Even without a three-color team on the menu, these quarter-finals of the Champions League, which start on Tuesday 12 April, are not without interest. Liverpool and Real Madrid are certainly approaching their receipts from Benfica and Chelsea with a significant gap, but the removal of the away goal rule forces them to be vigilant. Beaten by a short header on the lawns of Manchester City and Villarreal, Atletico de Madrid and Bayern will try to turn the tide at home. Presentation of the main issues.
Bayern-Villarreal: the Bavarians on a mission
After a win in the first round, it is customary to say that half the battle is done. For Villarreal, the equation seems a bit more complicated. Because the opposite is a Bayern experienced in turnarounds. In the eighth, the Munich residents had painfully snatched a draw in Salzburg (1-1), before crushing the Austrian club in the return (7-1). Very convincing in the first leg (1-0), Villarreal was warned and could regret the many missed opportunities in the first leg.
#MondayMotivation: NEVER AUFGEBEN! #WeiterImmerWeiter #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/tcXoAT3nyI
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayern) Apr 11, 2022
But the club led by Unai Emery also manages to do well in this configuration. Their victory in Turin in the round of 16 second leg (0-3) is a benchmark in terms of defensive organization and counter-attack efficiency. Better punishment, the motto has already been found for the former PSG coach. There will be a match on beIN Sports 1 on Tuesday evening.
Chelsea-Real Madrid: Benzema on the way?
Impossible to cut it. Karim Benzema already authored a hat-trick in the round of 16 against PSG (3-1), and returned the cover in the first leg, at Stamford Bridge (1-3). The Rhone striker will inevitably come under scrutiny in Madrid on Tuesday evening, in a match that follows Canal + and RMC Sport. Thomas Tuchel has enough to tear your hair out: on the one hand, the German technician has to follow the science of the placement of “KB9”. On the other hand, his team has to solve the efficiency problems that were noticed in the first leg.
Chelsea corrected the situation (0-6) in Southampton on Saturday. Often criticized for his clumsiness in the face of the cages, Timo Werner split a promising double. Tormenting the Premier League’s 18th defense is one thing, cutting the rear of the undisputed La Liga leader is another. Much is at stake for the Blues who are forced to score at least twice in hopes of continuing their journey in the C1 and retaining their European crown.
Atletico-Manchester City: is Cholismo dead?
Are there two incompatible soccer balls? The gap between the philosophies advocated by Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone is such that the question deserves to be asked. The first leg (1-0 victory for the Cityzens) is in that sense a caricature. Atlético de Madrid were stuck in a very restrictive approach, firing just once on target. The Colchoneros showed grinta and coherent defensive organization, but it’s unthinkable to qualify by producing so little.
special week
ADELANT ATLETICO DE MADRID pic.twitter.com/RyzeFsU46N
— Atlético de Madrid (@AtletiFR) Apr 11, 2022
But the arguments are not lacking on paper. Antoine Griezmann, João Félix and Luis Suárez form, pell-mell, the artillery rojiblanca† In addition, trailing in La Liga, the reigning Spanish champions will be stripped of some of his supporters after a stand is closed. The handicap is significant, given the enthusiasm of the public in Madrid. Tactics enthusiasts will get their money’s worth on Wednesday evening at Canal + Sport and RMC Sport.
Liverpool-Benfica: move, there is nothing to see
We don’t blame you if you go ahead. Without being entirely a foregone conclusion, Liverpool’s qualifier against Benfica is not really up for debate. Easily victorious in Lisbon (1-3), the Reds have one foot and four toes in the semi-finals. Without being ridiculous in the first leg, the Portuguese faced the law of a team experienced in the C1 play-offs. Benfica, already out of the running for the championship title, will aim for a prestigious victory.
A boost from Jürgen Klopp cannot be ruled out: the tactician of Scousers could rotate for this meeting, alternating between two duels against Manchester City. But whatever it is, the made-up team will be very competitive. The irreducible will be able to follow the meeting on Wednesday evening, on beIN Sports 1.
