Champions League quarter-final first legs: betPawa BIG match insights
Only 8 clubs are left vying for glory in Europe’s premier club competition. We’ve got all of the best insights and analysis ahead of 4 thrilling quarter-final first leg encounters.
Tuesday 11th April
Talented attackers aim to break down stubborn defences
Rafa Silva and João Mário have 6 goals apiece in this season’s Champions League and they’ll flank the outstanding young striker Gonçalo Ramos, who has 7 strikes in the competition for Benfica (these stats include qualifying rounds). They’ll fancy their chances of taking a first leg lead at fortress Estádio da Luz, a venue where – heading into April – they hadn’t lost a competitive match since the penultimate game of last season against Porto in May 2022.
The Eagles are in a strong position to regain the Portuguese Primeira Liga title this season but progress in Europe is next on the agenda for manager Roger Schmidt. Everyone speaks about the club’s conveyor belt of talent and ability to sell players for huge profits, Enzo Fernández being a prime recent example, but Benfica also want to be known for their on-pitch excellence.
Inter have fallen off the pace in their own domestic Scudetto race and find themselves in a scrap for a top-4 finish. If they are to claim a positive result in Lisbon, they’ll need the vast experience of Romelu Lukaku and Edin Džeko to fire in attack, with the help of Argentinian forward Lautaro Martínez. Croatian midfield maestro Marcelo Brozović will also likely be a key figure as the Nerazzurri attempt to navigate a tricky Champions League quarter-final away leg.
Kimmich could be the key
When the draw was made, Man City vs Bayern Munich stuck out like a sore thumb. Pep Guardiola enjoyed a managerial stint with Bayern from 2013 to 2016 but will always be reminded that he didn’t win the Champions League with the German giants. He hasn’t managed it with City either, although he came desperately close in 2021 when the Citizens lost to Chelsea in the final.
His conversion of Joshua Kimmich from marauding right-back to central midfield pivot has become a blueprint for modern football tactics. Many current managers mimic this approach, and Kimmich’s excellence in midfield makes him a critical cog in the Bayern machine.
With so many outstanding players occupying central spaces on the pitch for these 2 sides, Kimmich’s direct duels with Kevin De Bruyne and İlkay Gündoğan will be a lot of fun to watch. City obviously have weapons in attack with in-form Jack Grealish shining out wide, but De Bruyne is often the key man on a night like this one.
Speaking of converted players, John Stones has excelled in a deep-lying midfield role for City in recent games and could start there against Bayern. Erling Haaland might not be fit to start and Phil Foden is expected to miss out, but they’ve still got oodles of options like Julián Álvarez and Riyad Mahrez.
Bayern have an embarrassment of riches in the final third themselves with Leroy Sané, Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman, Thomas Müller and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting all vying for places, so this could be a feast of attacking football.
Wednesday 12th April
Wide men likely to shine
An all-Italian Champions League quarter-final is a rarity to savour, with this the first since the Milan Derby in 2004/05. There are more Serie A sides in this season’s quarter-finals (3) than in the last 4 editions combined (2).
Fascinatingly, AC Milan beat runaway Serie A leaders Napoli 4-0 away in a league encounter on Sunday 2nd April to add some serious spice to this tie. Napoli’s leading scorer Victor Osimhen was sorely missed in that match, and the Azzurri may have to cope without him again for this first leg battle in the San Siro. That defeat will give Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti plenty of food for thought.
We have written lots about Khvicha Kvaratskhelia this season and for good reason. The 22-year-old Georgian has been 1 of the most electrifying left-wingers in all of Europe this season and his importance in the first leg is enhanced by Osimhen’s anticipated absence. His opposite number, the Rossoneri’s sensational Portuguese attacker Rafael Leão, bagged a brace in that recent Serie A meeting between the sides.
Both right-backs selected on Wednesday night will be braced for difficult evenings in Milan trying to contain 2 of the hottest wide attackers in the world right now.
Frank Lampard’s back
There’s no other place to start than by discussing the return of Frank Lampard. The Chelsea legend and former Blues boss will be in the dugout for the remainder of the season as interim manager, and 1 of his first BIG tests comes against 14-time European champions Real Madrid.
The irrepressible Karim Benzema warmed up with a Copa del Rey semi-final hat-trick against Barcelona as his side overcame a 1-0 first-leg deficit with a 4-0 triumph at Camp Nou. In so doing, he became the first Real Madrid player to hit a treble there since Ferenc Puskás in 1963.
These sides have a rich recent history in the Champions League. Chelsea beat Los Blancos 3-1 on aggregate in the 2021 semi-finals, but Real Madrid exacted their revenge in last season’s thrilling quarter-final. Benzema bagged a hat-trick at Stamford Bridge in a 3-1 win before he scored an extra-time goal in the second leg to ensure that his team advanced 5-4 on aggregate from a compelling tie.
Chelsea fans haven’t found much to enjoy this season, but N’Golo Kanté’s recent return from injury is a huge and timely boost. The French midfield general was excellent in their glorious run in 2021 and will be a candidate for a starting place on Wednesday. A lot of his work will involve attempting to help contain Benzema and Vinícius Júnior, scorer of the winner in last season’s final against Liverpool. On their day, they are one of the most fearsome attacking duos in world football. Vini Jr has 6 goals in this season’s competition so far.
The 2 most recent champions of Europe meet again in a thrilling quarter-final clash.
