Atlético started with enthusiasm. After Sabitzer lost the ball, Alvaro Morata raced towards the five-yard box, where his shot was blocked for a corner. Less than two minutes later, Rodrigo de Ball took the lead after a terrible mistake by Dortmund when he played out. Ian Matsen practically put the ball on the outside of his foot for Argentina in front of his own penalty area, who then enjoyed it with ease.
From then on, Atlético put the Germans under constant pressure, with BVB finding no attack at the Estadio Metropolitano until just before the end of the first half. Morata scored with a header from Antoine Griezmann's corner in the 19th minute, but was unable to place the ball at a slight angle. Griezmann served Samuel Lino well in the 32nd minute before making it 2-0 before the Brazilian pushed over unchallenged. Before this the Black and Yellows made another mistake.
Dortmund looked to improve after the break but were unable to find a way through the tight net created by the hosts. One of the few exceptions was the scene before 1:2, when substitute Sébastien Haller was lucky to get the ball in the penalty area. The striker didn't hesitate long after that and in the 81st minute gave BVB a great opening position before the second leg. ÖFB teammate Sabitzer was replaced in the 84th minute after a solid performance. Moments later, Jamie Byno-Gittens and Julian Brandt hit the crossbar.
The home side were also the dominant side at the start of the second leg, but PSG couldn't get anything lasting. After about 20 minutes, Barcelona got the better of the game and an even exchange was created – with little advantage for the visitors. In the 37th minute, after PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma's foul, Rabina scored from the right spot in the penalty area to make it 1-0.
A double strike from Ousmane Dembele (48') and Vidinha (51') changed the score after the break, but the lead did not last long. First, Rafinha scored with a volley into the bottom left corner of the goal in the 62nd minute, then birthday boy Andreas Christensen (77th) headed in two minutes later to make it 3-2.
FC Barcelona are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since August 2020. At the time there was a 2:8 rejection from eventual champions Bayern Munich. This time Coach Xavi's team has a real chance of making it to the semi-finals.
