Summary

  1. 'Everton's team still needs some serious strengthening'published at 13:53 British Summer Time 15 April

    Phil McNulty Q&A

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    G: Hi Phil, I’d like your answer to a question posted for Everton fans. Would you extend Doucoure’s contract? I’m firmly in the camp of thanks for everything but time to move on.

    Hello, G. Sounds a bit like fence-sitting but I think you’d need to know what alternatives are out there before deciding on that – and what Doucoure would want of course.

    I’d certainly think long and hard about it because he is 32. I would be tempted to give Idrissa Gueye a deal before Doucoure, even though he is 36 in September.

    David Moyes may have ideas of his own because, despite the upturn since he arrived, Everton’s team still needs some serious strengthening.

    Abdoulaye Doucoure of Everton celebratesImage source, Getty Images
  2. 'I expect Liverpool to buy a left-back this summer'published at 13:47 British Summer Time 15 April

    Phil McNulty Q&A

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    Michael: What have you made of Andy Robertson’s performances this season? His form seems to have fallen off a cliff. Been really poor. Do you think time has caught up with him?

    Hi, Michael. I wouldn’t say his form has fallen off a cliff but he has not been at his best and I suspect left-back is a position Liverpool will look to strengthen as Andrew Robertson is 31 now.

    He has been a magnificent player for Liverpool, winning all the big prizes, so I wouldn’t be writing him off. I do expect Liverpool, however, to buy a left-back this summer.

    Andy RobertsonImage source, Getty Images
  3. 'I fear they will lose Cunha this summer'published at 13:41 British Summer Time 15 April

    Phil McNulty Q&A

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    Anon: Phil. You were at Molineux on Sunday. Notwithstanding Spurs gifting goals, what did you make of Wolves and what they might do next season?

    I think Wolves have some very talented players, although I fear they will lose their key striker Matheus Cunha this summer. He has got real star quality, which I suspect will attract bids from elsewhere.

    I really like what Vitor Pereira has done. He has achieved is real unity with the fans, as proved by the players and staff taking a bow at both ends after the final whistle.

    There seems to be a genuine spirit and optimism there.

    As always, summer recruitment will be key, but even without Cunha I would not expect Wolves to struggle as they have this season next term.

    Matheus Cunha celebratesImage source, Getty Images
  4. Postpublished at 13:39 British Summer Time 15 April

    Ok, I own up. I got some of the percentages wrong on the supercomputer entry. They should be right now.

    Like every error I have made over the past 24 hours I'm blaming it on staying up late watching the golf on Sunday.

  5. 'I've seen too many turnarounds at The Bernabeu to write them off'published at 13:30 British Summer Time 15 April

    Phil McNulty Q&A

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    Anon: Do you think Real Madrid are starting to lose their fear factor like Manchester City have this season or do you think the poor results they've often had in the Champions League this season are symptoms of a club in relative decline?

    Ask me after they play Arsenal tomorrow night.

    They have certainly had some indifferent results this season but I’ve seen too many turnarounds at The Bernabeu to ever write them off – and they have that odd habit of winning the Champions League even when do not think they are going to.

    I do think they can be got at certainly, as Arsenal proved last week, but they will never lose their aura, which is the phrase I would use other than “fear factor”.

    In the wider context, I think Arsenal are in a fantastic position with a 3-0 lead – but this is Real Madrid.

    Kylian Mbappe trainsImage source, Getty Images
  6. get involved

    Get Involved - Greatest comebackspublished at 13:26 British Summer Time 15 April

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    One of the greatest comebacks has to be the 1999 Champions League final. Down and out, but to go on to not just equalise but win as well was incredible. And for the greatest prize club football has to offer, the treble!

    John

    Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates at the end of the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final against Bayern MunichImage source, Getty Images
  7. Supercomputer predicts Champions League semi-finalistspublished at 13:16 British Summer Time 15 April

    More good news for Arsenal. The Opta supercomputer has sifted through the data and provided its percentage chance of each team progressing to the Champions League semi-finals.

    After their comprehensive results in the first leg it is no real surprise that Barcelona. Paris St-Germain and the Gunners have a more than 90% chance of progressing, according to the supercomputer.

    At just 8.5% Aston Villa do not have the numbers on their side. But football is not played on a spreadsheet.

