Champions League quarter-final draw

Barcelona v Roma

Sevilla v Bayern Munich

Juventus v Real Madrid

Liverpool v Manchester City

First legs to be played April 3-4

Second legs to be played April 10-11

The Champions League has thrown up an all-English affair in the quarter finals after Liverpool were drawn against Manchester City.

It wasn’t the only tie to catch the eye as holders Real Madrid were drawn against Juventus in what is a re-run of last year’s final in Cardiff.

Here is our guide to take you through all you need to know about the sides ahead of their quarter-final clashes, and who we can expect to see progress to the last four…

Liverpool v Manchester City

Liverpool

The competition’s top scorers and one of only two unbeaten sides remaining in the competition, alongside Barcelona.

Jurgen Klopp’s free-scoring side have taken Europe by storm, rattling up two 7-0 wins in the group stage and a five-goal romp away at Porto in the last 16.

Competition History

Five-time winners with an illustrious European history dating back to before their maiden triumph in 1977.

The miraculous win in Istanbul in 2005 ushered in a period of European excellence where Rafa Benitez continually took Liverpool into the latter stages.

A downturn in fortunes over the last decade makes this only the second time since 2009 the Reds have reached the last eight.

Star man so far

The obvious answer is Mohamed Salah, but it is Roberto Firmino who has come to the fore in Europe this season.

He has seven goals in the competition so far, making him the third highest scorer.

His movement and defensive work in the attacking third make him an absolute handful for opposing teams, as much as his prowess in front of goal.

Manchester City

Two defeats in dead-rubber games should take nothing away from Manchester City’s excellence in the Champions League this season.

They ran away as group winners thanks to two sparkling wins over an imposing Napoli side before Christmas.

And a kind last-16 draw against Basle posed few problems, with Pep Guardiola’s side forging a four-goal lead to take back to the second leg at home.

Competition History

City remain relative novices in the Champions League. This is only the second time they have made it to the last eight after a semi-final exit in 2016.

Their previous under-performance in the competition looks to be a thing of the past now with the quality of the squad assembled by Guardiola.

The Spaniard is another looking for a third triumph, having twice succeeded before with his stellar Barcelona side.

Star man so far

The orchestrator from deep, Kevin De Bruyne has proved irresistible in the Champions League this season.

Manchester City’s star man runs the game and pulled the strings from midfield in significant group-stage wins over Napoli.

He embodies the style of play that has won admirers far and wide, and he will prove key in toppling the Reds.

Verdict — Manchester City to progress

After their ding-dong at Anfield in the Premier League this season, this tie promises to deliver two phenomenal matches.

If Liverpool can match their intensity during their 4-3 victory in January then we could be set for a monumental clash at the Etihad in the second leg.

With the consistent class they’ve shown all season however, it will take something really special from Klopp’s men to stop Guardiola’s juggernaut.

Barcelona

The only unbeaten side left in the competition alongside Liverpool, it’s been serene progress into the last eight for Ernesto Valverde in his debut season.

Just two goals conceded so far shows a defensive steel not widely seen in previous vintages.

Big home wins over Juventus and Chelsea in their two biggest games in Europe so far show they remain a tough proposition in the Champions League.

Competition history

Five-time champions now entering the end of the cycle that saw them lift the title four times in nine years.

But after securing a record 11th successive place in the last eight of the Champions League they are still a feared outfit.

After quarter-final exits in the last two seasons they will be desperate to make amends this time.

Star man so far

Lionel Messi was in inspired form to sweep aside Chelsea in Wednesday night’s second leg at the Nou Camp.

He may be into his fourth decade now but the magic remains untouched and the killer instinct in the final third still unerring.

He is hunting his fifth Champions League success and you wouldn’t bet against him getting it at some point, but will it be this season?

Roma

One of the surprise packages of the season so far, but Roma have reached the last eight of the competition entirely on merit.

They edged out Chelsea to win Group C and knocked out Atletico Madrid in the process, before coming through a tight last-16 tie over Shakhtar Donetsk on away goals thanks to Edin Dzeko’s second-half strike at the Stadio Olimpico this week.

Competition History

One of only two teams left yet to claim the trophy. The Italians though do have some pedigree in the competition, losing in their only final appearance to Liverpool back in 1984.

But this is the furthest they have been in the Champions League in 10 years, when they suffered quarter-final defeats in successive seasons to Manchester United.

Star man so far

Alisson continues to impress in goal for Roma and kept them in the first leg against Shakhtar Donetsk.

But it is former Manchester City striker Dzeko who has led the way in Europe this season.

His four goals this year have propelled the Serie A side to their best performance in Europe in a decade.

Verdict — Barcelona to progress

Roma pipped Chelsea to the top of their group back in December, and having knocked out Barcelona’s La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid in the process they have proved their credentials in this year’s competition.

