We are now down to the last eight in Europe’s most prestigious club competition. After the excitement of the extended new opening phase and the first knockout rounds of the season, we are now eagerly looking ahead to the quarterfinals of the 2024-2025 Champions League. One of the eight remaining teams will be lifting that most famous of trophies at the end of May.
The change in the format of this year’s Champions League was criticized by some before a ball was kicked but now we can look back on an exhilarating league phase, as well as the extra playoff round and round of 16 ties. If you are still figuring out what sportsbook is the best, you only have two more rounds before the best two clubs in Europe go head-to-head in Munich.
We have already previewed this season – and next season’s – competition but we thought it was time to look at the chances for all the remaining sides as they battle to be the best. Team and individual player performance counts for a lot across a variety of games we cover here, so keeping up to date with all the latest news and views is vital. Here’s what we think as we reach the Champions League quarterfinal stage.
First Legs are Crucial
When it comes to the latter stages of any competition, there are no teams who have made it this far by luck alone. Some of the names in this year’s Champions League quarterfinals may not be quite as recognizable as some of the powerhouses of the past but they have all made it through by being the very best this season.
There are now just two more two-legged ties to go before the final. The need to get off to the best possible start in the last eight is more important than ever. A quarterfinal tie cannot be won in the first leg – but it can be lost. Every club will be very aware of how important it is to achieve a positive result in the first games, whether they are home or away.
The Long Shots
So, which of the teams have the most to do to be victorious in the Allianz Arena at the end of May? Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund would seem to be the ones that fit that bill. The EPL club is playing at this level for the first time in over 40 years and has been a really standout success throughout. But facing PSG away from home in the first leg looks like a real test.
Dortmund is another team that has surprised a few pundits by making it this far. Critics will point to the relatively easier route the Bundesliga side has had, but having to navigate the playoff round before playing Lille in the round of 16 was a real test. That being said, beating Barcelona in the quarterfinal seems like too much of a task.
The Contenders
We are splitting the remaining clubs into contenders and favorites. To be perfectly honest, there is very little to choose between any of them but there are some that stand out more than others. Arsenal has been one of the most consistent teams in Europe over the last few years but has still failed to win the EPL title and could come up short here as well.
Paris Saint-Germain is our second contender, even though it put on the performance of the week in the most recent round of 16 to beat Liverpool. With the galacticos now gone, some thought that PSG’s chances of finally winning the Champions League had gone. But there is a renewed determination at the club and there is a chance that it could go all the way – if it wasn’t for the likelihood of facing Real Madrid in the last four. Inter is the other club at the contender level. The Milan club has not been as dominant at home this season and the prospect of playing Bayern – a team desperate to play the final in its own stadium – feels like being too daunting for the Nerazzurri.
The Favorites
The three remaining teams are the ones we think have the best chance of winning the Champions League this season. Real Madrid almost always has to be fancied to win a trophy that it considers its own property. It is the most successful club in the history of the tournament and simply does not know when it is beaten. No game is easy now, for any of the clubs, but no one else will want to play Los Blancos.
Real Madrid’s famous rival is another one of the teams that will now be considered a favorite to lift the cup. Barcelona may not be the all-conquering team it has been in the last 25 years or so but there is a new group of young stars who are bringing the club back to prominence. There is even a chance of an all-La Liga final.
One of the ways that this would not happen is if Bayern Munich made it through to a final that will be played in a very familiar stadium. If it wasn’t for that fact, the German powerhouse would probably not find itself in this category. But the prospect of celebrating another Champions League win at home has to boost its chances.
The Winner?
As mentioned earlier, the performances and results over the next few rounds of Champions League football will affect a number of online games. So, having some expert knowledge can help in all sorts of ways.
All eight of the remaining teams will believe that they can win the Champions League this season but we think that it will come down to those two Spanish sides. That could then end up being one of the most memorable finals in recent history. And, if we are to take a lesson from history, it will be Real Madrid who lift the cup, yet again.
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