The Champions League is entering its quarter-final stages, and experts are starting to make their picks and predictions for the upcoming matches. With eight teams left in the competition, the matchups promise to be exciting and unpredictable.
One of the most anticipated fixtures is the clash between Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund. The Premier League leaders are clear favorites to progress to the semifinals, with odds of -450 to win the tie outright. Dortmund is seen as a long shot, with odds of + 600. City’s strong defensive record and their attacking prowess make them a formidable opponent, and Pep Guardiola’s side will be confident of advancing.
Another intriguing matchup sees Real Madrid take on Liverpool. The two sides have a storied history in the competition, having faced off three times in the Champions League final in recent years. The Spanish giants are slight favorites to progress at -125, with Liverpool’s odds at + 100. Real Madrid has rediscovered their form under Zinedine Zidane in recent weeks, and the return of Sergio Ramos will be a significant boost. Liverpool will be buoyed by their convincing win against RB Leipzig in the previous round, but many experts believe that Real Madrid’s experience and star power will see them through.
One of the underdogs in the last eight is Porto, who faces Chelsea. The Portuguese side is a distant outsider at +500, while Chelsea has the second-best odds to win the competition outright at + 450. The Blues are riding a wave of momentum under new manager Thomas Tuchel, and their solid defense could be enough to see them past Porto. However, Porto has caused upsets in the past and will be determined to make life difficult for their opponents.
Finally, Bayern Munich, the reigning champions, will face PSG in a rematch of last year’s final. The two sides played out an entertaining and high-scoring encounter in Lisbon, with Bayern edging out their opponents 1-0. This time around, experts are predicting another close match, with the German champions the slight favorites at -120, and PSG’s odds at + 105. The Parisians have been in excellent form since the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino, and with the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, they have the firepower to trouble Bayern’s defense.
Overall, the Champions League quarter-finals promise to be full of drama and excitement. While there are clear favorites in some matchups, anything can happen in knockout football, and surprises are always possible. Fans will be eagerly anticipating every game, waiting to see which teams will advance to the semifinals and keep their dreams of European glory alive.
