The UEFA Champions League is down to its final eight teams, entering the quarterfinal stage. The path to the final in Munich on May 31st is becoming clearer as exciting matchups are set to take place.
Real Madrid against Arsenal stands out as a major highlight, but each quarterfinal tie offers its own compelling narrative. Real Madrid, the current champions, are still in contention for a treble, similar to Barcelona, who will face Borussia Dortmund, last season`s Champions League finalists. Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan are also eyeing a treble, each facing different challenges. PSG, with their youthful team, will compete against Aston Villa, who are enjoying a remarkable season marking their return to the Champions League after forty years. Inter Milan will face Bayern Munich, a team aiming to reassert their dominance in European football after inconsistent performances.
The two-leg quarterfinals will commence on Tuesday and continue until April 16th. Advancement to the next round will be determined by the aggregate score from both matches. If necessary, the second leg will include extra time and potentially penalties to decide the winner.
Here’s a preview of what to expect in this round of high-stakes Champions League encounters.
Key Quarterfinal Storylines
1. Real Madrid and Arsenal Face Off in a Season of Ups and Downs
The question surrounding Real Madrid in the Champions League is always about consistency. Their season has been unpredictable, especially in the league stage with several losses. However, they have shown resilience by defeating Manchester City and Atletico Madrid to reach this stage. There`s a suggestion that Carlo Ancelotti`s team is reaching peak form at the opportune moment, but the Arsenal tie will rigorously test this.
Real Madrid`s recent matches have been tight, with narrow wins and defensive vulnerabilities. They have often relied on their strong attack to compensate, but this strategy hasn`t always guaranteed success, as seen in their recent league loss to Valencia. Despite these inconsistencies, Real Madrid`s ability to navigate challenging situations makes them a strong contender for the title.
In contrast to Real Madrid`s difficult path, Arsenal has had a smoother journey to the quarterfinals, performing strongly in their league group and convincingly defeating PSV in the previous round. The matches against Real Madrid will be a significant test of Arsenal`s aspirations for the title, although they will be missing key players due to injuries. While Saka is available, Gabriel and Jurien Timber will be absent. This raises questions about Arsenal`s capacity to challenge Real Madrid, especially as they aim to reach the Champions League semifinals for the first time in approximately twenty years.
2. PSG and Aston Villa Compete for a Semifinal Spot
It might have seemed unlikely for Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa to reach the Champions League semifinals at the start of the season, but both teams have progressed to the quarterfinals. Their upcoming match is anticipated to be one of the most interesting in this round.
PSG`s victory over Liverpool in the round of 16 highlighted their exciting style of play and demonstrated the positive direction of Luis Enrique`s vision for the team in the post-Kylian Mbappe era. Aston Villa might appear to be an easier opponent than Liverpool, but under Unai Emery, they have improved, particularly with the additions of players like Marcus Rashford and Marco Ascensio in January. The tie between these teams is expected to be closely contested and full of subplots, including Emery and Ascensio facing their former connections, and the history of Emery`s loss to Enrique`s Barcelona in the famous “La Remontada” match in 2017.
3. Inter Milan and Bayern Munich Seek to Prove Their Status
The clash between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich feels like a classic Champions League encounter between two historically successful clubs. This quarterfinal could reveal which team currently lives up to that prestigious reputation.
Inter Milan has shown consistent performance throughout the season, including in the Champions League, where they comfortably reached the quarterfinals after a solid group stage and a straightforward win against Feyenoord in the round of 16. This Inter team is arguably living up to the club`s high expectations, especially considering their recent appearance in the final two years ago. Bayern Munich, despite easily overcoming Bayer Leverkusen in the previous round and leading the Bundesliga, has experienced inconsistency in their Champions League campaign. This matchup will be a crucial test for Vincent Kompany`s Bayern to demonstrate their ambition and address any shortcomings from last season.
Benedict Kingsley