However, it’s difficult to see past the might of Barcelona, and if Valverde’s men can produce the type of display we saw against the Blues in the last 16, this tie may well be over before the return-leg in Rome.

Sevilla v Bayern Munich

Sevilla

Won only twice to progress through the group stage where they were involved in two thrilling draws with Liverpool, yet contrived to lose 5-1 away at Spartak Moscow.

Manchester United’s inexplicable refusal to attack the Spanish side led to their downfall in the last-16, with Wissam Ben Yedder’s late sucker-punch at Old Trafford sending Vincenzo Montella’s side through.

Competition History

Sevilla are into the quarter-finals for the first time in 60 years, and have never progressed further in the European Cup,

They may be Champions League fledglings but their European nous should not be questioned after three successive Europa League titles between 2014 and 2016.

Transferring that expertise up another level may prove a bridge too far, but shows they cannot be discounted.

Star man so far

Wissam Ben Yedder’s rather unheralded career has sparked into life this season.

The Frenchman is the second top scorer in the competition with eight goals so far and his introduction on Tuesday night proved decisive in sending Sevilla into the last eight.

Bayern Munich

A 3-0 reverse at PSG in September accelerated the demise of former manager Carlo Ancelotti but it has almost been plain sailing for the Germans ever since.

Jupp Heynckes has energised an ageing side, who have won six straight games in the competition since.

A 5-0 mauling of Besiktas in their first-leg a month ago made the return fixture in Turkey on Wednesday night a mere formality.

Competition history

Among a select group of five-time winners, Bayern Munich are bonafide royalty in the European Cup.

Added to that is the experience of manager Heynckes, aiming to join Bob Paisley and Ancelotti in winning the competition for a third time.

He last won it with this side in 2013, 15 years after claiming it with Real Madrid in 1998.

Star man so far

You can’t look too much further than Robert Lewandowski, who once again has come to the fore in front of goal.

The Polish hitman has struck five times in seven games in the competition so far, and 32 in 36 games overall.

But the dependence on Lewandowski may have turned into over-reliance over the course of the season; only one other player (Thomas Muller, 10) has reached double figures.

Verdict — Bayern Munich to progress

Sevilla have shown their grit throughout this tournament and are proving to be the force that just won’t quit.

Their comeback from three goals down against Liverpool shows they do not know when they are beaten, and they will take heart from Bayern’s struggles in the group stages against Paris Saint-Germain and a far from convincing victory away at Celtic.

A full strength Bayern displayed exactly what they are capable of against Besiktas however, and they won’t hold back the way Manchester United did in the last 16.

Juventus v Real Madrid

Juventus

Juventus have not looked overly convincing, winning just three of their six group games and collapsing to a 3-0 defeat at Barcelona in September.

But they came out on top in a titanic last-16 struggle with Tottenham where their big-game experience came to the fore at the crucial moments.

Competition history 

A big European name, but lacking the history in this competition their reputation deserves.

Twice beaten finalists in the last three years, Juve have lost seven finals in the competition’s history winning it only twice.

It remains the one trophy missing from Gianluigi Buffon’s cabinet, and manager Massimiliano Allegri has proved himself adept at negotiating two-legged ties.

Star man so far 

Paulo Dybala chose an opportune moment to break his European duck this season to send Juve through against Spurs last week.

He has drawn level with Gonzalo Higuain as the club’s top scorer this year and looks to be hitting his best form.

At 24, is the Argentine finally ready to join the elite of world stars?

Real Madrid

Thoroughly unconvincing domestically, Real Madrid have showcased all their familiar hallmarks in Europe.

A 3-1 dismantling by Tottenham in the group stage aside, it has been business as usual for the double defending champions.

Cast as underdogs in the last 16 against Paris Saint-Germain, Zinedine Zidane’s side rose to the occasion and knocked out the French pretenders with ease over two legs.

Competition History

Real Madrid defined the early stages of the European Cup and they define the competition even now.

Three triumphs in four seasons make this their strongest period since the days of Alfredo di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas.

The long wait for La Decima finally ended in 2014, and now the pursuit of No 13 is well and truly on.

Star man so far

Cristiano Ronaldo. Who else?

The twilight of his career is fast approaching but there remains no-one quite like the Portuguese when it comes to pressure moments in big-game situations.

He delivered the goods against PSG with three goals in the tie and leads the scoring charts with an incredible 12 strikes.

Verdict — Real Madrid to progress

A re-run of last year’s final is one of the stand out ties of the round.

Juventus dumped Real Madrid out over two legs on their way to the 2015 final in Berlin, and proved against Tottenham to have what it takes to punish even the most dominant of opponents.

The prospect of facing Mr Champions League himself, Ronaldo, however will test every aspect of the Serie A side’s resolve and Buffon’s final shot at European glory could be ended if Zidane’s men find their rhythm.

SOURCE: Daily Mail