The last 8 of Europe’s elite club football competition consist of 3 teams from Spain, 2 from France and 1 of each from Germany, Italy and Portugal. The most astonishing fact is that there are no English clubs remaining in this stage of the competition. Although the draw failed to provide this writer with an opportunity to view his dream match between Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich, it did serve up four awesome matches.
F.C.Porto vs Bayern Munich
This will be the first meeting between the Portuguese giants, currently ranked second in their league and the runaway leaders of the Bundesliga. Porto beat Basel 5-0 and Bayern Muinch thrashed Shaktar Donetsk 7-0 in the R16 stage. Though Basel’s win is impressive it came against a relatively easy opposition and one cannot expect them to do the same against the all conquering Bayern Munich (many people have said that if Bayern Munich wants competition they should play against their second choice players). The only positive for Porto is that winger Arjen Robben has been ruled out of the game due to injury. Porto pulling off a Houdini? Not possible.
Bayern Munich to win a largely 1 sided game and Porto actually breaking into the opposition penalty area will be the equivalent to a goal for them.
WINNER: Bayern Munich
Juventus vs A.S.Monaco
Juventus, who like Bayern Munich are absolutely brushing off competition in their domestic league, face A.S.Monaco. Juventus enter this clash, which incidentally like the above mentioned clash is also the first meeting between the two teams high on momentum having beaten the resurgent Borussia Dortmund 5-1 in the R16 stage of the competition. A.S.Monaco pulled off a major surprise by beating Arsenal 3-3 on away goals in the previous round and they play manly on the counter. They are currently 4th in Ligue1 and their only hope of remaining in the Champions League next season is to win the trophy this season. Will they able to beat Juventus? No, as even with the absence of Paul Pogba Juventus’ strikers are on red-hot form and they have a star studded midfield who completely controls the game and to break Italian defences is no mean task at all. Expect a 1 sided game.
WINNER: Juventus
Paris Saint-Germain vs F.C.Barcelona
Both the teams in this matchup have gotten past English opposition in the Round of 16. P.S.G. beat tournament favourites Chelsea 3-3 on away goals and Barcelona beat Manchester City 3-2 .Barcelona are a team high on momentum, having beaten both Manchester City and Real Madrid in the span of 5 days.They have opened up a 4 point lead at the top of La Liga and were 4 points behind Real Madrid on New Year’s day. Their strike force consists of 3 world class strikers(Messi, Neymar and Suarez) who are scoring goals at will. Their defence is a liability but the P.S.G. defence too is. The team with the better midfield will win the match. However smart bets would be with Barcelona just due to their supreme strike force and P.S.G. star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s suspension for the 1st leg . Also quite a few of the P.S.G. players who have a yellow card in a previous match will be playing under pressure with the knowledge that another yellow in the 1st leg will result in suspension from the 2nd leg which is to be held at the Nou Camp.
Important matchups in this tie will be:
Messi/ Suarez/Neymar vs David Luiz/Thiago Silva
Rakitic/Iniesta vs Verrati/Pastore
This will be the 6th and 7th match between these two times
P:5 Paris :1 Barca:1 Draw :3
Last meeting : UEFA Champions League Group stage 2014
Barcelona 3-1 P.S.G.
WINNER: Barcelona
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid
And finally we will focus on the MATCH of the quarters i.e. the El Derbi Madrileno. This mouthwatering clash is a repeat of the 2014 UEFA Champions League Final where Atletico were beaten courtesy of 4 goals which came in 2nd half injury time and extra time. In the R16 Real Madrid were extremely lucky to beat Schalke 5-4 and Atletico Madrid were fortunate to beat Bayer Leverkusen on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Both the teams are struggling (Atletico are 4th in the La Liga and Real Madrid have squandered a 4 point league and now are 4 points behind the leaders, Barcelona). Since the turn of the year Real Madrid have collected 25 points out of a possible 39 in the league.(mediocre as this followed Real’s record breaking 22 game winning streak ). Real Madrid players are low on confidence and are feeling the media and fan pressure with Cristiano Ronaldo refusing to attend press conferences . Gareth Bale and Jese Rodriguez had their cars attacked by angry fans and Bale in particular gets booed whenever he touches the ball during a match. Atletico Madrid always seem to find another gear when they play against their glamorous neighbours. Key clashes that could determine the outcome of this game are:
Mario Mandzukic/Fernando Torres vs Pepe/Sergio Ramos
Griezmann vs Marcelo
Koke vs Luka Modric
Cristiano Ronaldo/Karim Benzema vs Miranda/Juanfran
This season’s head –to-head between the two is as follows:
Played: 6 Real wins:0 Atletico wins:4 Draw:2
Everyone would love to see Atletico Madrid avenge their champions league heartbreak and advance to the semi-finals. The writer also is among the people who want to see Atletico advance.
