Mar 12, 2025, 08:30 PM ET
Neatly, the Champions League around of 16 concluded on Wednesday night time with some unforgettable 2nd legs and quite a lot of penalty shoot-out drama. Now not best did Paris Saint-Germain get rid of Liverpool on spot-kicks at Anfield this week, however Actual Madrid emerged from a shuttle to competitors Atletico Madrid with a identical victory after 120 tension-packed mins to finish the sphere for the quarterfinals.
All in all, the binds be offering masses to discuss, from Arsenal getting a shot at Actual Madrid to Aston Villa hoping to take down Paris Saint-Germain in what must be an electrical affair. And the way about Inter Milan taking at the presumptive champions of Germany, Bayern Munich?
Whilst the mud settles in this week’s mayhem, let’s take a way-too-early have a look at how we predict the quarterfinals — to be performed April 8/9 and April 15/16 — will play out as Mark Ogden, Gabriele Marcotti, Beth Lindop, Rob Dawson and Julie Laurens make their predictions.
QF ONE: Arsenal vs. Actual Madrid
First leg: April 8 | 2nd leg: April 16
OGDEN: Arsenal are Champions League learners at this degree of the contest, and possibly the largest membership by no means to win it. In opposition to Actual Madrid, that issues. Actual have completely no inferiority advanced, no doubts relating to the Champions League, however there are query marks all over the place this Arsenal crew — basically, who can ranking the targets to win the tie?
In the meantime, Actual have an excessive amount of firepower they usually win in each and every division, together with at the touchline with Carlo Ancelotti overshadowing Mikel Arteta. There’s a actual threat of Arsenal being taken again to college on this tie. Actual Madrid advance, 4-1 on combination
MARCOTTI: Actual Madrid’s pedigree and big name high quality recommend they are going to undergo, however there are elements Arsenal can exploit. Beginning with the reality that they have got obviously given up at the league, because of this between now and April 8, if I am Arteta, all I am doing is getting ready this sport.
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If he is going to stay with Mikel Merino up entrance — it is an absurd state of affairs that used to be wholly avoidable, however let’s no longer move over previous flooring right here — he must tweak his patterns of play in order that he turns into an asset within the last 3rd, and no longer simply an out-of-position passenger. Be mindful once we used to bang on about Arsenal and their set items? Neatly, that man continues to be there and set-piece protecting isn’t Madrid’s specialty.
I in fact suppose that is going to be nearer than many be expecting. Madrid nonetheless are not clicking, LaLiga’s identify race is draining and too continuously the sport plan is look ahead to Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham or Vinicius Jr. to do one thing (or for Fede Valverde to leather-based it from deep). If that occurs, there is no a lot you’ll be able to do, but when it does not and this sport is made up our minds on soccer and techniques, it is a toss-up. Actual Madrid advance, 1-0 on combination
LAURENS: Actual Madrid would be the favorites, particularly with the second one leg on the Bernabeu. Arsenal are suffering for creativity at the present time, except they play PSV Eindhoven. They do not have a right kind No.9, even with the go back from damage of Gabriel Martinelli.
It may not be a nasty factor for the Gunners to be the underdogs and they have expectantly discovered so much from their loss at this degree of the contest remaining season towards Bayern Munich. However Actual Madrid are the Kings of Europe, the reigning champions. There’s an air of mystery about them on this pageant, and it’s going to rely evidently subsequent month. Actual Madrid advance, 4-2 on combination
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Burley: Actual Madrid’s entrance 3 have been terrible
ESPN FC’s Craig Burley has categorized Actual Madrid’s entrance 3 as “terrible” after Carlo Ancelotti’s facet beat Atletico Madrid on consequences to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals.
DAWSON: Arsenal’s season, which confirmed some early promise, is at risk of truly fizzling out into not anything. The identify has long past; all they have were given left is the Champions League. The primary leg towards a sloppy PSV Eindhoven apart, Arsenal are suffering to attain targets and the remainder of the marketing campaign may now turn out to be an actual slog. It would not be an enormous wonder if they discovered themselves slipping down the Premier League desk.
Mikel Arteta’s facet would fight to overcome Actual Madrid even supposing they have been in unbelievable variety they usually may not have sufficient up entrance to knock out the kings of the Champions League. Actual Madrid advance, 4-1 on combination
LINDOP: Relating to the Champions League, just a idiot would wager towards Actual Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti’s facet have been a way from their easiest towards Atlético within the around of 16, however as they so continuously do, they discovered a fashion. It’s that innate trust in their very own skills — plus their wealth of ability — that may certainly give them the brink over Arsenal, who’re desperately short of an attacking spark and feature no longer but demonstrated they have got what it takes to recover from the road on the easiest degree. Actual Madrid advance, 4-2 on combination
QF TWO: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Aston Villa
First leg: April 9 | 2nd leg: April 15
OGDEN: PSG are a in reality, in reality excellent crew and their win at Liverpool will give them the arrogance that they may be able to in any case win the Champions League this season. They tore Guy Town aside at Parc des Princes within the League Section, and in addition made Liverpool glance strange over two legs. So regardless of Villa’s nice run to the quarters, there is just one winner on this tie and that’s the reason PSG. Vitinha, João Neves and Ousmane Dembélé were remarkable in fresh weeks and they are going to be means too excellent for Villa. PSG advance, 4-1 on combination
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How PSG have turn out to be more potent contenders with out Kylian Mbappe
Ale Moreno says the departure of Kylian Mbappe to Actual Madrid has enabled Luis Enrique to show PSG right into a more potent crew general.
