The 2024-25 European football season is poised for a potentially historic and blockbuster finish, with four Champions League quarter-finalists – Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Inter Milan – all still harbouring realistic ambitions of completing a famous treble.
As the quarter-finals began this week, the presence of four teams simultaneously challenging for their domestic league, main domestic cup, and the Champions League is a rare occurrence. This marks the first time in seven seasons (since 2018-19) that four clubs have reached this stage with such aspirations genuinely intact, a significant increase compared to recent years, often dominated by Manchester City’s singular pursuit.
The Treble Contenders
- Barcelona: Leading La Liga (four points clear of Real Madrid after 30 games), set to face Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final, and hold a commanding 4-0 lead over Borussia Dortmund after their Champions League quarter-final first leg.
- Real Madrid: Trailing Barcelona in La Liga, facing them in the Copa del Rey final, but must overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final.
- Paris Saint-Germain: On the brink of clinching Ligue 1 (21 points clear), reached the Coupe de France final, and secured a 3-1 first-leg lead over Aston Villa in the Champions League quarter-final. They have already won the French Super Cup.
- Inter Milan: Leading Serie A (four points clear of Napoli, having played a game more), facing AC Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg (1-1 after the first leg), and holding a crucial 2-1 first-leg lead over Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final.
Draw Opens Door for Blockbuster Clashes
Crucially, the Champions League quarter-final draw kept these four powerhouses apart. This opens the tantalizing possibility of semi-final showdowns such as Real Madrid/Arsenal vs PSG/Aston Villa and Barcelona/Dortmund vs Inter/Bayern. Furthermore, it keeps alive the prospect of a historic final – potentially the first-ever Champions League final between arch-rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Despite their combined dominance of European football this century (winning 12 of the last 25 Champions League titles), the two Spanish giants have surprisingly met only twice in the Champions League era (semi-finals in 2001-02 and 2011-12). A final between them would be unprecedented and intensely anticipated.
Domestic Rivalry Heats Up
The rivalry extends beyond Europe. The two clubs will contest the Copa del Rey final at the end of April – their first meeting in any final since 2014 – after navigating dramatic semi-finals last week. Their upcoming La Liga encounter next month could also prove decisive in a title race that remains competitive, despite Barcelona currently holding the advantage.
Other Contenders Remain
While the focus is on the potential treble winners and the Clásico narrative, the other quarter-finalists cannot be dismissed. Arsenal hold a significant lead over Real Madrid, Aston Villa possess European specialist Unai Emery, Bayern Munich remain formidable despite their first-leg deficit, and Borussia Dortmund were finalists just last season. PSG, in particular, appear strong contenders, remaining unbeaten domestically and having already eliminated Liverpool.
Nonetheless, the unique concentration of teams chasing the ultimate club achievement sets the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the 2024-25 season across multiple competitions.
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