Champions League quarter-finals preview

Tuesday Apr 3

Juventus VS Real Madrid

This is a revival of last season's final, between two traditional giants of the competition. Juve, one of the best defences in Europe, hosts Real Madrid, one of the most dangerous attacks. Juventus are unbeaten till the Champions League group stage opening, having beaten Tottenham (4-3 on aggregate) in the last '16'. It is worth noting that the Bianconeri’s only defeats in the last two seasons (21 games), have been against Spanish opponents, including last year's 4-1 defeat against Real Madrid in the final game. Real Madrid, who has outclased PSG in in the last '16' (5-2 on aggregate), have hit form of lately and have only one defeat in their last 13 games in all competitions. 

Sevilla VS Bayern Munich

Spanish club Sevilla shocked Premier League Manchester United in the previous round, by recording a 2-1 win at Old Trafford in the second leg of the tie, after a 0-0 draw at the "Sanchez Pizjuan". Bayern recorded a rather more convincing 8-1 aggregate win over Shakhtar Donetsk, to set up this last '8' tie. Sevilla’s recent record in the Champions League is decent, as the Andalucian side has lost just once in their last 10 games in Europe’s elite competition. However, the home side has won only 4 of those games (4-5-1). Bayern Munich has been in top form lately in the Champions League, winning their last 6 games. The Bavarian giants have also scored minimum two goals in all those matches.

Wednesday Apr 4

Liverpool VS Manchester City

This clash has the potential to be the most exciting of all the quarter-finals, with two of the Premier League’s most attacking teams going head-to-head. Liverpool recorded a comfortable victory over Porto (5-0 aggregate) in the previous round, while City defeated Swiss side Basel (5-2 on aggregate). Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 12 games in the Champions League. However, it is worth noting that the "Reds" have drawn half of these games. Strangely enough, Jurgen Klopp’s side has been solid in defence in this competition, having kept clean sheets in 5 of their last 6 European games. In addition, the "Reds" remain unbeaten in their 17 home games against City in all competitions. Manchester City have won 6 of their last 8 games in the Champions League. However, Pep Guardiola’s side has lost 2 of their last 3 games in Europe’s top competition. City also has an average away record in the Champions League, winning just 3 of their last 8 away games.

Barcelona VS Rome

Barcelona heads into this tie as grand favourites, against a team that is considered as the biggest underdogs among the 8 teams that are sill alive in this year's competition. The home remains unbeaten in their last 9 Champions League games. "Blaugrana" are famous for their attacking play, but it is at the other end that they have impressed lately in Europe, keeping 4 clean sheets in their 5 games in the competition. The "La Liga" leaders have won 18 out of their last 19 home games in the Champions League. Roma, who made it to the last '8' over Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, has a mixed recent record in the Champions League, having won 3e, lost 2 and drawn 1 of their last 6 games. The Giallorossi’s recent record on their travels in the Champions League is poor, as they have won just one of their last 14 away games in this competition.