Champions League fever: Arsenal, PSG and Real Madrid through – Are we about to see history with Bayern's 16-year-old goalkeeper?

Spring is finally here, and that means only one thing: Champions League football doesn't get any bigger than this. There was some English joy on Tuesday, but it didn't come from the usual suspects. Arsenal flew the flag high and saved the honour for the English clubs, knocking over Leverkusen 2–0 in the second leg to progress 3–1 on aggregate. A cracking long-range strike from Eberechi Eze and a Declan Rice finish means the red half of London keeps dreaming. That's three seasons running Arsenal have been in the top eight now – and you get the feeling they won't stop there.

The king of London and the Paris show

If Arsenal got the job done comfortably, PSG turned it into an absolute masterclass. The reigning champions went to Stamford Bridge to remind everyone who's boss. Chelsea copped a 3–0 hiding, and the 8–2 aggregate scoreline tells you everything about the gap between these two right now. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia picked up where he left off in the first leg, with Bradley Barcola and teen signing Senny Mayulu putting the icing on the cake for Paris. It's been something else to watch.

And that's not all. If there's one thing as certain as the sun coming up, it's Real Madrid's ability to put one over Manchester City. For the fourth time in five seasons, the Spanish giants have booted the blue-and-whites out of the comp. A 5–1 aggregate scoreline lays it on the line about who runs this rivalry. City skipper Bernardo Silva's red card sealed their fate, and even though Erling Haaland levelled the scores, Vinicius Junior's stoppage-time stunner felt like it was straight out of a script. Real Madrid are now heading into a likely blockbuster against Bayern Munich.

The Arctic miracle and a teen keeper's date with history

While those names are familiar, the biggest talking point this season has been coming from somewhere else entirely. Bodø/Glimt, that little club from the Arctic Circle, are living out a fairytale. Not only did they qualify for the knockouts, they smashed reigning Italian champions Inter 5–2. Tonight they're in Lisbon for the second leg against Sporting to try and lock in a quarter-final spot, and that 3–0 win at home in the first leg has everyone believing this story might have more chapters. The roughly €52 million they've already banked has changed the club forever, but word is there's even bigger money on the table if they can keep pulling off miracles.

Wednesday night might serve up something we've never seen before. Bayern Munich are in a goalkeeping crisis, and they might have to call on 16-year-old Leonard Prescott. But this 196cm kid can't just waltz onto the pitch. German labour laws ban under-18s from working after 8pm – and the match kicks off at 9. Bayern have to apply for a special exemption from the authorities, and from what I've heard from German mates, it needs parental consent, sign-off from a paediatrician, and even permission from his school.

• If Prescott plays, he'll become the youngest keeper in Champions League history. The current record is held by Belgian Maarten Vandevoordt, who was just over 17.
• He'll also become Bayern Munich's youngest-ever keeper. Pretty wild to think a 16-year-old could be keeping out Atalanta's attacks on Wednesday night.
• This is genuinely uncharted territory. Everyone's saying that never before in Champions League history have they had to worry about work health and safety permits just to get a player on the park.

The women's game, Africa, and that famous anthem

The Champions League isn't just about the men, though. The Women's Champions League has a new format this season, and the knockout stages are already in full swing. February served up some cracking ties as teams like Arsenal, Real Madrid and Juventus battled for a spot in the next round. Barcelona, Lyon, Chelsea and Bayern Munich are waiting in the quarters – it's starting to get seriously packed.

And hey, footy tragics know Europe isn't the only continent where this comp is a huge deal. The African Champions League is a whole different beast, and the games have been red-hot. February saw some belters, including the group stage clash between Horoya AC and Vipers SC, and that classic semi-final between ES Tunis and Al Ahly. It's got its own unique culture, and its reputation on the world stage is growing every year.

Lastly, gotta have a chat about something that's had fans worldwide talking. Remember when they gave the Champions League anthem its first makeover since 1991? It happened at the start of this season, and it wasn't a minor tweak. They speeded up the tune and chucked in some new effects, and social media went into meltdown. Some fans are filthy about it and want the old classic back, others are loving the modern touch. Reckon it's still the best tune in the world – whether it's got a fresh twist or not. And when it's ringing out next season in the 2025–26 Champions League campaign, we'll have new stories and new heroes to cheer on.

But for now, let's focus on tonight. Are we about to see history? Stick with us.