UCL Update: Tension in Madrid, Calm at the Emirates ahead of second leg encounter

Champions League quarterfinals heat up as Arsenal, PSG, Barça & Inter eye semis. Real Madrid plot comeback, Bayern face tough test vs Inter Milan.

Ahead of the second leg fixtures across four grounds we take a look at the mind games, the permutations and readiness level of the participating teams. (Photo credit: BBC)

It’s the Champions League crucial week for the quarterfinals with European giants trying to fight for a place in the last four, and we just love to see it.

In the real sense of it, while three of the four fixtures look to have been effectively decided, everyone knows stranger things have happened, and none of the teams with supposed healthy leads will take anything for granted as they head into the second legs.

The one with the loudest noise online since the first leg last week is the game between Real Madrid and Arsenal at the Santiago Bernabéu; a lot has been said in the media, but one thing we have learnt from the gymnastics from the home side is that they’re afraid of Arsenal.

One half of the discussion tilts towards disrespect as they feel the 15-time champions are too big to be knocked out by a side that has never won the Champions League, while the other half stays arrogant at how strongly they believe the Los Blancos can wipe out the deficit and go on to win the game.

For Arsenal, the Gunners have been calm about it. No one saw their first leg performance coming, and while they’re huge favourites for the second leg, they have been humble in the media and just want to face the second leg without noise.

This makes it a lot more fun, the banter and the expectations from neutrals. It’s a game to look out for, and beyond the theatrics in the media, it’s a game that would define Arsenal’s season and also have lots of bearing on Carlo Ancelotti’s future at Real Madrid.

PSG beat Aston Villa 3-1 at Parc des Princes. It’s not entirely done, but Luis Henrique’s side has the advantage; more of what they did in the first leg, and they would be ready to pick up their semifinal ticket on their way out of Villa Park.

Watch out for the luxury of talents available to PSG on the wings; they are so rich they could afford to sit Bradley Barcola and Lee Kang on the bench. Aston Villa must manage the game well enough, score the first goal and be brave. They cannot defend deficits.

Barcelona are the most comfortable among the lots; their 4-0 first leg lead is enough, but again, stranger things have happened, but it would take more than luck for Borussia Dortmund to overturn the first leg result. It’s safe to say Barcelona is waiting for their opponent in the second leg.

Bayern Munich lost at home to Inter Milan 2-1, but the game is still delicately poised. The Germans hope to return the favour in Italy, but they would need to do what most teams haven’t been able to do in the Champions League this season, which is to score against Inter Milan. Good luck to the Germans.