Bayern Munich and Real Madrid will face each other again, this time in Munich, in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. With a 1-2 deficit from a week ago at the Santiago Bernabéu, the whites are looking to come back at the Allianz Arena to reach the Champions League semi-finals and continue aspiring to some title, since they are eliminated from the Copa del Rey and have been completely left behind in the league title race.

It couldn't be. Here are some hot takes.

It wasn't meant to be. Barça, eliminated from the Champions League after falling just short of a comeback (1-2). Despite finishing with ten players, the Catalans pushed until the end. Here are some immediate thoughts.

An expulsion for Eric García in the 79th minute awoke the same ghosts that had haunted Barça in the first leg when Pau Cubarsí suffered the same cruel outcome. Once again, a VAR review punished the azulgranas, penalized with one less player and seeing the dream of a comeback, which they had earned through sheer effort after a great first half, vanish. The goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres excited all of Barcelonismo, guided by the faith of a Gavi who, like the entire Barça, gave his all at the Metropolitano. But it was not enough, because all the details of the tie against Atlético de Madrid have ended up punishing the faith of a Catalan team that falls with its head held high (1-2). Lamine Yamal and Ferran started the path, making people believe that a comeback, which would end up being confirmed as impossible, could be achieved, until Lookman's goal (1-2) and Eric's expulsion changed the narrative of the night.

There is a veteran guide at Old Trafford who, when you reach the changing rooms of the imposing Manchester United stadium, stops in front of a mirror and likes to make this joke: "This is where Cristiano Ronaldo used to have a good time looking at himself in the mirror before each match," he says to the complicit smile of the tourists taking part in the tour. The Portuguese star was the first to love himself and to make it known, with more than one unfortunate statement: "They envy me because I'm handsome and rich." Represented by Jorge Mendes, he became a global star at United, first, and then at Real Madrid.Cristiano, not always easy to manage in the dressing room, reached 100 professional matches at twenty years old (19 years and 348 days) and with two trophies, a Super Cup with Sporting Portugal and an FA Cup with the Manchester team. Leo Messi did it at 20 years and 248 days and with five titles, including two Leagues and a Champions League. Lamine Yamal reached this figure much earlier: 17 years and 292 days, with a League and a European Championship under his belt. Now, at just 18 years old, he is on his way to winning his third League, as well as having won a Cup and two more Super Cups, and being Spain's star for the World Cup. Before reaching adulthood, he had already become a star. With all that it entails.

István Kovács's controversial performance at the Camp Nou opened a can of worms. Hansi Flick complained after the match about the refereeing errors that, according to the German coach, had conditioned the match, and Barça filed a formal complaint with UEFA to denounce that the Romanian referee's decisions "influenced the development and the outcome of the match". In this scenario of maximum tension, Roberto Rosetti, head of European refereeing, was obliged to bet on a safe bet for the return leg at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. When it comes to saving the furniture, there are 2 names on the table: the Frenchman Clément Turpin and the Pole Szymon Marciniak. The latter, however, officiated the Inter Milan-Barça Champions League semi-final last season and his performance caused a lot of controversy. Therefore, the choice was practically reduced to a single name: Turpin, who, curiously, had already refereed the first leg of the same tie between the Catalans and the Lombards at Montjuïc, which ended 3-3.

Barça put in the heart and football, but a cowardly Atlético de Madrid knew how to get oil from their visit to the Camp Nou (0-2). With two goals in barely three shots on target, the Colchoneros punished a blaugrana team that had to play the entire second half with one less player due to Pau Cubarsí's expulsion in the 43rd minute. The fans flocked to the stadium en masse, hopeful and excited about a group of players who have often made them happy with comebacks and thrashings, but this time the outcome was very cruel.

After losing in Mallorca (2-1) on Saturday and practically saying goodbye to La Liga with Barça seven points behind with eight matchdays left in the championship, Bayern Munich deepened the wound by storming the Santiago Bernabéu (1-2) in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. Luis Díaz, in the 41st minute, and Harry Kane, right at the start of the second half, were the goalscorers for the team managed by Vincent Kompany, who failed to seize the opportunity and let a team relying on the inspiration of Kylian Mbappé, scorer of the white goal, leave alive.

Words are running out to describe this team. The Barça women's team has once again made history, both on and off the field. Pere Romeu's squad has gathered 60,067 people at the Camp Nou – an absolute record since returning to the stadium, for both men's and women's teams –, Alexia Putellas has reached 500 matches with the blaugrana jersey and, on the field, has once again thrashed – and crucified – Real Madrid, for the third time in a week. 6-0 at the end of 90 minutes in Barcelona and 12-2 on aggregate in the tie. Barça advances with a firm step to the semifinals for the eighth consecutive season and will face Bayern Munich.

“Alexia is Barça”. That is how Irene Paredes and Patri Guijarro – two of the captains – summarize Alexia Putellas. Almost 5,000 days after wearing the Barça jersey for the first time, the Mollet native has once again made history at the Camp Nou, where she has reached 500 games in the blaugrana shirt. This is yet another example of what a key player represents in the growth of the Catalan club. When Alexia debuted with Barça on August 24, 2012 – after playing for Espanyol and Levante to grow and establish herself in the First Division –, Barça had not yet played any Champions League matches, had just won their first league title – now they are on their way to their eleventh – and only had two Cups in their trophy cabinet – on May 16th, they could lift their twelfth.

