Get our predictions for the second legs of this week’s Champions League quarter-finals…
Final week’s first legs within the Champions League quarter-finals threw up some surprises, anticipated wins and intriguing narratives.
The returns are this week with 4 groups set to safe their locations within the semi-finals.
Right here, we take a look at the fixtures and choose our winners!
TUESDAY
Atletico Madrid v Barcelona (8pm)
The largest shock of all final week occurred at Camp Nou with Barcelona falling to a 2-0 defeat in opposition to an Atletico Madrid aspect they’d overwhelmed in La Liga the earlier weekend. Pau Cubarsi’s dismissal after 44 minutes proved pivotal with Julian Alvarez curling within the subsequent free-kick and Alexander Sorloth volleying dwelling a second within the second half. Atletico boss Diego Simeone is the knowledgeable at defending a lead and he’ll set his workforce as much as protect what they’ve. That also may not be sufficient to maintain out the likes of Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford for the complete 90 minutes however we are able to’t see Barca getting the two-goal win they should undergo.
Prediction: Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona
Liverpool v Paris Saint-Germain (8pm)
That Liverpool are nonetheless within the tie ought to come as a lift after they had been comprehensively outplayed on the Parc des Princes. Some wayward ending and good goalkeeping from Giorgi Mamardashvili saved the rating at 2-0 and, if this had been the Liverpool of 12 months in the past, you’d fancy them to trigger Paris Saint-Germain some main complications at Anfield. However this isn’t the identical Liverpool that romped to the Premier League title final season. They’re fragile on the again and lack efficiency in assault. If PSG take a front-foot strategy then we are able to’t see another consequence than one other away win.
Prediction: Liverpool 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain
WEDNESDAY
Arsenal v Sporting CP (8pm)
Arsenal appeared to have gotten their season again on observe in Lisbon final week, Kai Havertz’s late purpose giving them a 1-0 win that places them on target to undergo. However a dismal 2-1 defeat at dwelling to Bournemouth on Saturday has solid extra doubt on their capability to carry their nerve and win the Premier League. If these doubts resurface once more on Wednesday it might complicate their progress on this competitors as effectively. The query is whether or not Sporting CP are ok to capitalise. We’re undecided they’re and we expect Arsenal come via this fairly comfortably and provides themselves a much-needed enhance in confidence forward of their crunch weekend journey to Manchester Metropolis.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Sporting CP
Bayern Munich v Actual Madrid (8pm)
Real Madrid’s hopes of a first-leg benefit had been thwarted final week with Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer rolling again the years with a classic show on the Santiago Bernabeu. It completed 2-1 to Bayern and the guests know failure to overturn that deficit will probably see them having to resist a trophyless season that began with such excessive hopes. It might be silly to low cost a Madrid workforce that has the attacking skills of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham however Bayern are one of many few groups in Europe that may match them with Harry Kane, Luis Diaz and Michael OIise. Bayern at dwelling are a troublesome proposition and we are able to’t see Madrid having sufficient to get via.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 3-1 Actual Madrid
