The Champions League is on the street. In the mouth of millions of fans of the most universal in any latitude.
Much is said, and it will continue to be done until next April 6 and 7 when the duels begin, of the draw for the next instances.
That if there will be a duel to the death between Bayern Munich and PSG; that if Haaland will have the biggest test of his dazzling career so far against City of strategist Guardiola; that if Chelsea had the most benevolent pairing against Porto of the extremely tanned Pepe; and ultimately that if Madrid can take advantage of a downtrodden Liverpool.
The truth is that sarongs are very interesting in advance.
We are talking about three English casts, from my perspective the most even and competitive club leadership in Europe, two Germans, one French, one Portuguese and one from Spain, which paradoxically has dropped from one season to another, going from three candidates to just one. In this instance.
At first glance, Madrid, like many other times in the new millennium, has the least rugged path towards the possible obtaining of the orejona, because of passing over the Reds They would meet in the semis against the winner of Chelsea-Porto, the other less forceful cross between the eight contenders.
Route that has once again unleashed some controversy about that magic or divine grace that meringues possess when choosing the balls and defining their luck in the main league tournament on the Old Continent.
Now let’s go to the crosses properly, with the presence of three of the historical clubs immersed in the candidacy: Real Madrid (13 orejonas and three runners-up); Bayern (six and five); and Liverpool (six and three).
That in addition to the reissue of the definition of the previous season, and the last three eleven champions still in the fight for the crown, precisely Real Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern.
Bayern Munich-PSG
The Bavarians are the most forceful and feared football army on the football scene today. After conquering the sextete in the previous campaign, they continue by their jurisdiction, leading the Bundesliga and with an overwhelming step in the group stage, backed by five wins, a draw and a difference of +13 goals in the group stage of this Champions League. , and then easily dispatching Lazio 6-2 on aggregate (4-1, 2-1).
This crossing is very morbid, after the Teutons rose 1-0 over the Parisians in the previous final.
With practically the same payroll, and striker Robert Lewandowski prolonging his state of grace, this squad stands out for its verticality in attack, solidity in all lines, and multiple game variants to successfully face the rival goal.
In the crusade he will be accompanied by other heavyweights such as Gnabry, Coeman, Sané, Alphonso Davies and Thomas Müller, among others, in addition to the security of Neuer in the arc.
On the other side, PSG did not pass with the same forcefulness, but that does not mean that it ceases to be a bone. Four victories and a couple of setbacks took them to the round of 16, where they had a tank like Barcelona, with a 4-1 win and a 1-1 draw with the scenario practically sentenced in their favor.
That is not why it ceases to be a real danger, especially when in its ranks it has a footballer considered by almost everyone among the best in the world today: Kylian Mbappé, who will surely be seconded by Neymar, Mauro Icardi, Rafhina, Marquinhos, Diallo, and Keylor Navas under the three suits as main references.
Eye: Bayern have been successful in four previous meetings against French clubs in decisive instances of the Champions League. He’s my candidate to advance to the semis.
Manchester City-Borussia Dortmund
The City is one of the dreaded clubs in Europe, but one that has not yet raised an apron. That ambition, the millionaire depth of their squad, with elite men in practically every position, and the magic of Belgian Kevin de Bruyne, could take them far this time.
Like Bayern, his forcefulness has been demonic: 16 points and +12 goals in the group stage, two victories against the German Borussia Mönchengladbach by identical 2-0 in the second round, and just one goal conceded in his door until this minute.
De Bruyne is seconded by men of the stature of Gabriel de Jesús and Raheem Sterling at the top, Gundogan, Rodri Hernández, and goalkeeper Ederson, among others. That, coupled with the leadership of the seasoned Pep Guardiola.
That spread attack will face the Wonder child of the contest, the Norwegian Erling Haaland, who marches at the top of the scorers’ table with a dozen punches. Dortmund is a fairly compact team, serious in its lines, with speed on the counterattack and references such as the pair of Danish Thomas Delaney and Belgian Axel Witsel in midfield, and Marcos Reus-Jadon Sancho in attack. In addition to the American Giovanni Reyna as a revelation at 18 years old.
Obviously a very fair match, although I tip my balance slightly in favor of City.
Real Madrid-Liverpool
Duel in which neither of the contestants goes through a moment of supreme lucidity. Judging by his arrival in this instance, Liverpool has shown a superior level of play, despite being sixth in the Premier, struggling to stay in one of the four positions that grant a visa to the Champions next year.
Four smiles, a draw and a setback led them to command the D key (13 stripes); and then they fired Leipzig with authority, defeating them 2-0 on a couple of occasions.
With five holes, Mohamed Salah is his main reference in attack, so his duel with Central Sergio Ramos will be pitched. He will be accompanied in the search for his goal by Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané, a luxury trident in attack, accompanied by Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Henderson and Trent Alexander Arnold, with the security of Alisson Becker under the three suits.
Liverpool dreams of repeating its 2019 orejona, but it is certainly not even remotely in the same condition, as injuries have been an ordeal for its squad in the current period.
Madrid is always to be feared. While they had a rather rocky preliminary phase with three successes, a draw and a pair of setbacks, they dominated Atalanta 4-1 (1-0, 3-1) in another benevolent round of 16 match. There is little to say about this army that linked an impressive chain of three scepters in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Frenchman Karim Benzema, criticized by many for scoring goals, but highly undervalued in his multi-functional character and in what draws his team, is an indisputable benchmark, as are Courtois in goal and Casemiro in recovery.
Campal will be the duel precisely in the middle sector, in the desire of the meringues to prevent Liverpool from handling the ball at will and deploying their offensive from that area of the field.
Crossing well even, but as I have debated with several friends, Madrid from now on may seem like a real danger, especially when in theory they will not face another “tank” until the final.
Chelsea-Oporto
Two clubs that yearn to once again drown out the cry of champions. The last to utter it was Chelsea in 2012, their only Champions in showcases. But I certainly don’t think any of them have the drive to make this their year.
Porto had the merit of leaving Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus out for the value of the two away goals, after the tie at four on aggregate.
Sergio Oliveira (five perforations); Pepe in the rear; Ndiaye and Uribe in the middle sector, in addition to the Iranian Mehdi, could be central in that crossing.
Either way, Chelsea is going through a moment of resurrection, both in English football and in this Champions League. They commanded their section E with 14 points, plus 12 goals, and four smiles and a couple of hugs. In addition, then they had 3-0 (1-0, 2-0) of the always complicated Spanish Atlético de Madrid.
At the top they have the Frenchman Oliver Giroud (six goals and a second embraced in the scorers’ table), with accessories of caliber such as N’golo Kanté, Pulisic Timo Werner and Jorginho, in addition to the sobriety of the central duo Thiago Silva-antonio Rüdiger .
In fact, bluesThey have only conceded two goals against so far this tournament, so my vote is for them.
Quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions Lague. The orejona awaits for the best club in Europe. As of Tuesday, April 6, this new crusade begins.
–
