Champions League quarter-final review: Liverpool staring at exit but Manchester City and Chelsea have first-leg leads after wins

The Champions League returned this week with the first legs of the quarter-final fixtures as Liverpool were undone by Real Madrid and Manchester City scored late to overcome Borussia Dortmund.

Liverpool lose at Real Madrid

A lacklustre performance from Liverpool saw them defeated 3-1 by Madrid, reflecting their disappointing campaign so far.

First half goals from Vinicius Junior and Marco Asensio put Zinedine Zidane’s side ahead, with the midfield trio of Casemiro, Luke Modric and Toni Kroos dominating the match.

The Reds got a crucial away goal through Mohamed Salah, but Vinicius scored his second and Madrid’s third just 15 minutes later.

Despite his resurgence at the weekend, Trent Alexander-Arnold again came under fire for a poor showing at full back as Jurgen Klopp’s team failed to deal with the 13-time champions.

Manchester City squeeze past Borussia Dortmund

Manchester City were more fortunate, coming out 2-1 winners over Borussia Dortmund.

Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring, with Marco Reus equalising midway through the second half and Phil Foden netting a 92nd-minute winner.

On another day there may have been a different result, with teenage sensation Jude Bellingham having a goal wrongly disallowed in the first half.

The competition’s top scorer, Erling Haaland, also struggled in his first appearance at the Etihad and failed to get into the game.

Chelsea score two crucial away goals

Fellow English club Chelsea won their first leg tie, coming out 2-0 victors over Porto to make it three Champions League wins for new manager Thomas Tuchel.

Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell opened their accounts in the competition as the Blues notched two away goals to put them in a good position going into the second leg.

The last time a Chelsea coach won their first three European knockout games was under Roberto Di Matteo, when they went on to win the tournament.

Paris Saint-Germain edge Bayern Munich in thriller

Finally, Bayern Munich and PSG played out a thoroughly entertaining match at the Allianz Arena, with Mauricio Pochettino’s side winning 3-2.

The Parisian’s went two goals up through Kylian Mbappe and Marquinhos, before Bayern got back level with headers from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Thomas Muller.

A decisive third away goal was netted by Mbappe again, as PSG became the first club ever to beat Hansi Flick’s team in the Champions League.

Second-leg ties will be played next week on the 13th and 14th April.