Premier League leaders Arsenal on Tuesday ended a 14-year wait for a place in the Uefa Champions League quarter finals by beating twice winners FC Porto 4-2 in a penalty shoot out. The hotly contested tie went into extra time when Leandro Trossard converted Martin Odegaard’s peach of a pass to cancel out the 1987 and 2004 champions’ 1-0 first leg lead from Estadio do Dragao.
Up stepped David Raya whose selection as the Emirates Stadium number one in place of England international Aaron Ramsdale ruffled feathers. The Spaniard, who is on loan from Brentford, justified manager Mikel Arteta’s belief in his custodial powers by saving two spot kicks in the penalty shoot out to propel the Gunners into Friday’s draw for the first time at the eighth attempt.
The Gunners were joined in the last eight by five time winners Barcelona, 3-1 winners over ousted Italian champions Napoli. Goals from Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo gave Xavi Hernandez’s Blaugrana a 2-1 halftime lead before Robert Lewandowski struck after the breather to secure passage for the 1992, 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015 tournament winners.
Serie A runaway leaders Inter Milan on Wednesday night defend a 1-0 first leg lead at Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano. Simone Inzaghi’s Nerrazzuri are hot favourites to qualify for the last eight because they have won 13 consecutive matches while Diego Simeone’s Atleti must bounce back from Saturday’s 0-2 upset defeat at the hands of Cadiz.
1997 titlists Borussia Dortmund welcome 1988 winners PSV Eindhoven to Signal Iduna Park with the tie delicately poised after the two sides cancelled each other out 1-1 in the first leg. Former Philips Stadium favourite Donyel Malen will be the go to player for Edin Terzic’s Black and Yellows while Dutch Eredivisie top scorer Luuk de Jong is the man to watch for Peter Bosz’s visitors.
RESULTS
Arsenal 1-0 FC Porto (Arsenal win 4-2 on pens),
Barcelona 3-1 Napoli
TODAY
Borussia Dortmund v PSV Eindhoven,
Atletico Madrid v Inter Milan
