MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The Champions League is facing a dramatic turn as three of Europe's most prestigious clubs find themselves on the verge of elimination. Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Barcelona must each overcome first-leg defeats in the quarterfinals to keep their hopes alive.

Historic Clubs in Trouble

These three teams have collectively claimed European soccer's top honor a remarkable 26 times. However, they now face significant challenges to progress to the semifinals. Real Madrid, the record 15-time champions, currently trail Bayern Munich 2-1 following a home loss at the Bernabeu in the first leg. Liverpool finds itself down 2-0 against defending champions Paris Saint-Germain as they prepare for the return match at Anfield. Meanwhile, Barcelona suffered a surprising 2-0 defeat at home to Atletico Madrid.

Madrid's Hopes Rest on Champions League

With a nine-point deficit to league leaders Barcelona in La Liga, Real Madrid's best chance for success this season may lie in the Champions League. However, they face a daunting task in the second leg against Bayern Munich. The German side has been one of the standout teams in Europe this season, finishing the league phase with seven wins from eight games and dominating Atalanta with a 10-2 aggregate score in the round of 16. Bayern has recorded 39 victories in 45 matches across all competitions this season, suffering only two defeats. With a potent attack featuring Harry Kane, Michael Olise, and Luis Diaz, Bayern is well-positioned to secure a seventh European Cup, which would tie them with AC Milan as the second most successful club in the competition's history.

As the quarterfinals progress, the pressure mounts for these iconic clubs to turn their fortunes around and avoid an early exit from the prestigious tournament.