The Champions League quarterfinals matchups have been announced giving pundits a ton to talk about and looking ahead at which sides are in the most advantageous position to move forward. Here is a look at the eight remaining teams and how the corresponding matchups boost or damage their chances at glory.

Benfica

The Portuguese team is undeniably the one in the most precarious situation moving forward. Despite taking out Zenit St. Petersburg in the previous round, few will note that Benfica excelled in that matchup. Now the team must take on a powerhouse Bayern Munich side that seemed to be losing its mental edge after conceding four straight goals against Juventus. But suddenly Munich looks awake and well and should be poised to take down Benfica in quick measure.

A year ago Porto did some damage to Bayern in the knockout rounds before getting pounded emphatically in the second leg. Expect no less against Benfica.

Wolfsburg

The most favorable matchup for the German side would have been Benfica, but now it draws Real Madrid in a game that is clearly in the Spanish giant's favor. Wolfsburg is a solid defensive side, ranked 10th among all teams in this year's tournament in shots conceded, but its number is far below second ranked Real Madrid which is also the highest shooting team in the league.

Atletico Madrid

The Spanish side was dealt a big blow when it was put together with Barcelona, a club that has owned Atletico since the Colchoneros knocked out Blaugrana from the UCL quarterfinals back in 2013-14 on its way to the final.

However, this version of Barcelona has taken down Atletico twice this season and will be the favorite.

Manchester City

The English side has finally made it this far and has a decent matchup against PSG. The French side is actually rather suspect defensively, allowing 13 shots per game, ranked 14th in the UCL and worst among the remaining sides in the tournament. City ranks fourth in preventing shots, but the team has struggled with its consistency on the offensive side of the game.

PSG has a tremendous amount of star talent and still remains the favorite here.

Paris Saint-Germain

This is a tough matchup for the French side, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic is starting to hit his stride yet again alongside Angel Di Maria, who excels in this tournament. PSG has shown that it can be a dominant force in this tournament, put Real Madrid's back against the wall in a tense affair in Spain before taking down Chelsea rather methodically across two legs.

Defense is a concern, but PSG has more firepower than Manchester and should run away with this one.

Real Madrid

Choosing between Los Blancos and Bayern Munich is a tough task, but matchups and consistency of form is the difference here. While Real Madrid has been excellent in the Champions League thus far, the team's form in the domestic league has been nothing if not inconsistent and questionable.

Cristiano Ronaldo is starting to round into form over the last few weeks and could have a major impact. Real Madrid is the top team at creating scoring chances in this tournament and the best of the remaining squads at preventing chances. If Madrid continues the play it has sustained in this tournament against Wolfsburg and beyond, this club could be looking at the Undecima.

Bayern Munich

Anyone wondering whether Pep Guardiola's early announcement of his exit might have an impact on Germany's top team only need look at its performances against Juventus to see a team that looks disinterested at times.

However that second half against the Italian side in the second leg proved that Guardiola is still capable of guiding this deep squad to greater heights when it is demanded of him.

Bayern has the deepest bench in the tournament and looks capable of beating anyone and everyone except...

Barcelona

Closing in on 40 games unbeaten, this club just looks unstoppable yet again. The combination of the best attacking line in soccer and a sturdy midfield and defense has this writer electing Barcelona as the runaway favorite to claim the title.

Atletico will present a major challenge to Blaugrana, mainly because the Colchoneros' stingy and aggressive style could leave some players injured, but if Barcelona handles the two legs as it has previous games, then this should be no contest.

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