The 2018-19 UEFA Champions League resumes this week with the second leg of the quarterfinals.
Sportsnet’s soccer panel of broadcasters, writers and pundits offer their picks and predictions below.
TOTTENHAM vs. MANCHESTER CITY
Geoff Lowe: How will Pep Guardiola break down a Tottenham side that frustrated Manchester City in a 1-0 loss last week in London?
That’s the biggest question entering the second leg of the quarterfinals between these two English rivals after the Citizens were shut out for just the third time in all competitions this season and held to just two shots on target.
Tottenham will need a repeat performance at the back with leading scorer Harry Kane out for the foreseeable future, as Pep’s men will likely bring attacks in waves in an attempt to avoid a quarterfinal exit in the Champions League for the second straight season.
Guardiola will field City’s best possible lineup and, in the end, it will pay off.
Prediction: Manchester City wins 2-0 to advance.
LIVERPOOL vs. FC PORTO
James Sharman: I have heard a few pundits talk this week as if Liverpool are already into the semifinals following last week’s 2-0 win at Anfield. Dangerous to say the very least. Sure, Liverpool smashed Porto when it counted last season, and sure the Reds were the better team in the first leg. However, the first leg was a strange match, where the Portuguese team could have easily come with a 2-2 draw rather than a 2-0 loss, despite being second-best on the night.
It would be a massive choke job if Liverpool blew this one, and there is nothing to suggest it will happen given the Reds’ recent form. This team is finding a way to win matches at the moment, they look composed, and full of confidence and self-belief.
This season feels like two parallel universes; one where Liverpool could win the Premier League, and the other where Liverpool could win the Champions League. Either would be great on their own… but both? Surely not.
Prediction: Liverpool wins 2-0 to advance.
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MANCHESTER UNITED vs. FC BARCELONA
Peter Galindo: The first leg went as expected, although Barcelona might’ve lamented the missed opportunities at Old Trafford last week in a 1-0 win. Still, manager Ernesto Valverde would’ve been pleased to see his team restrict Manchester United’s attack, especially in the second half.
It was classic Barcelona under Valverde. The Blaugrana tend to utilize a more pragmatic or conservative approach when necessary, such as when they’re leading 1-0 away from home in the Champions League. This might not be the case as often at the Camp Nou, but Barca knows it holds the advantage with Lionel Messi on its side.
If United wants to spring a surprise, its delivery into the box will need to significantly improve. There were too many inaccurate crosses launched into the penalty area in the first leg, but credit Barcelona for pushing the Red Devils to the flanks and forcing those longer passes.
Prediction: Barcelona wins 2-0 to advance.
AJAX vs. JUVENTUS
Dan Riccio: Juventus did what they had to do in the first leg, a 1-1 draw in Amsterdam, by scoring a valuable road goal. Now they are poised as the favourite in this tie to move through to the next round.
However, let’s remember that Ajax was down 2-1 heading to Real Madrid in the second leg of the round of 16 before they smashed the defending champions and knocked them out. The Dutch were also the better side in the first leg of this quarterfinal series, and Juventus carried its poor form into a road loss versus modest SPAL on the weekend in Serie A.
This is not a forgone conclusion. Ajax are a real threat even if most won’t give them the credit of being so. Can Cristiano Ronaldo provide the difference for Juventus once more? He will have to if the Italians want to move on.
Prediction: Juventus wins 2-1 to advance.
