The maximum continental competition continues its course during this month of March to search for a new champion. The Champions League is now reaching the quarterfinals. Gone are other times, in which Spain ruled with an iron fist. Madrid will be the only representative of LaLiga Santander and, in principle, it is not one of the best placed to take the 'Orejona'.
As the European tournament unfolds, different teams have seen their desire to continue in it broken. For their part, others retain their chances of winning the title. Thus, the next appointment marked on the European calendar will be the draw for the quarterfinals and semifinals of the Champions League. A draw in which the whites want to avoid Bayern and City at all costs, called to do great things. Nor is PSG entirely palatable, which passed over Barcelona despite not having Neymar throughout the tie.
When will the draw take place?
The draw in charge of determining the pairings corresponding to the quarterfinals and semifinals of the Champions League will be held this Friday, March 19 at 12:00.. The appointment will take place in Nyon and can be followed live online via the UEFA website. What's more, As.com will narrate all the details and clashes so you don't miss anything.
What teams are classified?
The first knockout round of the Champions League has displaced the illusions of eight teams. The surprise of the round of 16 came from Turin, where Porto eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo and Andrea Pirlo's Juventus. The competitive demand of the tournament determines the pass to the next round and in the quarterfinals they will be:
PORT
One of the great surprises of the tournament and perhaps the most desirable rival for all the greats of the continent. In its ranks, a great Real Madrid recognized: Pepe. The Portuguese central defender continues to perform at a high level at 38 years old and, why not, dreams of going far again. The president of the club has spoken of his intention to renew the ex-Madridista for two more seasons. Despite the good work in the Champions League, things are not going as well in the Primeira Liga. In the absence of eleven days, Sporting de Portugal leads with eleven points advantage. Those from O Dragao sail in second place, although Braga and Benfica press from behind. Except for a great comeback, they will not conquer the domestic tournament. Sergio Oliveira, a name to follow.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
By name, it can be another of the possible cinderellas of the hype. However, in their ranks is Erling Haaland, wanted by all Europe and voracious forward of the area. His numbers and the total impact on the game leave no doubt: he is already one of the best 'killers' in the world. Right now, he is the top scorer in the competition with ten goals. He annihilated Sevilla with two goals in the first leg and another two in the second leg. Somewhat more fragile defensively, Dortmund have outstanding men in attack such as the classic Marco Reus and Jadon Sancho. The latter missed the round of 16 due to injury, but is expected in the quarterfinals. Perhaps he is better at the important appointments: in the Bundesliga they are fifth, 16 points behind the head.
PSG
The sheikh longs for the Champions League since his arrival in Paris. Last season they stayed in the final and in this they are going for the title. Without Neymar or Di María, Mbappé was crowned at the Camp Nou with a hat-trick and a performance to remember. In the return, the Argentine returned and the Parisians showed signs of weakness, after being riddled with the Barcelona offensive. Finally they passed the tie with a new great performance from '7'. In quarters, Neymar will return and the entire galaxy will be available. What's more, Pochettino arrived as a coach prepared to deal in high places. Without a doubt, one of the rivals to avoid. Of course, surprisingly, it is struggling in Ligue 1, led by Lille. Bernat, Sergio Rico, Sarabia, Ander Herrera and the former Blaugrana Rafinha are other recognizable names.
LIVERPOOL
More name than actuality. Liverpool go through a difficult season and he is no longer the same one who was a clear candidate to raise the Orejona. The Champions League is a ball of oxygen for them. They clearly outgrew poor Leipzig and want to do great things in Europe. Of course, for this they will have to deal with defensive problems. There will be neither Matip, nor Joe Gómez, nor Van Dijk. Henderson could also be short, like Roberto Firmino. The plague of casualties led them to sign Ben Davies or Kabak in Winter. Fabinho, already settled back, is a problem in the spinal cord. Thiago, renowned signing in summer, does not finish settling. They are sixth in the Premier, without any option and with the first four difficult places. They went on to sign six consecutive defeats at Anfield. Statistics that do not invite optimism, but that also suggest the maximum continental competition as the only reason to smile.
