April 7 – As the Champions League quarter-finals get underway this evening, the heavyweight clash between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich seems destined to be the competition’s ultimate match-up without ever being a final.
Real and Bayern are winners of the title a combined 21 times but still haven’t met to decide the trophy. And tonight they face each other in the knockout stage for the sixth time in the past 14 seasons.
So far it has been pretty one-sided. Madrid, the record 15-time champions, have won four of five ties with Bayern since 2011-12. Bayern won in the 2012 semifinals after a penalty shootout.
Real Madrid enter the tie off the back of an emphatic Round of 16 performance against Manchester City, who they swept aside 5-1 on aggregate to keep on top of a solid record against Pep Guardiola’s side. A Federico Valverde hat-trick in the first leg was too much for City to overcome, underlining the Spanish side’s enduring ability to rise to the occasion in this competition. They may not carry quite the same aura as in previous seasons, but nights like these still tend to bring out their best.
Bayern, though, arrive in ominous form. Vincent Kompany’s side dismantled Atalanta 10-2 over two legs in the last round, a statement result by any measure. Jamal Musiala’s return to the scoresheet only adds another dimension to an already potent attack featuring Harry Kane, Luis Díaz and Michael Olise – a forward line that has delivered the most prolific goal return in Europe this season, although Kane faces a late injury test tonight.
Also tonight, Arsenal travel to Lisbon to face Sporting CP. Mikel Arteta’s side progressed with a composed 3-1 aggregate win over Bayer Leverkusen, while Sporting produced a miraculous and emphatic comeback – overturning a 3-0 first-leg deficit to beat Bodø/Glimt 5-0 at home. They have carried that momentum forward, scoring four goals in each of their two matches since – though now face perhaps the most impressive defence in Europe.
However, there are added subplots in Lisbon. Arsenal have lost their last two games – the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City and the FA Cup quarter-final to Southampton, to firmly end fanciful hopes of a Quadruple. Now they must show there is no hangover as they aim to progress in the Champions League and pick up their league form next weekend against Bournemouth.
The other narrative tonight is Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres returning to his former club. The Swedish forward left Sporting last summer for £64million after scoring 97 goals in two seasons and helping deliver back-to-back league titles. His departure may have soured the relationship with his former fans, but he is beginning to find his feet in North London, with 17 goals this season – including four in Europe, where he has arguably looked most comfortable.
Tomorrow night sees Paris Saint-Germain host a struggling Liverpool side in a match that some media reckon could cost Arne Slot his job, with Champions League success regarded as the only saving grace of what has been a painful season on Merseyside.
FC Barcelona will be given the opportunity for revenge against Atletico Madrid in the other Wednesday fixture. Having been beaten 4-3 on aggregate in the domestic cup, they now meet in the quarter finals of a competition Barcelona are expected to take much more seriously.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]