The Champions League reaches the business end of the competition this week, as there are four huge quarterfinals taking place. There are two past finals among the fixtures to look forward to, but which sides could take a massive stride towards booking their place in the semi-finals of the competition.
Real Madrid vs Liverpool
A fixture that will require very little selling is the pick of the games on Tuesday evening. Real Madrid will meet the side that they beat in the 2018 final, with the Champions League being the only realistic competition that either side can win this season.
Liverpool looked back to somewhere near their best against Arsenal in the Premier League this past weekend, but they will need to put in a repeat performance against Real Madrid in the Spanish capital on Tuesday. The Reds eased past RB Leipzig in the previous round of the competition, as they recorded a 4-0 aggregate success.
Real Madrid also had few problems booking their passage through to this stage of the competition, as they beat Atalanta 4-1 on aggregate. The Spanish side have won their previous three games against Liverpool.
The first leg will be crucial in deciding which side progresses from this tie, and we can see it being a tight affair on Tuesday. A score draw would be our selection.
Pick: Draw at 2.45 with BetXChange.
Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund
Manchester City’s hunt for the quadruple continues on Tuesday evening, as they will be looking to get one foot into the next round of the Champions League.
City haven’t been tested in the European competition to this point, but success against Borussia Monchengladbach in the previous round does highlight an exception record against German opposition. The Premier League side have won ten of their last eleven against German opponents.
Borussia Dortmund have recovered well since losing their first game in the competition. Since an opening night defeat against Lazio, Dortmund have won five of their previous seven games. All eyes in this game will be on Erling Haaland, who has been linked with a move to City in the summer.
City’s record in the quarterfinals of the Champions League under Pep Guardiola is a disappointing one, as they have lost four of the five games they have played. However, we expect them to get a huge first leg win against Dortmund.
Pick: Manchester City at 0.36 with BetXChange.
Bayern Munich vs PSG
Last season’s finalists will meet in the quarterfinals of the competition this season. Goals shouldn’t be in short demand in this fixture, as PSG have averaged 2.5 goals per game in the Champions League since 2016-17, while Bayern Munich have averaged 2.8.
PSG looked formidable in the first leg of the previous round, as they picked up a 4-1 success away from home against Barcelona. Kylian Mbappe remains the most important player for PSG, and his performance could be crucial in Bavaria.
Bayern will be without leading scorer Robert Lewandowski for this fixture. There will be more pressure on the wingers to deliver the goals in his absence, but their 1-0 win against Leipzig at the weekend highlights that they are still a threat.
Bayern will be aware that the home advantage that they have on Wednesday must see them run out as winners, and we expect them to claim a narrow success.
Pick: Bayern Munich at 0.90 with BetXChange.
FC Porto vs Chelsea
The most interesting quarterfinal tie takes place in Portugal this week, as Porto will be looking to follow up their heroics from the success against Juventus with another famous win.
Porto were exceptional at both ends of the field in that win against the reigning Italian champions. They will need to be as defensively solid in this game on Wednesday to give themselves the best chance of qualification when the tie moves to London.
Chelsea are many people’s dark horses for the competition this season after being drawn in the favourable half. They were excellent in both legs against Atletico, but they will need to bounce back from the first defeat that they suffered under Thomas Tuchel at the weekend against West Bromwich Albion.
Chelsea will see a draw as a decent result on the road in this first leg. Therefore, we expect a cagey draw to be the outcome.
Pick: Draw at 2.46 with BetXChange.
