Champions League: previews and predictions for the quarter-finals | Champions League

Sporting v Arsenal, Tuesday

Arsenal arrive in Lisbon having seen their quadruple goals unravel after back-to-back defeats to Manchester Metropolis within the League Cup last and Southampton within the FA Cup quarter-finals. These missed alternatives, although disappointing, ought to focus the gamers’ minds on a Double that may be very a lot attainable.

Arsenal gained all eight matches within the league part and confirmed little signal of faltering within the final 16, the place they delivered a 3-1 combination win over Bayer Leverkusen. They tread acquainted floor as they make their third consecutive quarter-final look within the Champions League.

Eleven Arsenal gamers returned early from the latest worldwide break and Gabriel Magalhães grew to become the newest in a rising variety of gamers reportedly injured when he hobbled off with a knee damage at Southampton. The Brazilian defender joins Eberechi Eze, Piero Hincapié, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino as seemingly absentees for this fixture. The excellent news is that Declan Rice, Leandro Trossard and Martin Ødegaard might return, bringing some much-needed creativity.

Sporting should deal with the lingering reminiscence of a 5-1 defeat when these sides met final season, a outcome made all of the extra painful by the departure of Viktor Gyökeres, who scored 97 objectives and offered 28 assists in 102 appearances for the membership earlier than transferring to London. His substitute, the 28-year-old Colombian Luis Suárez, has stuffed his boots admirably, scoring 34 objectives in all competitions this season – together with 5 within the Champions League.

Sporting are underdogs within the tie however the Estádio José Alvalade has been a fortress this season. They’ve misplaced solely as soon as at residence within the league this season and that was in August. Their residence document within the Champions League is even higher: 5 video games, 5 wins and 16 objectives scored.

The supervisor, Rui Borges, should deal with a number of absentees. Fotis Ioannidis, Geovany Quenda, Nuno Santos, Luis Guilherme and Iván Fresneda are prone to miss out by damage or sickness, and the captain, Morten Hjulmand, is suspended. Prediction: Arsenal to progress after a draw within the first leg.

Actual Madrid v Bayern Munich, Tuesday

Bayern Munich go to the Spanish capital with wind of their sails: they’ve misplaced solely twice in 43 matches this season, are on an unbeaten run of 13 video games, and have gained 9 of their 10 video games within the Champions League. Their 10-2 demolition of Atalanta within the final 16 served as a well timed reminder of their attacking firepower.

They rested a couple of necessary gamers of their 3-2 win at Freiberg on the weekend and, with the Bundesliga title all however secured and a spot within the DFB-Pokal semi-finals booked, their consideration is mounted on the duty forward on the Bernabéu. But, for all of their home dominance, Bayern have did not beat Actual of their final 9 makes an attempt. The excellent news is that, regardless that Harry Kane missed England’s defeat to Japan final week, he educated with the squad on Monday and has travelled to Madrid.

Actual Madrid will relish the prospect of internet hosting Bayern, not least as a result of they’ve gone on to carry the trophy the previous 4 instances they’ve eradicated the German facet from the competitors. Their latest home kind does give cause to mood expectations, although; their 2-1 defeat to Actual Mallorca on Saturday allowed Barcelona to maneuver seven factors clear on the prime of La Liga. If something, that setback will solely sharpen their focus with the Champions League.

Actual misplaced three matches within the league part, forcing them to beat Benfica within the playoffs, however they’re a special drive within the knockouts – as proven by their 5-1 combination win towards Manchester Metropolis within the final 16. They knocked Bayern out within the semi-finals in 2023-24, 2017-18 and 2013-14, in addition to within the quarter-finals in 2016-17, so have historical past on their facet.

Thibaut Courtois continues to be lacking after selecting up an damage towards Manchester Metropolis final month, so Madrid will depend on Andriy Lunin. Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy and Dani Ceballos may additionally miss out however Kylian Mbappé – the highest scorer within the competitors this season with 13 objectives – is match. Prediction: Bayern to progress after a draw within the first leg.

Barcelona in Atlético Madrid, Wednesday

Atlético Madrid wouldn’t have to attend lengthy for a shot at redemption. They have been crushed 2-1 by Barcelona on the weekend, Robert Lewandowski scoring the winner within the 87th minute after Atléti had been lowered to 10 males within the first half. This would be the fifth assembly between these sides this season. Barcelona gained each video games within the league however Atlético’s spectacular victory within the Copa Del Rey semi-finals serves as a reminder of the injury they’ll inflict going ahead.

Atléti have not often did not entertain within the Champions League this season. Their 12 video games have produced 55 objectives (4.6 per sport). Their 7-5 combination win towards Tottenham within the last-16 displayed each their attacking prowess and a fragility that’s uncharacteristic for a Diego Simeone facet. They’ve conceded 24 objectives – two per sport – within the competitors. Atlético have misplaced their previous three matches in all competitions however a take a look at historical past supplies some encouragement: these groups have met twice within the Champions League – within the quarter-finals in 2013-14 and 2015-16 – and Atlético gained each ties.

Simeone rested a number of gamers towards Barcelona on the weekend. Dávid Hancko, Matteo Ruggeri, Alexander Sørloth, Julián Álvarez and Ademola Lookman have been neglected of the beginning lineup, a transparent sign of the place his priorities lie. Jan Oblak has returned to coaching and may begin in objective however José María Giménez, Pablo Barrios and Johnny Cardoso are unlikely to characteristic.

Barcelona are in nice kind: they’re unbeaten in 9 matches, have a seven-point lead on the prime of La Liga, and beat Newcastle 7-2 within the final spherical of the Champions League. They’ve scored 19 objectives of their previous 4 residence video games within the Champions League and boast a 6-1 combination rating towards Atlético at residence this season.

Hansi Flick has a number of damage issues, nonetheless. Raphinha suffered a hamstring damage in Brazil’s defeat to France final week, ruling him out of each legs, and Frenkie de Jong continues to be recovering from an analogous challenge. Marc Bernal and Andreas Christensen stay on the sidelines however Ronald Araújo is predicted to be out there. Prediction: Barça to win the primary leg and the tie.

Paris Saint-Germain v Liverpool, Wednesday

This tie couldn’t have come at a worse time for Liverpool. They have been on the fallacious finish of a 4-0 thrashing towards Manchester Metropolis within the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, their fifteenth defeat of the season and their fourth of their previous 5 away video games. They beat PSG 1-0 on the Parc des Princes final spring, however lots has modified in 12 months.

On a extra encouraging be aware, Mohamed Salah, Jeremie Frimpong and Federico Chiesa can be found, and the £125m signing Alexander Isak may make his first look within the squad since breaking his leg towards Tottenham in December.

PSG have a behavior of beating English sides within the Champions League. They knocked Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal out of the competitors final season, and so they swept Chelsea apart final month, profitable 8-2 on combination. Bradley Barcola picked up an damage in that tie however might return, and Vitinha, João Neves and Nuno Mendes are prone to begin having come off the bench within the 3-1 win towards Toulouse on the weekend. Prediction: PSG to win the primary leg and the tie.

That is an article by WhoScored