Highlander Hot Take: Predicting the Champions League Quarterfinals
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With the Round of 16 in the publications, ideally, your beloved European club is even now alive in the UEFA Champions League. The competition’s two-legged fixtures by no means fail to supply times of great elation and devastating heartbreak, and this yr should not be any distinct.
Neutrals were still left upset right after the Round of 16 didn’t function any matchups between two European giants. Having said that, the quarter ultimate draw consists of 4 tremendous competitive and evenly contested matchups — a predictor’s nightmare. Let’s meet the contenders.
Atlético Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund
Atléti and Dortmund have experienced related seasons up to this place. Although each teams have underwhelmed in their respective domestic leagues, they have just about every exceeded anticipations in Europe. Just after selling celebrity midfielder Jude Bellingham to Atléti’s crosstown rivals, many predicted Dortmund to complete base in this year’s group of death. However, they flipped the script and finished prime of their team prior to knocking out PSV in the round of 16.
Equally, Atléti were being a stylish decide to wipe out of the group phase for a 2nd calendar year in a row. Continue to, Diego Simeone’s guys took care of business enterprise in the group stage. In the spherical of 16, they overcame a two-target deficit in the 2nd leg to eliminate Inter Milan on penalties.
There are explanations to get both group in this clash, but I’m sticking with Atlético Madrid. Simeone has built deep operates in this levels of competition with Atléti just before, and I rely on his defensive-minded techniques in the knockouts. Atléti acquire this one particular 2-1 on mixture.
PSG vs. Barcelona
A classic matchup amongst the grasp and the apprentice. Luis Enrique’s PSG had their troubles in the team stage, but narrowly escaped the group of death many thanks to target differential. Immediately after matching up towards Authentic Sociedad in the spherical of 16, Kylian Mbappé and crew took care of business enterprise in opposition to the La Liga aspect.
On the other hand, Barcelona ended up blessed with just one of the least difficult teams of the event. They concluded best of their group with relative simplicity prior to knocking out Napoli in the spherical of 16. They’ll appear to do a lot more of the same to give supervisor Xavi a appropriate send out-off.
It’s been about 7 a long time because the occasions of “la remontada.” Time heals all wounds and I think PSG will eventually triumph over their demons from that awful night time at the Camp Nou. Coincidently, they will even do it with the manager who impressed the famed comeback. I see PSG using this one 4-1 throughout the two legs.
Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich
Courting again to 2015, Bayern Munich have won just about every of their three matches against Arsenal with an emphatic 5-1 scoreline. But this calendar year, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are serious contenders to earn the overall opposition. They presently sit next in the Leading League after breezing by the group stage. Next a gritty acquire on penalties from FC Porto in the round of 16, Arteta will have his staff believing they can elevate the Champions League trophy for the initially time in club heritage.
Four-time European champions Bayern Munich will not be using the exact same highs Arsenal are heading into this fixture. After expending big on ex-Tottenham striker Harry Kane, expectations were being superior for the German crew. However, Thomas Tuchel’s squad are now 10 points behind Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga and are at a critical threat of going trophyless this year.
Arsenal is surely the more in-variety crew at the moment. But as a Spurs fan, I simply cannot aspect with the Gunners. I’m heading with a 4-3 gain on penalties for Bayern.
Real Madrid vs. Manchester Town
For a third consecutive period, Carlo Ancelotti’s fluid Genuine Madrid will encounter Pep Guardiola’s Manchester Metropolis equipment. It is an unbelievably intriguing tactical matchup among the two heavyweights of the event.
Celebrity Jude Bellingham prospects the line for Los Blancos. He’s flanked by the magical Brazilian duo of Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo. If that wasn’t enough, their midfield consists of the ideal stability of youth and knowledge. Nevertheless, the defense will be without the need of world-class goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and centerbacks David Alaba and Éder Militão.
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The rest of the Serious Madrid protection will have their fingers complete with Erling Haaland. The Norwegian has picked up appropriate exactly where he left off last period. He’s accompanied by elite playmakers these types of as Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Jérémy Doku and the returning Kevin De Bruyne. However, just like Authentic Madrid, Manchester Town could be working with a scarcity of defenders. John Stones and Kyle Walker each and every picked up knocks while participating in for England in the most modern worldwide crack.
With all the attacking expertise on exhibit, this match ought to attribute loads of objectives. I could be persuaded to take both crew right here, but I’m getting the fourteen-time European champions Actual Madrid. In the Champions League, they constantly seem to be to elevate their activity beneath the brightest lights. I’m choosing Los Blancos to acquire 5-4 on aggregate.
The write-up Highlander Sizzling Consider: Predicting the Champions League Quarterfinals appeared to start with on Highlander.