WINNER: Atletico Madrid
Have your say about the winners in the comments section below
-Reubyn
F.C.Porto vs Bayern Munich
This will be the first meeting between the Portuguese giants, currently ranked second in their league and the runaway leaders of the Bundesliga. Porto beat Basel 5-0 and Bayern Muinch thrashed Shaktar Donetsk 7-0 in the R16 stage. Though Basel’s win is impressive it came against a relatively easy opposition and one cannot expect them to do the same against the all conquering Bayern Munich (many people have said that if Bayern Munich wants competition they should play against their second choice players). The only positive for Porto is that winger Arjen Robben has been ruled out of the game due to injury. Porto pulling off a Houdini? Not possible.
Bayern Munich to win a largely 1 sided game and Porto actually breaking into the opposition penalty area will be the equivalent to a goal for them.
WINNER: Bayern Munich
Juventus vs A.S.Monaco
Juventus, who like Bayern Munich are absolutely brushing off competition in their domestic league, face A.S.Monaco. Juventus enter this clash, which incidentally like the above mentioned clash is also the first meeting between the two teams high on momentum having beaten the resurgent Borussia Dortmund 5-1 in the R16 stage of the competition. A.S.Monaco pulled off a major surprise by beating Arsenal 3-3 on away goals in the previous round and they play manly on the counter. They are currently 4th in Ligue1 and their only hope of remaining in the Champions League next season is to win the trophy this season. Will they able to beat Juventus? No, as even with the absence of Paul Pogba Juventus’ strikers are on red-hot form and they have a star studded midfield who completely controls the game and to break Italian defences is no mean task at all. Expect a 1 sided game.
WINNER: Juventus
Paris Saint-Germain vs F.C.Barcelona
Both the teams in this matchup have gotten past English opposition in the Round of 16. P.S.G. beat tournament favourites Chelsea 3-3 on away goals and Barcelona beat Manchester City 3-2 .Barcelona are a team high on momentum, having beaten both Manchester City and Real Madrid in the span of 5 days.They have opened up a 4 point lead at the top of La Liga and were 4 points behind Real Madrid on New Year’s day. Their strike force consists of 3 world class strikers(Messi, Neymar and Suarez) who are scoring goals at will. Their defence is a liability but the P.S.G. defence too is. The team with the better midfield will win the match. However smart bets would be with Barcelona just due to their supreme strike force and P.S.G. star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s suspension for the 1st leg . Also quite a few of the P.S.G. players who have a yellow card in a previous match will be playing under pressure with the knowledge that another yellow in the 1st leg will result in suspension from the 2nd leg which is to be held at the Nou Camp.
Important matchups in this tie will be:
Messi/ Suarez/Neymar vs David Luiz/Thiago Silva
Rakitic/Iniesta vs Verrati/Pastore
This will be the 6th and 7th match between these two times
P:5 Paris :1 Barca:1 Draw :3
Last meeting : UEFA Champions League Group stage 2014
Barcelona 3-1 P.S.G.
WINNER: Barcelona
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid
And finally we will focus on the MATCH of the quarters i.e. the El Derbi Madrileno. This mouthwatering clash is a repeat of the 2014 UEFA Champions League Final where Atletico were beaten courtesy of 4 goals which came in 2nd half injury time and extra time. In the R16 Real Madrid were extremely lucky to beat Schalke 5-4 and Atletico Madrid were fortunate to beat Bayer Leverkusen on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Both the teams are struggling (Atletico are 4th in the La Liga and Real Madrid have squandered a 4 point league and now are 4 points behind the leaders, Barcelona). Since the turn of the year Real Madrid have collected 25 points out of a possible 39 in the league.(mediocre as this followed Real’s record breaking 22 game winning streak ). Real Madrid players are low on confidence and are feeling the media and fan pressure with Cristiano Ronaldo refusing to attend press conferences . Gareth Bale and Jese Rodriguez had their cars attacked by angry fans and Bale in particular gets booed whenever he touches the ball during a match. Atletico Madrid always seem to find another gear when they play against their glamorous neighbours. Key clashes that could determine the outcome of this game are:
Mario Mandzukic/Fernando Torres vs Pepe/Sergio Ramos
Griezmann vs Marcelo
Koke vs Luka Modric
Cristiano Ronaldo/Karim Benzema vs Miranda/Juanfran
This season’s head –to-head between the two is as follows:
Played: 6 Real wins:0 Atletico wins:4 Draw:2
Everyone would love to see Atletico Madrid avenge their champions league heartbreak and advance to the semi-finals. The writer also is among the people who want to see Atletico advance.
WINNER: Atletico Madrid
Have your say about the winners in the comments section below
-Reubyn