MARCOTTI: I am serious about the conflict between PSG bosses previous and provide. Luis Enrique is a genius, however he is additionally like Icarus: he flies too on the subject of the solar, will get somewhat too fancy and presto! — he will get dumped on his bottom. That is what Emery — who, let’s accept it, is the other — goes to take a look at to do, exploiting no matter flaws he spots on this crew. He additionally may not hesitate to move lengthy over and over to wreck the click if he has to, and even get somewhat unpleasant if it method successful.
Common sense suggests PSG so I will move with that, however underestimate Emery in a knockout surroundings at your peril. PSG advance, 4-3 on combination
LAURENS: That is the tie of previous pals reunited! Emery meets the membership he controlled from 2016-18 with highs (the win towards Barcelona) and the lows (the loss towards Barcelona). Then you’ve gotten Lucas Digne, Paris-born and a former PSG participant (2013-2015).
What about Marco Asensio? Loaned out in January via PSG to Villa, the place his have an effect on has been nice already with seven targets to this point. You even have Marcus Rashford going again to the Parc des Princes 5 years after he knocked out PSG with Manchester United. Bouba Kamara, former Marseille midfielder, will face once more his previous enemy, whilst Axel Disasi could also be Paris-born and as soon as performed for the opposite Paris crew, Paris FC.
Even with the second one leg at house, Aston Villa are the outsiders by contrast PSG crew, recently the most efficient in Europe. PSG advance, 4-2 on combination
DAWSON: PSG have made themselves one of the most favourites to win the entire thing after dumping Liverpool. They will for sure fancy their probabilities towards Aston Villa, however Villa may also see a possibility to move thru: Emery may even admit privately that he is satisfied dealing with PSG quite than Liverpool.
It kind of feels as despite the fact that PSG have hit any other degree since beating Manchester Town 4-2 in January and whilst Emery will relish the chance to out-wit his former membership, PSG’s high quality must be decisive over two legs. The sport at Villa Park might be tight, even though it may well be all over the place after the primary leg in Paris. PSG advance, 4-2 on combination
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How a long way can Aston Villa move within the Champions League?
The ESPN FC workforce speak about how a long way Aston Villa can move within the Champions League after Unai Emery’s facet reached the quarterfinals.
LINDOP: Aston Villa were remodeled underneath Emery and his file in Ecu pageant is spectacular. Alternatively, PSG are my favourites to move on and win the contest this season.
Having been fortunate sufficient to be within the stadium for each legs in their round-of-16 tie with Liverpool, I will hopefully say they seem like the most efficient crew in Europe at the present time and, even with the second one leg at Villa Park, I believe PSG can have a long way an excessive amount of for the Premier League facet. PSG advance, 5-2 on combination
First leg: April 9 | 2nd leg: April 15
OGDEN: There is no explanation why to again Borussia Dortmund to win this tie rather than the reality that they have got the power to come what may produce their easiest within the Champions League when their home variety is reasonable at easiest. Dortmund scraped previous Lille to make it this a long way, however it is difficult to look them holding Barcelona quiet over two legs. This seems like essentially the most one-sided tie of the around and Barca must win with ease. Barcelona advance, 4-1 on combination
MARCOTTI: Dortmund, lest we overlook, are within the backside part of the Bundesliga, which is why this can be a critical mismatch. There is quite a lot of tempo within the large spaces for Dortmund, so I suppose some type of sport plan the place they are trying to milk Hansi Flick’s excessive line could be tips on how to opt for Nilo Kovac? Drawback is, everyone tries to try this towards Barca and few prevail.
I am not certain how they plan on ever getting the ball again in midfield (and Pascal Gross is suspended too), and the chance of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha towards no matter defensive aggregate — Yann Couto, Ryerson or Rami Bensebaini? — Kovac pulls out of the hat is frightening. Barcelona advance, 3-0 on combination
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Why courageous Benfica have been the easiest opponent for Barcelona
Craig Burley says Benfica’s open taste of play made them the easiest combatants for Barcelona, who advance to the Champions League quarterfinals.
