Berlin, 10 April 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Robert Lewandowski led Barcelona to a 4-0 romp over his ex-club Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday as Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to beat Aston Villa 3-1.

Brazil winger Raphinha was on the goal-line when he prodded Barca ahead midway through the first half, although he was fortunate to survive a video review for offside given Pau Cubarsí's flick was going in on its own anyway.

There was no doubt about the home side's second on 48 minutes, though, as Raphinha athletically headed the ball back across goal and Lewandowski nodded in on the line.

The Poland star, who played for Dortmund in the 2013 final they lost to Bayern Munich, then rifled in for 3-0 on 66 minutes before Lamine Yamal added the gloss.

"It's a question of whether everyone was 100% at it and willing to go through the pain barrier against this Barcelona," Dortmund's Emre Can told DAZN. "We'll play for pride at home. We still try to win. We'll give everything."

Barca head to Germany next Tuesday with a big advantage while PSG go to Birmingham ahead after Désiré Doué's cracker, a Khvicha
Kvaratskhelia special and a late Nuno Mendes strike followed a neat team goal from Morgan Rogers.

In Tuesday's first legs, Arsenal won 3-0 at home to holders Real Madrid and Inter Milan prevailed 2-1 at Bayern.

Barca's Lewandowski and Yamal had early half-chances for the side bossed by German Hansi Flick, who along with Lewandowski won the competition with Dortmund's big rivals Bayern in 2020.

Five-times champions Barca, playing in the Olympic Stadium while the Nou Camp is rebuilt, went ahead on 25 minutes - though Brazil's Raphinha had his heart in his mouth before the review went his way.

The Spanish league leaders had the odd scare at the other end but Dortmund, last season's runners-up and 1997 champions, lacked belief as Serhou Guirassy missed two good opportunities.

The Black and Yellows, without defender Nico Schlotterbeck after he was ruled out for six months with a knee meniscus tear, were punished when former star Lewandowski grabbed his second-half double to take his Champions League tally this season to 11.

PSG roar back

Over in Paris, the newly re-crowned French champions started well.

Villa's Argentina World Cup-winning keeper Emiliano Martinez was forced to keep out efforts from Vitinha and Ousmane Dembélé, who continues to intrigue in an unusual number nine role.

PSG, who have never won Europe's top club competition, knocked out Liverpool in the previous round but were suddenly out-thought by renewed English opposition.

England midfielder Rogers, watched in the Parc des Princes stands by national coach Thomas Tuchel and big Villa fans Princes William and George, finished off a slick move 10 minutes before the break.

The hosts soon hit back, though, through Doué's superb effort from the edge of the area which went in off the bar.

Georgia magician Kvaratskhelia then showed off his dribbling and shooting skills to beat Martinez at the near post on 49.

Achraf Hakimi thought he had extended the lead only to be flagged offside, but Mendes did make it 3-1 in style in stoppage time.

PSG are coached by Luis Enrique, who famously got the better of Villa boss Unai Emery when the two Spaniards were managing Barca and PSG respectively in 2017. Barca came back from 4-0 down in their last 16 first leg to win 6-5 on aggregate.

There was less drama here but he looks to have outdone Emery again.

Villa lifted the European Cup in 1982 but are back in the competition for the first time since the 1992 Champions League rebrand. They are seventh in the Premier League and could benefit from the English top-flight being guaranteed five teams in next term's competition.

Villa could even qualify as holders, but are now up against it.

"We knew it was going to be difficult coming into it," Rogers told TNT Sports: "We're going to go for everything and try to win the tie."

Photo: Screenshot