Arsenal and Aston Villa ease through as Dortmund mount comeback to reach Champions League quarters

Arsenal and Aston Villa cruised into the Champions League quarter-finals, while Borussia Dortmund staged a comeback to secure their place in the last eight.

Arsenal set up Real Madrid showdown after dominant display

Arsenal confirmed their place in the Champions League quarter-finals with a 9-3 aggregate victory over PSV Eindhoven, despite being held to a 2-2 draw at the Emirates on 12 March. The outcome was already beyond doubt after Arsenal's 7-1 thrashing of the Dutch side in the first leg, and Oleksandr Zinchenko's stunning strike in the fifth minute only reinforced their dominance.

PSV responded through Ivan Perisic's fine finish in the 18th minute, but Declan Rice restored Arsenal's lead before the break, heading in Raheem Sterling's pinpoint cross. Couhaib Driouech chipped in a deserved equaliser for PSV in the 70th minute, though the tie had long been settled. Luuk de Jong nearly snatched a late winner for the visitors, but his stoppage-time header drifted wide.

Mikel Arteta's side progressed to the quarter-finals for the second consecutive season, but they will be without Sterling in the first leg against Real Madrid after the winger received a booking for a reckless challenge late on.

Aston Villa set up quarter-final clash with PSG

Aston Villa breezed past Club Brugge with a 3-0 second-leg victory at Villa Park, completing a 6-1 aggregate triumph to reach the last eight for the first time in more than 40 years. Marco Asensio, on loan from PSG, played a starring role off the bench, scoring twice in the second half after Brugge were reduced to ten men in the 16th minute when Kyriani Sabbe brought down Marcus Rashford.

Ian Maatsen added a second goal for Unai Emery's side before Asensio completed his brace with a composed finish from a Rashford cutback. The Spaniard has now scored seven times for Villa since joining in early February.

John McGinn acknowledged the scale of their next challenge, as they prepare to face PSG, who knocked out Liverpool on penalties. "They're frightening over two legs, so it's going to be really tough," the Villa captain admitted. "But Aston Villa are Champions League quarter-finalists – we can't ask for much more right now, and we'll strive for more."

Dortmund fight back to knock out Lille

Borussia Dortmund came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory at Lille, progressing to the quarter-finals with a 3-2 aggregate win. Jonathan David gave Lille an early lead in the fifth minute, capitalising on a mistake from Gregor Kobel, but Dortmund responded strongly after the break.

Emre Can converted a penalty in the 54th minute to bring the visitors level after Serhou Guirassy was fouled, before Maximilian Beier fired in the winner in the 65th minute with a precise finish into the top corner.

Lille, who had qualified directly for the last 16 with impressive wins over Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, fell short in their bid to reach the quarter-finals for the first time. Their frustration was evident, with Benjamin Andre admitting, "We were panicking. They played their game, and it was enough for them to go through."

Dortmund will now face Barcelona in the quarter-finals, as they look to improve on last season's runner-up finish.