Liverpool through, but Newcastle and Spurs out as Champions League quarter-finals are confirmed

LIVERPOOL WILL TAKE on defending champions Paris Saint-Germain at the quarter-final stage this season, a rematch of last year’s knockout tie where the French side won on penalties at Anfield.

The conclusion of the second leg ties in the last 16 stage tonight finalised the quarter-final pairings.

Arne Slot’s side progressed with a thumping 4-0 victory at home to Galatasaray, and their reward is a rematch with Paris Saint-Germain, conquerors of Chelsea last night.

Arne Slot’s side overturned a one-goal first-leg deficit and provided a stirring response to their growing number of critics.

Dominik Szoboszlai started the rout with a training-ground corner routine, but they should have led by more at half-time after Mohamed Salah had a penalty saved. 

Three goals inside 11 minutes from Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch and, eventually, Salah – becoming the first African player to score 50 Champions League goals – put them through to face PSG, who a year ago eliminated Liverpool on penalties.

Meanwhile, Tottenham bowed out after a rip-roaring last-16 second leg with Atlético Madrid, where Xavi Simons’ brace helped them to a first home victory in two months.

Spurs had lurched from one crisis to another in 2026 and a shambolic 5-2 loss in Madrid last week left Igor Tudor on the brink.

A spirited 1-1 draw at Liverpool on Sunday restored belief and the north London club clawed back more pride tonight despite a 7-5 aggregate defeat.

Randal Kolo Muani’s 30th-minute opener gave Tottenham a glimmer of hope before Julian Alvarez levelled early in the second half for Atlético.

Simons replied immediately to increase optimism, but David Hancko’s 75th-minute equaliser virtually put the tie to bed.

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There was still time for Simons to score a spot-kick in stoppage time to end Spurs’ eight-match winless run with a 3-2 victory and extend an unbeaten home record in Europe to 25 matches.

And in the other game involving an English side, Newcastle’s Champions League dream was killed off as Barcelona survived a first-half fright to book a quarter-final place in style.

37-year-old Robert Lewandowski hit the Magpies with a quick-fire double before Brazilian Raphinha struck to seal a 7-2 win on the night – a 13th on the trot since their return to the Nou Camp – and an 8-3 aggregate victory on a night when Eddie Howe’s side imploded.

Anthony Elanga’s first-half brace had cancelled out Raphinha’s early opener and Marc Bernal’s free header, but Lamine Yamal’s stoppage-time penalty opened the floodgates with Fermin Lopez, Lewandowski and Raphinha again doing the damage.

Here’s the full breakdown of the quarter-final pairings and the permutations for the semi-finals.

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Champions League Draw

Quarter-finals

(First legs 7-8 April, second legs 14-15 April)

• Paris Saint-Germain v Liverpool
• Real Madrid v Bayern Munich
• Barcelona v Atlético Madrid
• Sporting CP v Arsenal

Semi-finals

(First legs 28-29 April, 5-6 May)

• Paris Saint-Germain/Liverpool v Real Madrid/Bayern Munich
• Barcelona/Atlético Madrid v Sporting CP/Arsenal

Final

Saturday 30 May – Puskás Arena, Budapest.

Written by Fintan O’Toole and the Press Association, and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.