Thoughts on the UCL Quarterfinal draw
The Round of 16 has been completed with AFC Ajax, FC Barcelona, Juventus FC, Liverpool FC, Manchester United FC, Manchester City FC, FC Porto and Tottenham Hotspur FC through to the quarterfinals. The draw for the quarterfinals has been done with some exciting match-ups. Here are my thoughts from the draw.
Manchester United FC V FC Barcelona
The biggest match-up from the draw, Manchester United will face the daunting task of stopping Lionel Messi and Barcelona when they meet in the last eight. Manchester United were in a different place before the knockout stages with the level of uncertainty at Old Trafford. However, since the appointment of interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær, United look like a team that has belief again and that belief grew a thousand fold when they came from behind to beat PSG to go through. With Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Romelu Lukaku, Victor Lindelöf and Ander Herrera revitalized under the Norwegian, United have a chance, even if it's slim. Barça got the job done against Lyon and they look like they could end the season with another treble. Lionel Messi is still Lionel Messi with eight goals but the supporting cast (Suárez, Dembélé, Coutinho, Rakitić) will have to do more particularly Suárez who has struggled in the competition with only one goal since last season and is yet to score this season. This will also hurdle that Barça have been unable to cross for three seasons now and with the amount of competition they have left, Barcelona shouldn't be complacent against United or they will pay (Roma comes to mind).
Likely to go through: Barcelona. United still have a chance but are very slim.
AFC Ajax V Juventus FC
Ajax are in the quarterfinals for the first time in sixteen years and they did it in some style. Went through the group stages unbeaten with two draws against Bayern Munich, they were unfortunate to lose in the first leg against Real Madrid but gave one of the best highlights this season defeating the defending champions 4-1 at the Bernabéu to go through. This Ajax side are led by the likes of Matthjis de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong but have the creative talents of Dušan Tadić and Hakim Ziyech who have their main attacking threat this season. This Ajax side should not be underestimated. They face another experienced side in Juventus who have played in two UCL finals in the last five season and have Cristiano Ronaldo in their ranks. The Portuguese had a slow start this season but came to life with a hat-trick to see off Atlético Madrid in the Round of 16. Juventus are the favourites to win it this season and having Mr. Champions League himself, they finally have that X factor that they didn't have in 2015 and 2017, however, they have to get past a youthful Ajax side that are not afraid for any challenge.
Likely to go through: Juventus. This could be too much for Ajax.
Tottenham Hotspur FC V Manchester City FC
All four Premier League sides have reached the quarterfinals for the first time in a decade, it looked inevitable that they could face each other in the quarters and it happened. Manchester City will face their Premier League rivals Tottenham in the last eight. It has been a good Champions League season for Spurs going through to the knockout stages beating the likes of PSV Eindhoven and Inter Milan and beating Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund with a comprehensive 4-0 aggregate score. Considering their inability to sign anyone, that is remarkable. Unfortunately, Manchester City have looked very fearsome this season, hammering Schalke in the Round of 16 10-2 on aggregate and they know the Lillywhites very well which can be an advantage. Manchester City have reached the semifinals only once and that was back in 2016 and given how dominant they have been domestically, they will be hoping to replicate that in the Champions League. With the mixture of experience in David Silva, Vincent Kompany and Sergio Agüero and the likes of Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sané and Gabriel Jesus, it looks like it's coming to shape.
Likely to go through: Manchester City. Know Spurs well and have a point to prove.
Liverpool FC V FC Porto
Last year's finalists Liverpool will meet FC Porto again in the last eight after beating them 5-0 in the Round of 16. Liverpool have improved to where they were last season, fighting for the Premier League and have seen off the likes of PSG, Napoli and Bayern Munich to reach the last eight. They are not as exciting as they were last season but look like a more controlled side having Virgil van Dijk and Alisson at the back to compliment the front three. FC Porto have also done well to reach this season. Topping their group, they saw off AS Roma in the last 16 thanks to the experience of Iker Casillas and Pepe, defenders Éder Militão and Alex Telles as well as striker Moussa Marega who has scored six goals this season. Both sides have changed from where they were last season with Liverpool clear favourites but Porto will be looking for revenge for last season.
