Schalke v Manchester City
Try as he might, Txiki Begiristain
found it hard to hide his delight. Although City’s director of football
said all the right things about Schalke representing a difficult hurdle
to his side’s prospects of progressing to the last eight in the
competition they covet most, a meeting with the team who are currently
13th in the Bundesliga is unlikely to raise much concern in the
corridors of power at the Etihad Stadium. Dominico Tedesco’s side
finished five points behind Porto in a weak group and have lost eight
times in the league this season, although Pep Guardiola will not
underestimate their threat even if he did not lose to them in six
meetings as Bayern Munich manager. The former Tottenham midfielder Nabil
Bentaleb and Switzerland striker Breel Embolo are potential danger men
as Leroy Sané returns to his former club for the first time since
joining City in 2016.
Verdict: Manchester City
Atlético Madrid v Juventus
Juventus finished ahead of
Manchester United in their group but will be wary of facing Diego
Simeone’s side as Cristiano Ronaldo makes his first return to Madrid
since leaving their bitter rivals in the summer. Atlético’s Wanda
Metropolitano will host the final on June 1st, perhaps making them an
even tougher nut to crack than usual in a competition in which they have
finished as runners-up three times. In nine home matches this season,
Atlético have conceded only five goals but showed a new vulnerability on
the road in the 4-0 thrashing by Borussia Dortmund during the group
stage that denied them top spot. Juventus remain one of the favourites
and with Ronaldo in their ranks should have just enough firepower to
find a way through Simeone’s miserly defence, led by Jan Oblak and Diego
Godín.
Verdict: Juventus
Manchester United v PSG
Less than 24 hours after a costly
defeat at Anfield, this was the draw José Mourinho was probably
expecting. Thomas Tuchel’s PSG racked up 17 goals during the group
stages after a slow start and are already approaching half a century in
Ligue 1 having played 16 matches, meaning Manchester United’s manager
will need to call on his vast Champions League experience to get through
this tie against Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and co. November’s dramatic
victory against Juventus in Turin could give him a glimmer of hope of
emulating David Moyes in 2013 by reaching the last eight while
struggling in the Premier League, although you have to fear for United’s
defence given recent displays. The question is whether Mourinho will
still be in charge for the first leg at Old Trafford on February 12th.
Verdict: PSG
Tottenham v Borussia Dortmund
Mauricio Pochettino’s side beat
Dortmund twice in the group stages in 2017 but Lucien Favre’s side are a
different prospect these days. Nine points clear in the Bundesliga and
yet to taste defeat in 15 matches, they will be formidable opponents as
they attempt to put last season’s disappointing defeat by Juventus at
this stage behind them. The England forward Jadon Sancho has emerged as a
major star of Dortmund’s vibrant young team, with the 18-year-old
having contributed five goals and seven assists this campaign in the
league. The German side are led by a resurgent Marco Reus, have the
super-sub Paco Alcácer and boast a defence which has conceded only 15
goals in the league. Spurs will need to show more of the fighting spirit
they summoned in squeezing through their group if they are to reach the
quarter-finals for the first time since 2011.
Verdict: Tottenham
Lyon v Barcelona
The French side have reached this
stage for the first time since 2012 and showed they are not here to make
up the numbers by defeating Manchester City away in the group stages
before the 2-2 draw last month. The captain Nabil Fekir has excelled
after his transfer to Liverpool collapsed, although they are 13 points
behind a rampant PSG in Ligue 1 and have proved inconsistent. Barcelona
are still smarting from their quarter-final embarrassment at the hands
of Roma last season and Ernesto Valverde’s side will be expected to
progress without too much fuss. Two goals from Thierry Henry in a 5-2
thrashing at the Camp Nou at this stage set Pep Guardiola’s side on
course for their third title in 2009 and they will fancy their chances
of going all the way again this year.
Verdict: Barcelona
Roma v Porto
Last year’s semi-finalists
finished behind Real Madrid in the group stages, with Roma’s young side
struggling down in sixth place in Serie A. Eusebio Di Francesco has been
under pressure in recent weeks but will hope that he can survive the
winter months to lead his side into what looks a great opportunity to
reach the last eight. Porto dropped only two points on their way to
topping an admittedly weak Group D and have a narrow lead in the
Portuguese league under manager Sérgio Conceição, perhaps making them
slight favourites to progress in a competition they have won on two
previous occasions. But Roma’s experience at this level could tip the
balance in their favour if they can resolve their domestic issues.
Verdict: Roma
Ajax v Real Madrid
A repeat of the semi-final in 1973
that saw Johan Cruyff’s side win 3-1 on aggregate on their way to the
second of three European Cups in succession, the next meeting of these
two famous clubs will be a mouthwatering prospect that pits Erik ten
Hag’s exciting young side against the reigning champions. Real Madrid
have not lost a knockout tie in the Champions League since their defeat
by Juventus at the semi-final stage in 2015 but have struggled in the
wake of Zinedine Zidane’s departure in the summer and were embarrassed
at home by CSKA Moscow in midweek. They remain favourites but the energy
and pace of Ajax’s midfield and attack led by the new generation of
homegrown talent will provide a stiff test for the 13-time winners.
Verdict: Real Madrid
Liverpool v Bayern Munich
A meeting with the perennial German champions may not be the daunting prospect it used to be but Bayern will nonetheless provide a tough obstacle to Liverpool’s hopes of progressing. Ajax were the latest opponents to expose their defensive frailties under manager Niko Kovac in the thrilling 3-3 draw last week, with several of their established stars struggling to find the consistency they have become known for over the years. Jürgen Klopp won only nine of his 29 matches against Bayern as manager of Mainz and Borussia Dortmund and will be keen to make up for the latter’s defeat in the 2013 final. He will be without the suspended Virgil van Dijk for the first leg at Anfield on 19 February yet should be confident that the Premier League leaders can repeat their victory on away goals in the 1981 semi-finalVerdict: Liverpool
Source: Guardian