LAURENS: Barcelona will ruin this reasonable Dortmund crew, make no mistake about it. Barça are too excellent going ahead, have two of the most efficient and maximum in-form gamers on the planet (Lamine Yamal, Raphinha), they have got a dominant midfield, an excellent bench and even supposing they’re on occasion uncovered defensively because of Flick’s insistence on a super-high excessive line of defense, Dortmund will be unable to forestall them anyway.
BVB boss Kovac has been on their bench for a month, however has no longer made a lot of an have an effect on regardless of their run to the quarterfinals. Sadly, except one thing dramatic occurs to the Barcelona superstars, they stand no probability subsequent month. Barcelona advance, 5-0 on combination
DAWSON: Barcelona made somewhat gentle paintings of Benfica within the remaining around regardless of enjoying with 10 males for many of the first leg, and they are going to be heavy favourites to achieve the remaining 4. Borussia Dortmund reached the overall remaining yr, however they are having a troublesome season. They are tenth within the Bundesliga for a explanation why.
Barcelona performed Dortmund within the league segment in December and got here clear of Sign Iduna Park with a 3-2 win. Dortmund’s easiest hope is to get a end result within the first leg in Spain after which attempt to nick one thing at house. Alternatively, it is much more likely that Barcelona will win each video games and cruise into the semifinals. Barcelona advance, 5-1 on combination
LINDOP: Barcelona were one of the vital entertaining groups on this season’s pageant and along PSG, they appear maximum certified to move on and win the entire thing. Raphinha and Yamal are each in very good variety at the present time and, whilst Sign Iduna Park can produce a unique surroundings on Champions League nights, it is laborious to look Dortmund having the ability to reside with Barcelona’s high quality over the 2 legs.
I are expecting a at ease win for the Spanish league leaders. Barcelona advance, 4-1 on combination.
QF FOUR: Bayern Munich vs. Inter Milan
First leg: April 8 | 2nd leg: April 16
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Who is favorite to advance when Bayern face Inter?
Ale Moreno previews the Champions League quarterfinal matchup between Bayern Munich and Inter.
OGDEN: That is my tie of the around with regards to the magnitude of the 2 golf equipment, the conflict of types and what boils right down to Inter’s rock forged defence measuring up towards Bayern’s function risk from Harry Kane, Kingsley Coman, Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise. Bayern have scored 28 targets within the pageant, Inter simply 15, however Inter have conceded simply two targets, and saved 8 blank sheets, to this point.
Bayern have conceded 14 targets already, so I am taking Inter’s solidity to be the deciding issue. Inter Milan advance, 2-1 on combination
MARCOTTI: I believe that is in reality tight. Bayern are in a transition season and typically have not been spectacular however they are 8 issues transparent on the most sensible of the Bundesliga and simply beat Leverkusen 5-0 on combination. That has to imply one thing, proper?
I believe it is also massively related that, whilst Inter have a large squad and Inzaghi likes to rotate, they are appearing indicators of damage and, not like Bayern (whose home season is over), they are in a dogfight for the Serie A identify and feature a derby towards Milan bobbing up within the Coppa Italia. That is why I am leaning Bayern on this one: they are going to be a long way brisker. Bayern Munich advance, 3-2 on combination
LAURENS: That is doubtless the tie I am essentially the most taking a look ahead to seeing! Inter are via a long way the most efficient defence within the pageant to this point and Bayern, even with their attacking firepower, must be in reality excellent to bother them. However, the Italian entrance two of Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram may harm any crew. Tactically, Simone Inzaghi has certainly the higher hand with regards to enjoy and savoir faire than Vincent Kompany however it’s going to be attention-grabbing to look how Inter take care of the German’s press, particularly in Munich. Inter Milan advance, 2-1 on combination
DAWSON: Bayern Munich are smartly on their option to reclaiming the Bundesliga identify, however they are variety within the Champions League has been combined. There have been defeats at Aston Villa, Barcelona and Feyenoord within the league segment they usually best simply scraped previous Celtic within the play-off around. They will depend on an attacking risk spearheaded via Harry Kane — who has were given 10 targets in 11 video games in Europe this season — however Inter Milan are disciplined and organised underneath Simone Inzaghi. A good tie, it’ll come right down to a tactical struggle at the touchline and Inzaghi has the brink over Vincent Kompany. Inter Milan advance, 3-2 on combination
LINDOP: I believe both means, this tie goes to be tight. Bayern Munich are doing smartly locally and feature some in reality proficient attacking gamers, spearheaded via the talismanic Kane. Alternatively, their performances within the Champions League have not been totally convincing this time period and Inter’s defensive self-discipline, coupled with the ability of the San Siro, may simply turn out to be their undoing.
I believe this may well be essentially the most tactically attention-grabbing of the quarter-final ties, with Inter simply edging it for me on combination. Inter Milan advance, 3-2 on combination
