Chris Maduewesi
Member
It is that enthralling,and spectators are sure to be guaranteed an optimal satisfaction glued to their screens watching the games.
Eight teams who made the quarterfinal this year on paper are worthy champions,and can be ranked as one of the best teams in Europe,if not the best.
It shows how strong this year's last eight is when Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund are ranked as the worst teams in the quarterfinals.
The question is how can United who have been an ever present fixture in the last five years and Dortmund who made the finals last year at Wembley now be underdogs?
Both teams have won it before and have pedigree on their sides,but a tale of misfortunes in their domestic leagues,does not give them a chance against the other six teams who are faring better than them.
But this is a cup competition and you can't rule out any upset,let's say both teams put up a great defiance against all odds to win? Well it defies logic....
Here is a breakdown of the quarterfinal games:
* Manchester United vs Bayern Munich
On current form,this game looks like a mismatch of some sort. United welcome the current champions at Old Trafford in a season that has been filled with upheavals.
David Moyes is feeling the brunt of managing one of the world's biggest clubs and it can't get worse for him playing against one of the best coaches around,Pep Guardiola.
Bayern have already won the German Bundesliga,while United,well,they are currently seventh in the English Premier League and their only hope of making an appearance in this competition next year is if they win this season's final in Lisbon.
Moyes admitted that they are thin on defenders,with Rafael not training with the squad on Monday. Full back Patrice Evra is suspended for the first leg,which should make Alex Buttner a sure starter on the night.
But you have to feel for the Dutch left back,coming up against his compatriot Arjen Robben,he would surely have a night whichever way it goes for him(good or bad) to remember.
Bayern coach,Guardiola and some of his players are already downplaying their favourite status,saying that United can hurt them if they play to their strength.
Yes it is true,but it will be nothing short of a miracle for United to do so.
* Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid
This is one of the most balanced ties in the quarterfinals. Both teams are equally going head to on the league front and you can't help but agree that Diego Simeone's men have come of age.
Atletico top the La Liga table with just a point ahead of Barcelona,which more or less balances this tie.
Factor in that of the three occasions both teams have met this season,all the games ended in draws,with one ending 1-1 and the other two 0-0.
In fact, if there is any team that can hurt Barca this season ,then it is Atletico. They are complete as a team and has been doing the 'dirty work' of knowing how to grind out results in difficult times.
Atletico would be looking to exploit Barcelona's goalkeeping department,with Victor Valdes sidelined for up to seven months with an injury and no replacements drafted. Expect Jose Pinto to man the post.
Players to watch from both sides are Diego Costa(Atletico) Lionel Messi(Barcelona) as they are the arrow-heads for their teams,carrying them all season.
* Paris St-Germain vs Chelsea
This will be PSG's true test to know how far they have come and ready to compete with the big boys.
Chelsea have more experience on this stage especially having Jose Mourinho tinkering the side.
Laurent Blanc will be pitting wits against Mourinho,who if they don't win this competition might end up the season trophyless.
Chelsea's League title hopes was dealt a huge blow when they lost to Crystal Palace,and they ended up losing top spot to Liverpool.
So they would require a huge response when they travel to France for the first leg of the tie.
Chelsea are strong favourites to advance to the semifinal,but in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, PSG have one of the best forwards that can trouble any centre half in the world.
How they can nullify him could go a long way in determining the outcome of this fixture. Having played for Mourinho at Inter Milan,you would expect the Portuguese to provide a good plan to cage him,but it would be mountainous to do so.
Chelsea's attackers have not been hitting the bull's eye consistently as expected,and this could be their undoing.
If Chelsea turn up like they did against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace,then expect them to bid the competition goodbye.
* Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund
This fixture is a repeat of last season's semifinal between Dortmund and Madrid. A game that Robert Lewandowski made the headlines in the first leg,scoring all four goals in the 4-1 routing. It is a pity that he will miss the first leg of this year's edition,due to a suspension.
Dortmund just like United have performed below expectation in the Bundesliga this season. But to cut them some slack,they have lost key defenders to injuries,which has really hampered their output this season.
They would travel to the Santiago Bernabeu knowing that in their full strength,they can harm Madrid.
Carlo Ancelotti's team on their part have huffed and puffed this season. Still in a position to win three titles,they no longer control their destiny of winning the La Liga crown.
If they fall short against Dortmund,it would be viewed as a massive let-down because Madrid are expected to take the tie as they have a better squad.
The 'La Decima' wait seems long overdue and they could smell it if they successfully navigate through the Germans.
Cristiano Ronaldo,Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema would be a handful for Dortmund,but these Germans are anybody's match in their full complement and won't just appear to be rolled over.
Can Jurgen Klopp outfox Ancelotti?