Champions League 2015 Quarterfinals: Real Madrid Nightmare, Barcelona-PSG Rematch The Headliners
The quarterfinals matches for the Champions League are set.
And they offer some truly promising ties. Latin Post.com takes a look at the four ties and how they break down and which sides are favorites:
Barcelona vs. Paris Saint-Germain
In 2012-13, these two sides faced off in the quarterfinals. Barcelona got by on away goals by the aggregate was 3-3.
This season the two sides met in the group stage. PSG took the first leg at home 3-2 while Barcelona responded with a 3-1 win at home to seize first place in the group.
This is a promising tie that should feature two sides that are in peak form. PSG of course will have to do without Zlatan Ibrahimovic who received a controversial red card in the second leg against Chelsea. That said, the team played better without its Swedish hero and it might rise to the level to take down Barcelona.
However, this tie will come down to Lionel Messi. If he continues his wizarding ways, there is no way that PSG stands a chance.
Edge - Barcelona
Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid
This is compelling for a number of reasons. It is a rematch of the Champions League final which saw Atletico blow a 1-0 lead in the final seconds and wind up losing 4-1.
But that loss aside, Atletico has won six of the last 12 games between these two sides dating back to the Copa del Rey final in 2013. Moreover, since losing the Champions League title last May, Atletico has gone a run of four wins and two draws against its crosstown rivals, with the most recent match being a 4-0 win at the Calderon. The Calderon is where the first match will be played in this tie, leaving Real Madrid with a herculean task.
It should be a lot closer than it is, but Diego Simeone has continually found ways to confound Carlo Ancelotti's club.
Real Madrid should find a way to change its way and top its rivals, but Atletico is the favorite by a long shot right now.
Edge - Atletico
Bayern Munich vs. Porto
This is arguably the most straight-forward match-up with Bayern holding every possible edge on the Portuguese side that could. That said, everyone saw the Bayern performance in the Ukraine and that could tip the scales in a number of ways.
Ultimately however, expect Bayern to take down Porto with relatively facility.
Edge - Bayern Munich
Juventus vs. Monaco
This is either a closer draw than it looks or not close at all. Juventus pounded through Borussia Dortmund with relative ease and looks somewhat unstoppable at the moment.
That said, there is still a chance this team continues to falter at this stage. And if the round of 16 taught the world anything, it is to never count out Monaco.
The French side was seen as one of the weaker ones in the knockout phase but it managed to shock Arsenal 3-1 in the opening leg, putting the Gunners in a whole they could never get out of.
If Monaco can somehow replicate the result against Juventus, they might come away with a final four berth. If Juventus plays the way it did in the previous match-up with Dortmund, this is a blowout in the making.
Edge - Juventus
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