Barça is once again a victim of the FIFA virus. Raphinha suffers an injury to the right thigh's femoral biceps and will be out for around five weeks, as confirmed by Barça after the medical tests carried out by the Brazilian national team. The player was withdrawn injured from the friendly he played on Thursday with Brazil after feeling a twinge in the back of his right leg and will return to Barcelona in the coming hours to begin his recovery. ARA had already reported that the footballer's initial sensations were not good at all and everything pointed to a muscle tear. The club is unhappy with the calendar for scheduling friendly matches at this point in the season when teams are fighting for titles.

Barça reached the Champions League quarterfinals in style. After a hard-fought first half, the Catalans steamrolled a Newcastle side that crumbled like ice cubes in a sensational second half (7-2). Here are some immediate observations.

Barça soars in Europe. With a deluge of goals that overwhelmed Newcastle, Hansi Flick's team transformed their doubts into dreams. It had been years since a Champions League rout like this (7-2) had been seen, with a second half that left everyone in disbelief. And it didn't even take the best performances of Lamine Yamal and Pedri to achieve a result that serves as a warning to others. If teams like PSG or Bayern can rack up big wins in Europe, Barça can too.

A penalty in stoppage time, awarded for a foul on Dani Olmo, salvaged a point for a very erratic Barça in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie (1-1). Lamine Yamal converted the spot kick with precision, preventing another comeback at the Camp Nou. When the defeat seemed insurmountable and deserved, Newcastle were left reeling when Thiaw brought down the Terrassa native in the final play of a match that, at times, stirred up ghosts of the past and should give Hansi Flick pause for thought ahead of next week's return leg.

Barça now knows its path to the Champions League final, which this season will be held in Budapest on May 30. After narrowly missing out on last season's final in a heartbreaking tie against Inter Milan, the Catalan club will be looking to reach a European final again eleven years later. But to achieve this, they will first have to overcome Newcastle, another tough opponent. "It's a draw where we could have faced two very different teams, but both have their difficulties. Newcastle is a tough side, and it's a difficult ground where we've already struggled," said sporting director Deco from Switzerland.

Real Madrid won the first leg of the first leg of the play-off Real Madrid secured a Champions League victory at Benfica's stadium thanks to a brilliant goal from Vinícius (0-1). The Brazilian was once again the center of attention, both for his skill and the controversy that usually surrounds him. After scoring the opening goal in the 50th minute, he went to celebrate in the corner with his usual exuberance, prompting criticism from Benfica fans. It was at that moment that Vinícius reported a racist insult from Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni, which immediately triggered the anti-racism protocol and forced the match to be stopped for almost 10 minutes. According to Vinícius, the Benfica player hurled a racist insult at him while he was celebrating the goal in front of the stands, although the Argentine covered his mouth with his shirt. Prestianni, however, vehemently denied the allegations and claimed he had received threats from Real Madrid players. Mbappé backed up his teammate's version of events after the match: "I've seen him call Vinícius a 'monkey' five times. He's a racist, he doesn't deserve to ever play in the Champions League again," he exclaimed.

"I could call Mourinho at three in the morning and he'd answer." That's what Álvaro Arbeloa said before visiting Benfica's stadium on the final matchday of the Champions League group stage. It was a crazy match that went to the home side (4-2) with a goal from goalkeeper Trubin in the 98th minute, which secured the Portuguese team's place in the round of 32 (a 3-2 victory would have eliminated them on goal difference). Real Madrid's defeat – combined with the other results of the day – also dropped them from third to ninth place and forced them to play this qualifying round to reach the round of 16. The draw has paired Arbeloa with Mourinho once again. The first leg will be on February 17th or 18th at the Estádio da Luz, while the return leg will be on February 24th or 25th at the Bernabéu.

"Why?" This is the question on the minds of many Real Madrid fans after their 4-2 defeat at Benfica, which left them outside the top eight in the Champions League. The script for the final European night was worthy of an Oscar-nominated film. Barça came from behind to beat Copenhagen 4-1 and finish fifth, while Mourinho, the special oneHe won the battle against Álvaro Arbeloa, forcing Real Madrid to play two more matches if they want to reach the round of 16. With Real Madrid in ninth place, Bodø/Glimt – who come into this match after beating Manchester City (3-1) and Atlético Madrid (1-2) – or José Mourinho's Benfica are the likely opponents for Los Blancos in the round of 32. The draw takes place this Friday.

Job done. Throughout the group stage, Barça conceded many goals and suffered setbacks... but they qualified for the top eight, as was necessary. The defeat against PSG and Araujo's red card in London are now a distant memory. Finishing in the top eight was essential, and they achieved it with a match that perfectly encapsulates the team's Champions League campaign: conceding goals, enduring hardship, but ultimately overcoming adversity with brilliance.

Barça has established itself as a true attacking machine. With 87 goals in all competitions, it is the second-highest scoring team in Europe, only behind Bayern Munich (92). It also ranks second in chance creation, surpassed only by Real Madrid. However, this offensive prowess contrasts sharply with a persistent defensive fragility, especially evident in the Champions League. The data not only corroborates this perception but also reveals a worrying pattern that distances the Blaugrana from the defensive standards demanded of top European contenders. In the top continental competition, Barça has conceded 13 goals, an average of 1.9 goals conceded per game, without managing a single clean sheet. This figure is particularly significant considering that all of the goals have come from inside the penalty area, a clear indicator of problems defending vulnerable zones. In total, the team faced 74 shots on goal, a high exposure for a team aspiring to compete with the best.