancos’ highly rated midfield. He completed 96% of his es, created two chances, and made five interceptions. A remarkable showing.