By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 19:02 EDT, 12 March 2025 | Updated: 19:02 EDT, 12 March 2025
MADRID (AP) - The Champions League quarterfinals bracket was set Wednesday, and it sends Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain toward more English teams standing in their path of the title.
Madrid's beat city rival Atletico Madrid in a penalty shootout in the round of 16 on Wednesday - after Atletico's 1-0 win tied the aggregate score at 2-2 - having already eliminated Manchester City in the new knockout playoffs round last month.
Defending champion Madrid now faces Arsenal - which beat PSV Eindhoven - with the first leg in London on April 8 or 9. The return game is on April 15 or 16.
PSG's reward for eliminating top-seeded Liverpool on Tuesday is playing Aston Villa with the first leg in Paris. The winner over two legs will play Arsenal or Madrid in the semifinals. That could yet be a clash of Kylian Mbappé's past and present clubs.
Borussia Dortmund rallied to beat Lille on Wednesday and will reunite with former star forward Robert Lewandowski and Barcelona in the quarterfinals, starting in Spain.
Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, which both advanced Tuesday, meet in the quarterfinals for a rematch of the 2010 final won by the Italian champion.
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after winning the penalty shootout during the Champions League round of 16, second leg, soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
The first leg on April 8 or 9 is at Bayern's stadium that also stages the final on May 31.
Arsenal vs Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain vs. Aston Villa, Barcelona vs. Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich vs. Inter Milan.
First-leg games are on April 8 or 9 and return games are one week later.
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Real Madrid players celebrate after winning the penalty shootout during the Champions League round of 16, second leg, soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
PSG's Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring during the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)