    • Barcelona 99.4%
    • Paris St-Germain 91.5%
    • Arsenal 91.1%
    • Inter Milan 71.9%
    • Bayern Munich 28.1%
    • Real Madrid 8.9%
    • Aston Villa 8.5%
    • Borussia Dortmund 0.6%
  8. get involved

    Get Involved - Greatest comebackspublished at 13:10 British Summer Time 15 April

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Chelsea’s comeback against Napoli in the 2011/12 season. 3-1 down after the first leg, and winning the second leg 4-1 after extra time. What a campaign that was for us. From the comeback against Napoli, to beating Bayern in their own back yard.

    Joey, MK

    Branislav Ivanovic of Chelsea celebrates scoring against NapoliImage source, Getty Images
  9. Origi fires Liverpool to the finalpublished at 13:06 British Summer Time 15 April

    Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona (Liverpool win 4-3 on agg)

    Barcelona suffered yet another agonising defeat as Liverpool fought back from 3-0 down on a thrilling night at Anfield in 2019.

    Divock Origi gave Liverpool an early lead in the second leg before two goals in 122 second-half seconds from Georginio Wijnaldum levelled the tie on aggregate.

    Origi sealed a famous win with his second goal from Trent Alexander-Arnold's quickly-taken corner.

    Jurgen Klopp's side went on to beat Tottenham 2-0 in the final to lift the trophy for a sixth time.

    Divock Origi's second goal against BarcelonaImage source, Getty Images
  10. 'The Greek god in Rome'published at 13:03 British Summer Time 15 April

    Roma 3-0 Barcelona (Roma win 4-3 on aggregate)

    A year later Barcelona were on the receiving end of a comeback as Roma won 3-0 in Italy to overturn a 4-1 first-leg deficit.

    Greek defender Kostas Manolas scored the decisive goal, which led to one of the most iconic pieces of commentary by Peter Drury:

    "Roma have risen from their ruins! Manolas, the Greek God in Rome! The unthinkable unfolds before our eyes. This was not meant to happen, this could not happen... this is happening!"

    Roma would go onto lose 7-6 on aggregate to Liverpool in the semi-finals.

    Speaking of the Reds...

    Kostas Manolas celebrating his goal against BarcelonaImage source, Getty Images
  11. Barca's four-goal comebackpublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 15 April

    Barcelona 6-1 Paris St-Germain (Barcelona won 6-5 on agg)

    Arguably the most dramatic comeback was in 2017 when Barcelona somehow fought back to beat Paris St-Germain after losing the first leg 4-0 - the only time a side has recovered from such a deficit.

    The Spanish champions were still 5-3 down on aggregate in the 88th minute, but scored three goals in the final seven minutes.

    Neymar's free-kick and penalty followed by Sergi Roberto's 95th-minute winner sealed victory on an incredible night at the Nou Camp.

    The manager of Paris St-Germain that night? Unai Emery.

    Barcelona celebrating their comeback win against PSGImage source, Getty Images
  12. Deportivo stun Milanpublished at 12:50 British Summer Time 15 April

    Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 AC Milan (Deportivo won 5-4 agg)

    The first instance was in 2004 when AC Milan took a 4-1 lead into their quarter-final second leg against Deportivo La Coruna. But the Spanish side won 4-0 to progress to the semi-finals, where they would lose to Jose Mourinho's Porto, who went on to lift the trophy.

    That proved to be the high point of Deportivo's recent history as a gradual decline saw them drop as low as the Spanish third tier in 2021, 21 years after they won their one and only La Liga title.

    Albert Luque celebrating a goal for Deportivo against AC Milan in 2004Image source, Getty Images
  13. Champions League comebackspublished at 12:46 British Summer Time 15 April

    Any nervous Arsenal fans should take comfort from the statistics.

    Opta reports that here have been 47 instances of a team leading by three or more goals going into a Champions League tie and it has only been overturned four times.

    What are those four instances I hear you say? Well, all the details are coming right up...

    Arsenal celebrating a goal against Real MadridImage source, Getty Images
  14. 'Arsenal are in a fantastic position'published at 12:40 British Summer Time 15 April

    Phil McNulty Q&A

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    Paul: As an Arsenal fan, I am starting to worry about tomorrow night. Do you think I am overreacting?

    Hi, Paul. I totally get it. You’re a fan and fans invariably fear the worst.

    I accept Real Madrid are one of the team you would not be surprised to see turn around a 3-0 first leg loss – but what would you have said if I’d given you a 3-0 Arsenal win before that first game? You’d have bitten my hand off.

    I understand your concerns but Arsenal are in a fantastic position.