REAL MADRID
The king of the competition is one more year among the eight best. In the first phase his continuity was doubted and he came to be the last of his group. He ended up classifying as the leader and gave a great image against Atalanta. The Italians are characterized by their offensive fervor and they hardly disturbed Courtois. Zidane definitively recovers Ramos and Benzema for the quarterfinals, although they already played the round of 16. With the plague of casualties overcome, perhaps it is only Hazard who does not make it to the next round. Eliminated from the Cup, the whites still dream of the Champions League and the League. In neither of the two they start as favorites, but they always give the chest do when the final stage arrives. The dressing room is aware and Kroos, Modric and Benzema, in a state of grace.
MANCHESTER CITY
Together with Bayern Munich he is the favorite to win the competition. In the Premier, only a miracle will prevent them from taking her away. His moment of form is exalted. Manchester United broke a 21-game winning streak. Since then, three wins by two goals or more difference. Guardiola has the entire squad plugged in and has found an unexpected arrival in Gundogan. De Bruyne is also flawless and scored a great goal at Monchengladbach. Without a doubt, rival to avoid.
BAYERN FROM MUNICH
It is not necessary to introduce the champion. Flick continues to run a perfect machine, which has not dropped the level that crowned it the best team on the continent last season. The great work of Leipzig in the Bundesliga puts them somewhat in trouble in their championship. Their problem is not in attack, where they add 74 goals in 25 games. In defense, on the contrary, they concede more than one goal per game: 35 in total. That is the main weakness, if any can be found in the German colossus. Lazio had no choice. In their group, despite the fact that Lokomotiv could make it difficult for the trip, Salzburg are difficult opponents and Atlético is one of the greats in Europe, they also swept. They only added a tie, when their classification was already mathematical. A power to avoid, above all.
CHELSEA
Chelsea was first in the group, although many voices were betting on Atlético as the favorite to get among the eight best. The 'blues' seemed like a great project, with high-level signings like Werner or Havertz and the bet on Frank Lampard one more season. The legend no longer trains the club and Thomas Tuchel has taken command. At first he was questioned, but he has shown to have great gifts to take a bench of such responsibility. His team grows as the games go by and he is already fourth in the Premier. Qualification for a new edition of the Champions is not guaranteed, despite the improvement. The arrivals have not finished showing everything that was expected of them. Even so, their quality is beyond doubt, as they have shown in the tie against the rojiblancos. Despite everything, they cannot be considered a 'bogeyman' of the hype.
What will the draw be like? Without conditions
Unlike the draw for the round of 16, where clubs from the same country or the same group could not face each other, this time it will not be the case. The draw does not have any conditions or, what is the same, everyone will be able to face each other. Likewise, chance can determine a Manchester City-Chelsea or a Bayern-Dortmund. Also, in order not to overload the draws, the way to the grand finale will be known. The only nuance that can modify the natural course of events is that not everyone can play as locals due to the evolution of the pandemic. In this round it has already happened, for example, with Atlético de Madrid or Manchester City.
Spain has Madrid
Barcelona and Sevilla were dropped from the Champions League last week. The blaugranas shot with pride but it was not worth them to overcome the advantage PSG, while a Seville full of caste and courage remained at the gates of the European dream after falling in front of the Borussia Dortmund (5-4 on the aggregate scoreboard).
Real Madrid represents the other side of the coin, because he is the only one who is still alive in the competition. Zinedine Zidane's men have closed the classification to the quarterfinals by overthrowing Atalanta. Conversely, the colchoneros could not overcome the 0-1 in the first leg against a great Chelsea and say goodbye in the second round.
The morbid of the draw
There are many attractive possibilities in the hype. Without Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the two alleged successors Haaland and Mbappé would attract a lot of spotlights if the balls so decide. What's more, the Norwegian thanked the Frenchman for his treble at the Camp Nou and acknowledged that it had inspired him. If they face Madrid, it would also be striking. Both are the great objectives of the summer, despite the difficulty of the operations.
The German duel between Bayern and Dortmund hides another great attraction. As would the return of Pepe to Alfredo Di Stéfano and the memory of a central defender who had a great career at Madrid. The whites want to avoid Guardiola, although his crossing would be the return to what was a great rivalry. Liverpool would want revenge for what happened in that final in which Karius was not successful. And Tuchel? Could he take revenge on Paris Saint Germain?