Likely to go through: Liverpool. Wouldn't be easy as it was last season.
Manchester United FC V FC Barcelona
The biggest match-up from the draw, Manchester United will face the daunting task of stopping Lionel Messi and Barcelona when they meet in the last eight. Manchester United were in a different place before the knockout stages with the level of uncertainty at Old Trafford. However, since the appointment of interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær, United look like a team that has belief again and that belief grew a thousand fold when they came from behind to beat PSG to go through. With Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Romelu Lukaku, Victor Lindelöf and Ander Herrera revitalized under the Norwegian, United have a chance, even if it's slim. Barça got the job done against Lyon and they look like they could end the season with another treble. Lionel Messi is still Lionel Messi with eight goals but the supporting cast (Suárez, Dembélé, Coutinho, Rakitić) will have to do more particularly Suárez who has struggled in the competition with only one goal since last season and is yet to score this season. This will also hurdle that Barça have been unable to cross for three seasons now and with the amount of competition they have left, Barcelona shouldn't be complacent against United or they will pay (Roma comes to mind).
Likely to go through: Barcelona. United still have a chance but are very slim.
AFC Ajax V Juventus FC
Ajax are in the quarterfinals for the first time in sixteen years and they did it in some style. Went through the group stages unbeaten with two draws against Bayern Munich, they were unfortunate to lose in the first leg against Real Madrid but gave one of the best highlights this season defeating the defending champions 4-1 at the Bernabéu to go through. This Ajax side are led by the likes of Matthjis de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong but have the creative talents of Dušan Tadić and Hakim Ziyech who have their main attacking threat this season. This Ajax side should not be underestimated. They face another experienced side in Juventus who have played in two UCL finals in the last five season and have Cristiano Ronaldo in their ranks. The Portuguese had a slow start this season but came to life with a hat-trick to see off Atlético Madrid in the Round of 16. Juventus are the favourites to win it this season and having Mr. Champions League himself, they finally have that X factor that they didn't have in 2015 and 2017, however, they have to get past a youthful Ajax side that are not afraid for any challenge.
Likely to go through: Juventus. This could be too much for Ajax.
Tottenham Hotspur FC V Manchester City FC
All four Premier League sides have reached the quarterfinals for the first time in a decade, it looked inevitable that they could face each other in the quarters and it happened. Manchester City will face their Premier League rivals Tottenham in the last eight. It has been a good Champions League season for Spurs going through to the knockout stages beating the likes of PSV Eindhoven and Inter Milan and beating Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund with a comprehensive 4-0 aggregate score. Considering their inability to sign anyone, that is remarkable. Unfortunately, Manchester City have looked very fearsome this season, hammering Schalke in the Round of 16 10-2 on aggregate and they know the Lillywhites very well which can be an advantage. Manchester City have reached the semifinals only once and that was back in 2016 and given how dominant they have been domestically, they will be hoping to replicate that in the Champions League. With the mixture of experience in David Silva, Vincent Kompany and Sergio Agüero and the likes of Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sané and Gabriel Jesus, it looks like it's coming to shape.
Likely to go through: Manchester City. Know Spurs well and have a point to prove.
Liverpool FC V FC Porto
Last year's finalists Liverpool will meet FC Porto again in the last eight after beating them 5-0 in the Round of 16. Liverpool have improved to where they were last season, fighting for the Premier League and have seen off the likes of PSG, Napoli and Bayern Munich to reach the last eight. They are not as exciting as they were last season but look like a more controlled side having Virgil van Dijk and Alisson at the back to compliment the front three. FC Porto have also done well to reach this season. Topping their group, they saw off AS Roma in the last 16 thanks to the experience of Iker Casillas and Pepe, defenders Éder Militão and Alex Telles as well as striker Moussa Marega who has scored six goals this season. Both sides have changed from where they were last season with Liverpool clear favourites but Porto will be looking for revenge for last season.
Likely to go through: Liverpool. Wouldn't be easy as it was last season.
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