The 2016-17 UEFA Champions League resumes this week with the second legs of the quarterfinals.
Sportsnet’s soccer panel of broadcasters, writers and pundits offer their picks and predictions below…
FC BARCELONA vs. JUVENTUS
Dan Riccio, Sportsnet 590 The FAN: Barcelona have been here before. Their previous Champions League match at the Camp Nou was as memorable as it gets, as the Blaugrana overturned a 4-0 first-leg deficit against Paris Saint-Germain with a 6-1 victory to advance to the final eight for a record 10th straight season.
Surely a 3-0 victory can be overturned, too? That is what they need to do against Juventus on Wednesday. But Juventus is better equipped to hold on to their first-leg lead; there are few backlines in European club soccer that are as formidable as the Bianconeri’s. And as seen in the opening match in Turin last week, even when chances are created, you still have the tough task of beating Gianluigi Buffon.
Barcelona will win Wednesday’s return match, but they won’t pull of another miracle this time around.
Prediction: Barcelona wins 2-1.
AS MONACO vs. BORUSSIA DORTMUND
John Molinaro, Sportsnet.ca: Monaco enters Wednesday’s return tilt at home in a comfortable position, having earned a 3-2 win last week. That game was delayed roughly 24 hours after Dortmund’s team bus was attacked, and maybe the Germans were still dealing with the shock of the explosions that led to the injury of Marc Bartra because they looked pretty lacklustre in their loss to Monaco.
Dortmund will be buoyed by the return of midfielder Marco Reus after six weeks out with a torn ligament. He scored on the weekend against Eintracht Frankfurt in Bundesliga play, and his presence should be a big boost for Dortmund in this do-or-die European showdown. But will it be enough to help the German side overturn their deficit from the first leg?
It’s difficult to envisage Monaco, who are unbeaten in six European home games this season (with five wins) not being able to close this out. They’ve been brilliant in this year’s competitions, led by the attacking exploits of veteran Radamel Falcao (who’s rediscovered his old form) and teenager Kylian Mbappé, who is living up the hype as the next big thing in French soccer.
Fabinho is suspended for the second leg, and while Monaco will no doubt miss the defensive midfielder, it won’t be enough to put Dortmund over the top.
Prediction: Monaco wins 2-0.
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REAL MADRID vs. BAYERN MUNICH
Peter Galindo, Sportsnet.ca: Bayern and Real Madrid both enter the second leg with a few questions. The Bavarians were missing Robert Lewandowski in the opener, a 2-1 loss at home. But he is set to start on Tuesday, which is huge given he is Bayern’s top scorer with 38 goals in all competitions. However, manager Carlo Ancelotti has another dilemma. Jerome Boateng had a muscle problem and skipped the 0-0 draw with Bayer Leverkusen on the weekend as a precaution. He should be ready for the second leg, but without Javi Martinez and Mats Hummels, the backline could be shaky.
Meanwhile, Madrid has no new injury concerns, apart from Gareth Bale, who has been ruled out, but Isco and James Rodriguez have deputized well whenever Zinedine Zidane has called on them. Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema didn’t play against Sporting Gijon this weekend, so they will be fresh for this Champions League clash.
Madrid has scored in 54 consecutive matches, so it’s likely that Bayern will need to score at least three goals to advance to the semifinals. Given how Casemiro, Dani Carvajal and Marcelo nullified Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery last week, not to mention Bayern’s makeshift defence, the defending European champions should see this out.
Prediction: A 1-1 draw.
ATLETICO MADRID vs. LEICESTER CITY
James Sharman, Sportsnet: Atletico may have beaten Leicester City in the first leg, but it took an Antoine Griezmann penalty to get the job done in a 1-0 victory. The Foxes played their illustrious Spanish opponents extremely close, and as a result they still have a chance to win the tie going into the second leg.
Leicester have been welcome first-year members of the Champions League fraternity, and no longer are they talked about in a patronizing manner. Don’t forget, they lost the opening leg of their Round of 16 series to Sevilla, and stormed back to victory in the second leg. Of course, Atletico are seasoned pros at this stage, and are quite content to grind out results. Leicester have done the Premier League proud in this competition, but it comes to an end this week.
Prediction: Atletico wins 2-1.
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