The Champions League returns this week with all four of the first leg of the quarter-finals of the competition taking place over the next few nights. Here are the pick of this weeks Champions League clashes:
Tuesday
Tottenham v Manchester City (Kick-off 8 PM)
Two of the Premier League’s top-four teams Tottenham and Manchester City go head-to-head at the Tottenham Stadium, in potentially one of the most intriguing last-eight ties.
Tottenham’s form has not been great of late in the English top-flight. However, Mauricio Pochettino’s side recorded a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in their opening at the club’s new stadium last time out.
The team from north London also have the positive of a six-game unbeaten run in the Champions League to take into this clash, including victories over Dortmund home and away in the round of 16.
While Spurs are playing at a new ground, the team from north London have won seven of their last nine matches on home soil in the competition, including their last three home games. A clash with the English champions is a good way to christen their impressive new stadium in Europe’s elite competition.
Manchester City are still on to win the quadruple this season. The Citizens are unbeaten in 14 matches in all competitions. Last time out, Pep Guardiola’s team booked their place in the FA Cup with a 1-0 semi-final win over Brighton.
The Citizens are unbeaten in seven matches in the Champions League, having recorded six wins in the process. The reigning Premier League champions have also been an awesome attacking force, scoring at least twice in their last seven games in Europe’s elite competition.
The visitors are four games unbeaten on their travels in this competition, having recorded three wins. Guardiola’s team have also been prolific away from home in the Champions League, scoring at least twice in seven of their last nine matches.
Manchester City are favourites to progress to the semi-finals of the competition. However, Spurs are unlikely to be easy opponents for the Citizens.
Wednesday
Manchester United v Barcelona (Kick-off 8 PM)
This looks to be a tasty clash between two very good attacking teams in Manchester United and Barcelona.
Manchester United will be major underdogs to progress, but as they showed in the last round against PSG, they are capable of pulling off shock results.
However, the Red Devils head into this clash on the back of their worse run of form under boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as they have now lost three of their last four games in all competitions.
United also have a mixed recent record in the Champions League. However, a record of winning three of their last seven in Europe’s elite competition is not a great one heading into a clash with the Catalan giants. The fact that the Red Devils have won just one of their last five Champions League games at Old Trafford does not bode well for a home win either.
Barcelona are 14 games unbeaten in all competitions and head into this clash on the back of a big 2-0 victory over title rivals Atletico Madrid in La Liga.
The Catalan giants have lost just one of their last 19 matches in the Champions League. However, they have drawn three of their last five games in Europe’s elite competition, which will give United hope of pulling off a win in this clash.
The visitors have lost just one of their last nine away games in the Champions League. They have however drawn five of their last eight away games in the competition.
The other Champions League quarter-finals
Liverpool v Porto (Tuesday, kick-off 8 PM)
Ajax v Juventus (Wednesday, kick-off 8 PM)
Which teams will gain crucial first-leg advantages in the last eight of the Champions League?