    Declan Rice celebratesImage source, Getty Images
  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:35 British Summer Time 15 April

    #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Massively hoping that Villa pull off what would be a verging on the miraculous this evening. Still, I'm wondering if our best option is to send the Villa faithful all over Birmingham to drag bin bags to PSG's hotel, and pile them as high as the Arc de Triomphe on top of their team bus to prevent it even getting to the ground! In any case, up the Villa!

    Tom

  16. Champions League is 'extremely difficult to navigate'published at 12:30 British Summer Time 15 April

    Phil McNulty Q&A

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    Anon: Do you think that clubs like PSG, who don't need to worry about getting a Champions League place, are learning to adjust so they peak at the right time to potentially win Champions League? Only one team has been consistently excellent in the Champions League this season (Barcelona). Keeping up that level of excellence over an entire season is extraordinarily difficult, partially explains why some outstanding teams didn't win it.

    I just think PSG have developed – full stop. They used to be a collection of individuals such as Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi. They are now a team, the real deal in my opinion.

    I agree about maintaining a level of excellence and the new format threw up some interesting draws such as Manchester City v Real Madrid and PSG v Liverpool – so there were two potential winners (Liverpool more likely than City given form this season) who went out.

    It is an incredibly difficult competition to navigate.

    Nuno Mendez celebratesImage source, Getty Images
  17. 'The future is really bright for Aston Villa'published at 12:26 British Summer Time 15 April

    Phil McNulty Q&A

    Phil McNulty
    BBC Sport chief football writer

    Adam: Do you really think Villa can turn this around tonight? Also credit has to be given to the Villa owners & manager for getting us this far, as nobody ever thought we would be in this position so quickly, considering we were in the Championship not so long ago and it just shows what can be achieved via a good club structure in place - starting from the top.

    Hi, Adam. They certainly can, although I think the odds are against them tonight as I really do believe PSG are the real deal this season.

    On your wider point, I couldn’t agree more. Villa are well run, ambitious, and have an outstanding manager in Unai Emery, who is allowed the control he needs to flourish.

    Come what may tonight, I think the future is really bright for Aston Villa.

    Unai Emery checks his watch in trainingImage source, Getty Images
  18. Who could face who in semi-finals?published at 12:22 British Summer Time 15 April

    Champions League

    Marco Asensio of Aston Villa celebrates after scoringImage source, Getty Images

    If Arsenal and Aston Villa beat Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain respectively in their quarter-final contests, it would set up an all-English semi-final in the Champions League this season.

    And it will also guarantee a Premier League club in this season's final to be played at Allianz Arena in Munich on 31 May.

    There could also be an all-German semi-final on the other side of the draw, but it looks improbable with last season's finalists Borussia Dortmund trailing Barcelona 4-0 after first leg and Bayern Munich losing 2-1 to Inter Milan.

    A first-ever 'El Clasico' final in Champions League history is also on offer, but only if Real Madrid come back from three goals down to beat the Gunners and also win their last-four tie, and Barcelona progress from the other side.

    Potential Champions League semi-final line-ups:

    • Arsenal/Real Madrid v PSG/Aston Villa
    • Barcelona/Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich/Inter Milan
  19. How things stand in Champions Leaguepublished at 12:18 British Summer Time 15 April

    Champions League

    The UEFA Champions League Trophy is seen pitch sideImage source, Getty Images

    Four places in the Champions League semi-finals are up for grabs as the quarter-final second-leg ties take place today and tomorrow.

    There are still two Premier League clubs left in the competition, but the two have had contrasting fortunes in their first legs.

    While Arsenal got a remarkable 3-0 win against Real Madrid, Aston Villa have their work cut out after losing the first leg 3-1 to Paris St. Germain.

    Champions League quarter-finals (all kick-offs at 20:00 BST):

    Tuesday

    • Aston Villa v Paris St-Germain (1-3 on agg)
    • Borussia Dortmund v Barcelona (0-4 on agg)

    Wednesday

    • Real Madrid v Arsenal (0-3 on agg)
    • Inter Milan v Bayern Munich (2-1 on agg)

  20. What have we looked at today?published at 12:14 British Summer Time 15 April

    Just joining us? Do not worry as we have got you covered.

    Here's a recap of everything we have looked at today:

    With Aston Villa and Real Madrid both needing massive results to stay alive in the Champions League, we will look at some of the most remarkable comebacks in the competition before looking at Villa's do-or-die game against PSG tonight.

    We will also have BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty answering your questions shortly, so keep sending us your queries using the usual channels.