The 2015-16 UEFA Champions League resumes this week with first leg of the quarterfinals.
Sportsnet’s soccer panel of broadcasters, writers and pundits offer their picks and predictions below…
BARCELONA vs. ATLETICO MADRID
Noah Love, Sportsnet.ca: Two years ago, Atletico Madrid stunned Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals. That was the year Diego Simeone’s squad lost in the final to city rivals Real Madrid, but did manage to break up the Real/Barca duopoly at the top of La Liga. The problem is that success has different effect for teams such as Barca, Real and, say, Bayern Munich or Chelsea, than it does for teams such as Atletico or 2013 Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund. The former group shed unwanted pieces and acquire superstars in the summer. The latter group sells off its best players and replaces them with new ones it hopes will fill the void. Sometimes it works, and sometimes you spend a whole season trying to find the right chemistry with your new group.
That’s the situation Simeone seems to have found himself in this season. Atletico is second in La Liga mostly thanks to Real Madrid’s ineffective flailing against teams of all quality, not necessarily because it is the league’s second-best team. Jackson Martinez was purchased from Porto, never fit and was shipped to China. Luciano Vietto, so good for Villarreal last year, has barely cracked the lineup. Antoine Griezmann and Koke have, at least, been as good as ever, but the magic of the 2013-14 season just isn’t there.
And Barca? They’ve been Europe’s unstoppable force. With Neymar and Luis Suarez operating at full capacity, this could very well be the best iteration of the Lionel Messi-led Barcelona squad to date. Don’t expect a repeat of the upset.
Prediction: Barcelona wins 3-1.
BAYERN MUNICH vs. BENFICA
Thomas Michalakos, Sportsnet.ca: The idea of destiny has always been a tough sell, but Bayern Munich are slowly making me believe that this year they very well be destined for greatness. How else can you explain their miraculous extra-time comeback over Juventus in the Round of 16? Seriously, did anyone envision Juve blowing a two-goal lead that late in the match? I didn’t.
In his last season as manager, Pep Guardiola’s reign in the capital of Bavaria will be determined solely by his ability to secure the Champions League trophy. Sadly for the Spaniard, two Bundesliga titles, one German Cup, one German Super Cup and one FIFA Club World Cup means very little—especially considering he took over the year after his predecessor guided Bayern to the ever-elusive double. This is it for Guardiola’s Bayern; domestic silverware is a given, European glory is target.
Benfica look to be the sacrificial lamb, despite currently being in a run of incredible form that has seen Rui Vitoria’s side climb back into the driver’s seat domestically, with the reigning Portuguese champions on pace to secure their third straight league title. The Allianz Arena will host the first leg on Tuesday; a place where Bayern have yet to lose in Europe this season.
Prediction: Bayern Munich wins 3-0.
MORE ON CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Is this Ibrahimovic’s last shot at winning the Champions League? || Photo Gallery: The quarterfinal matchups || Photo gallery: 8 players to watch in the quarterfinals || Sportsnet soccer panel’s picks and predictions || Atletico will follow Real template in Barcelona showdown || Champions League takeaways: Luis Suarez saves Barcelona
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN vs. MANCHESTER CITY
Gerry Dobson, Sportsnet: Based on PGS’s season long form, and Manchester City’s recent form, this should be a beauty. City found their legs on the weekend with a thorough 4-0 win over Bournemouth. It was marked by a swashbuckling attack that destroyed the Cherries early on. City is also buoyed by the return of Kevin De Bruyne to the lineup. He was excellent on the weekend and will be a big help in this quarterfinal series.
There are worries for City ahead of their visit to the French capital, though. Joe Hart, Yaya Toure and most importantly Vincent Kompany are all out injured. City has struggled to find a consistent pairing in the centre of their backline and without Kompany they could be shaky.
So, you can bet Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be licking his lips at the prospect of facing yet another wobbly City defence. PSG have waltzed through Ligue 1 this season and knocked out Chelsea in the last round of the Champions League without much trouble. For his part, Ibrahimovic brought his season goal tally to a whopping 30 with a hat trick in PSG’s 4-1 win against Nice on Saturday. PSG is also a well-balanced team with a stingy defence. Experience may also play a part with City hitting the quarterfinals for the first time. This is a tough one to call.
Prediction: A 2-2 draw.
REAL MADRID vs. WOLFSBURG
James Sharman, Sportsnet: This is an intriguing tie, as both Wolfsburg and Real Madrid have looked so much better in Europe than on the domestic front this season.
Wolfsburg sits eighth in the Bundesliga and are coming off a 3-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen, yet in Europe they have been very good, especially at home with just one loss in their last seven European games dating back to last year’s Europa League. Still, it has been a relatively soft Champions League route thus far including a win over Gent in the Round of 16.
Real have been chasing all year in La Liga, however on Saturday they manhandled Barcelona in a tempestuous Clasico. It was one of the most Real Madrid type performances that we’ve seen all season, and Ronaldo whose demise had began to be considered recently scored when he had to.
Prediction: Real Madrid wins 2-0.
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