The difficulty of the draw for Spanish teams is uneven. Any Premier team will present a significant challenge. The same happens with the German roller from Bayern Munich. Benfica is the one everyone wants.
Lewandowski leads the Bayern Munich machine
A roll with Nagelsmann when he wants, as happened against Salzburg in the second leg that ended 7-1. Lewandowski, who has 43 goals this season, is still a public danger and anyone who accompanies him in the area (Gnabry, Coman, Müller…) is also fearsome. However, he is a Bayern with shortcomings. In defense he has many doubts (Davies will be absent due to the myocarditis he suffered) and he is having a hard time being a regular in the Bundesliga, with two draws in the last two games against Bayer Leverkusen and Hoffenheim (both 1-1). Süle’s injury will force Nagelsmann to fire Upamecano, who has been heavily criticized all season. The change to three central defenders with Gnabry and Coman as lane players is an all or nothing. He must recover Göretzka in midfield to accompany Kimmich.
The contradictions of Guardiola’s Manchester City
He is not going through his best moment. He has seen his lead against Liverpool in the Premier reduced to a single point and gets stuck in some games. The last goalless draw against Crystal Palace is an example of this (0-0). The loss of Rúben Dias in the center of defense is decisive and it is not known if he will arrive in time for either of the two quarter-final matches. Walker will also be unable to play in the first leg as he still carries the red card he saw in the group stage against Leipzig. Guardiola is being criticized for making few changes. Even so, his offensive flow is indisputable despite playing without a forward as a reference and he has Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne in a great moment. Ideal for teams that know how to defend themselves and do damage on the counterattack.
Van Dijk returns consistency to Liverpool
Once again he aspires to conquer the Champions League and the Premier after a previous season with many injuries that greatly affected his performance. But Van Dijk recovered and with him came consistency as a team and the possibility of counterattacking without suffering too much at the back. Salah continues at a stratospheric level, Colombian Luis Díaz (signed from Porto in the winter market) has entered very well since he arrived at the team and others like Diogo Jota or Mané continue to be dangerous. Good Thiago in midfield. An extraordinarily great team led by Klopp, forceful and direct, with two long-distance wingers and remarkable offensive conditions such as Alexander-Arnold and Robertson. He also has danger in the strategy, as was seen in his victory against Inter in the round of 16.
Nothing affects Chelsea, European champion
The problems in the offices after the suspension of Abramovich are not confusing the team too much, surprisingly. He got rid of Lille without too many problems in the round of 16, is third in the Premier League and has been fighting for titles such as the Carabao Cup until the final, where he fell on penalties against Liverpool. Tuchel is a master of group management. Their system of three central defenders already made them a rock in the last edition, which they ended up conquering, and Havertz is sweet. The German player is a sure thing in decisive matches, while Kanté continues to dominate a midfield in which Saúl barely counts. Lukaku has disappointed and wants to leave in the next market, but Chelsea have plenty of arguments to defend the European throne.
The miracle of the surprise guest: the Portuguese Benfica
Many problems throughout the season, they have interesting players and yet their performance as a team has been quite poor until the magical night in Amsterdam. Benfica then showed that with a player like Darwin Núñez they can strike fear in any stadium. He has managed to find an eleven type with Gonçalo Ramos playing very close to the Uruguayan. Rafa Silva also stands out in the offensive section. Spectacular contribution also from Grimaldo, a great strategic shooter, and from the goalkeeper Vlachodimos, key since the distant qualifying round in August against PSV. The Lisbon team seems to have already overcome the traumatic dismissal of Jorge Jesus, with former subsidiary coach Nelson Verísimmo on the bench. He is clearly the weakest opponent in the draw.