This year’s UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic in our lifetime. Long-held grudges and blooming rivalries will culminate in what could be the best European football offers in the coming year.
The 2023-24 UEFA Champions League quarter-final, semi-final and final draws were held at lunchtime on Friday at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. After an hour of the ceremony, the matchups were set: Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich, Real Madrid vs. Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain vs. FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund.
Each of these matchups holds weight in its own right, but perhaps the most captivating of the lot is the matchup between the Kings of the Champions League and Real Madrid. Known for their historic form in previous Champions Leagues, the team has become even more captivating with this season’s marquee signing of English International midfielder Jude Bellingham. He will be taking on many of his fellow countrymen in the form of English Superpower Manchester City. The two sides faced off in last year’s Champions League semi-final, led by their world-renowned managers, Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti. Guardiola’s City came out on top through a 5-1 thrashing of Los Blancos. That match was touted as the battle between the new and old, with the City Sailors dethroning the kings of Europe. Madrid will look to reclaim their throne throughout two legs, with the first coming on April 9 as they host Manchester City at the newly expanded Santiago Bernabeu.
Manchester City is in a league title race with Arsenal, which could impact their performance in this cup.
For Arsenal, there is no cakewalk in the quarter-final as they take on longtime champions of Germany, Bayern Munich. It’s been 14 years since Arsenal last appeared in this stage of the Champions League. Mikel Arteta’s men fought bravely to fend off FC Porto in the round of 16, winning off of a penalty shootout. Unfortunately, they play a Bayern side that has historically outclassed them in every way, shape and form over their previous matchups. Arsenal’s most notable defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich came in the 2016-17 Champions League round of 16 when Bayern won both legs by a scoreline of 5-1, ending the tie 10-2 on aggregate, leaving the gunners as the laughing-stock of Europe for years to come. However, there hasn’t been sunshine and rainbows for this Bayern side. Having won the last 11 league trophies, Bayern Munich currently trails domestic adversary Bayern Leverkusen, who have been unbeaten this season. The league title race may distract from Bayern’s European campaign; however, the six-time European champions don’t make a habit of losing.
For Arsenal, an old North London Rival may spell their doom. Acquired for 100 million pounds last summer, former Tottenham Striker Harry Kane has joined Bayern Munich and lit up the Bundesliga. The England National has already tallied 30 goals, nine more than the second-highest scorer. Harry Kane has a penchant for scoring against Arsenal. In 19 North London derbies during his Tottenham career, Kane scored 14 goals and provided three assists. One saving grace for Arsenal could be the ban of Bayern supporters from the away leg of the quarter. Bayern Munich fans have been banned from attending the away leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie after their supporters threw fireworks onto the pitch during their 3-1 win at Lazio earlier this month, the club said on Tuesday (Reuters). Both teams have everything to prove, not just to each other but to fans across the globe. The tie’s first leg will be held at a Bayern supporter-less Emirates Stadium on April 9.
Bayern Munich is not the only German team that made it to the quarter-final stage.
Borussia Dortmund will face Atlético Madrid in what is sure to be a passionate matchup. Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park and Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano are known for their deafening ultras. Madrid’s round of 16 saw them outlast Italian league favorites Inter Milan on penalties. Their keeper, Jan Oblak, saved two penalties, lifting the team to victory at home. Dortmund also defended their home pitch and defeated Dutch leader PSV through a 2-0 victory after drawing the first leg. Borussia Dortmund and Atlético Madrid have polar opposite play styles, with Dortmund prioritizing fast-paced attacking play and Madrid opting for a dogmatic defense and swift counter-attacking play. Both teams’ philosophies appear to play into the other, so it may come down to who can perform better at home. Atlético Madrid will have the first opportunity to make a statement at home as they host Dortmund at the Metropolitano on April 10.
Joining the two clubs from Madrid that represent Spain is FC Barcelona.
FC Barcelona will seek revenge against Kylian Mbappé and his Paris Saint-Germain Side. These two clubs have a history of exciting back-and-forth matchups in the competition. The most famous of those matchups is known as “La Remontada” (The Comeback) for Barcelona’s historic victory in Barcelona after they went down by four goals on aggregate in the first leg of the 2016-17 Champions League round of 16. PSG would have their revenge four years later during the 2020-21 knockout rounds when a Mbappé Hat-Trick lifted PSG past Barcelona via a 5-2 victory over two legs. This season can be categorized as an identity crisis for both teams. Barcelona has struggled thus far in Laliga. Their manager and club legend, Xavi Hernández, promised to resign if the club did not escape the Champions League round of 16. Luckily for him, Barcelona could dispatch Italy’s Napoli, cruising to the quarter-finals masterfully. As for PSG, the club must accept that French superstar Mbappé has decided to leave at the end of the season, reportedly joining Barcelona’s longtime foes, Real Madrid. Mbappé will undoubtedly want to make an impression on his prospective fans before his arrival; the question is: will that chip on his shoulder lead to brilliance or embarrassment? There is all to play for in this tie, beginning on April 10 under the Parisian lights.
Every club in this competition believes they can win, but only four will advance to the semi-finals. Will it be the English gladiators in Manchester City and Arsenal, the Spanish Magicians in Real and Atlético Madrid or Barcelona or the German Stalwarts in the form of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund? No one can say for sure, but this year’s iteration of the UEFA Champions League is shaping up to be a classic as all remaining competitors blaze full steam ahead toward the final at the historic Wembley Stadium on June 1.
