Another breathtaking week of UEFA Champions League knockout action has provided numerous talking points from the first leg of the quarter-finals. Let’s dig in.Champions League takeaways from the quarter-final first legsThere is no hiding from it now – this is the end for Arne SlotThe reality of heading to the Parc des Princes for a major Champions League clash was even worse than the expectation for Liverpool. They were so completely beat all ends up that’s a minor miracle they did not lose by more than two goals. There is still a game to go at Anfield, but not even the mystical powers of that famous ground could resurrect this corpse.This will not only signal the end of the Reds’ involvement in this year’s Champions League, but the end of Arne Slot’s reign in charge of the club. This was his one big chance to prove there is still life in the team, that they can still pull out big performances when they matter most. But the Dutchman got his tactics all wrong; the decision to move to a back five and keep Mo Salah on the bench failed to shore up the defence and blunted the attack.It was their 16th loss of the campaign, the most since 2015. It’s also their third consecutive defeat, the third time they have had such a run this season. That hasn’t happened to Liverpool since 1953/54. Those are grim stats, but supporters will be most perturbed by the fact they failed to take a single shot on target. To lose without even mustering a fight is unconscionable in their eyes.That lack of fight has been a talking point in recent weeks, not just among fans or pundits, but from within the squad itself. Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai both brought it up after a similarly insipid defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup last weekend, echoing complaints made by Curtis Jones in November.There cannot be a greater indictment of Slot than that. If the players aren’t fighting for you, then why are there at all? The end is nigh.Bayern are the bestWe have been pretty convinced for a while now that Bayern Munich are the top side in Europe. But they went about proving it on Tuesday.Vincent Kompany took his squad into one of the most intimidating arenas in world football, the home of the 15-time Champions League winners, and they absolutely dominated Real Madrid. Whatever qualms one might have had about the Belgian coach’s tactical acumen, he is gradually putting them to rest.They will be put to the ultimate test in the later rounds of this competition and most immediately in the second leg after they failed to kill off the beast. Which brings me to my next point…Real Madrid still in itYou cannot kill Real without burying them deep in the ground from which there is no return. They have endured a troubled season that has lurched from mini crisis to mini crisis, but something within them awakens in the Champions League and when that happens it often doesn’t even matter how much better you are.For all their faults, Los Blancos are still a team that possesses a wealth of starpower across the pitch, even if they have not been at their zenith this season. After being pummelled for so long in midweek, they rebounded to create a number of chances of their own, one of which Kylian Mbappe put away in the 73rd minute to make it 2-1. That leaves Bayern with a much slimmer lead than they wanted, or frankly deserved, heading into the second leg.The German giants will have home advantage, but a wounded Real is the most dangerous Real.The gods frown upon Barcelona Things could hardly have gone worse for Barcelona against Atletico Madrid at the Camp Nou on Wednesday. Marcus Rashford had a goal disallowed in the first half after Lamine Yamal was marginally offside in the buildup. Pau Cubarsi went on to get himself sent off for a clumsy last-man challenge before Julian Alvarez delivered a double whammy by sending the resultant free-kick into the top corner of the net.Rashford saw an excellent free-kick of his own tipped onto the bar, kicking off a series of gilt-edged chances that Barça throughout the second half. Their woes were compounded in the 70th minute when Alexander Sorloth doubled the visitor’s lead. By all metrics, it was the hosts who should have won this match, even when down a man, but when it’s not your night it’s not your night.The tie is not over yet and Barcelona are no strangers to unlikely comebacks in this competition (in the right and wrong ways). But this defeat would have felt like a dagger to the heart of Hansi Flick’s men, who are desperate to get to the final after missing out on last year’s edition in spectacular fashion.Another step towards the Holy Grail for Arsenal – and then more someArsenal have one foot in the semi-finals after returning from their trip to Lisbon with a one-goal lead. It wouldn’t be them without making hard work of their opponent, even when they are up against the weakest side left in the tournament, but they got the first part of the job done and that’s all that matters.Should they see out the second leg as expected, then Atletico or Barcelona await in the last four. It is looking exceeding like the former will be waiting for them in the next round, which may come as a slight relief to Mikel Arteta.Yes, we are jumping ahead a bit here and no, victory over Atleti in the semis should not be taken for granted, as this week demonstrated. Los Colchoneros are a dangerous team and boast a better pedigree in Europe over the past 16 years than the Gunners. But their progression would mean Arteta doesn’t have to plan for the insane dual threat of Yamal and Raphinha, who can shred even the best defence in the world apart on their day.Arsenal would much rather the war of attrition that comes with facing Diego Simeone’s men, who will not be afforded the same amount of space on the counter against the north London outfit as they were against Barça.Read – Premier League guaranteed fifth Champions League placeSee Also – Five who played for both PSG and LiverpoolFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTokThe post Champions League: Five takeaways from the quarter-final first legs first appeared on The Football Faithful.