The UEFA Champions League continues this week with the first leg of the quarterfinals.
Sportsnet’s panel of soccer writers and broadcasters preview this week’s matches and offer their predictions.
Wednesday programming alert: Watch Paris Saint-Germain vs. Chelsea (on Sportsnet, 2:30 pm ET) and Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund (on Sportsnet, 2:30 pm ET). | Sportsnet World Online | TV schedule
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Chelsea
Gerry Dobson: So, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was right all along. Chelsea are not Premier League favorites. They certainly aren’t anymore after a stunning 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace on the weekend; Chelsea are no better than third choice now behind Liverpool and Manchester City. How to explain that one? It was Palace’s first win over Chelsea in the Premier League and first win at all against them since 1990.
The problem all season has been Chelsea’s anemic attack. And now Mourinho is conceding that fact, hinting that there’ll be a total striker overhaul this summer. If not for his legendary defensive tactics they probably never would have been in this year’s league race. And now they have to rebound from that devastating debacle and get their Champions League mojo in order. And perhaps they can. Demba Ba claims Chelsea play teams like PSG five or six times a year in the Premier League and PSG do not. We’ll see. Maybe Demba Ba should be reminded that he has three goals in 15 league appearances this season.
PSG’s world class hitman Zlatan Ibrahimovic has 25 goals. PSG won their ninth straight on the weekend and have an insurmountable lead in Ligue Un. Five clean sheets in a row as well. Their latest came again Nice on the weekend, a game in which Thiago Silva returned to action with a face mask to protect a broken bone suffered a few weeks ago. He’s the main man at the back and a quality player who gives them a chance. This is a team looking for European respect. The great debate within France is whether or not PSG really does belong with the European elite. Maybe we’ll get some evidence this week.
Prediction: Paris Saint-Germain wins 2-1.
Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund Dortmund
Thomas Michalakos: This is not the same Dortmund side that neutrals fell in love with a year ago. Dortmund came within inches of being crowned champions of Europe last season, conceding the match-winner to Bayern Munich with a minute remaining of regular time. It was an agonizing ending to a magical European campaign. Inconsistent and sub-par results this season have already confirmed their domestic fate, which gives manager Jurgen Klopp the ability to focus his resources on denying Real Madrid the opportunity to win a historic tenth European Cup. Dortmund knocked out the Madrid giants in last year’s semifinal—winning 4-1 in Germany before dropping the second-leg 2-0 in Spain—and secured four points from their two meetings in the group stage.
Real Madrid may have been on the losing end of this new rivalry last season, but Carlo Ancelotti’s side are of superior standard than his predecessor’s. Champions League history has proven that hosting the second leg is the ideal scenario, though, given what transpired last year’s semifinal first leg in Dortmund, Real Madrid will be aiming to return the favour and secure a sizeable advantage heading into the return.
Prediction: Real Madrid wins 3-1.
Tuesday programming alert: Watch Manchester United vs. Bayern Munich (on Sportsnet, 2:30 pm ET) and Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid (on Sportsnet World, 2:30 pm ET). | Sportsnet World Online | TV schedule
Manchester United vs. Bayern Munich
James Sharman: It’s hard to remember the last time Manchester United was the preferred opponent to be drawn against in a Champions League knockout contest. However, that was the case when Bayern Munich learned their fate. United’s travails are well known by now of course, but add in that defender Patrice Evra is suspended, Rafael is questionable, and both Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans are out injured and the full scale of the challenge at hand is clear for United. Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have been the foundation over recent years, but to see both centre-halves on the team sheet these days is reason for giddiness… if you’re the opponent. Oh, and did I mention Robin Van Persie remains out? Not good.
Bayern didn’t win this weekend in the Bundesliga, the first time that happened in 20 games. But there’s no reason for concern. After, all they were crowned the champions of Germany last week with seven games to spare. If you’re interested, they completed over one thousand passes in their clinching win against Hertha Berlin, with Philipp Lahm completing all 134 passes he attempted. Lahm was one of seven starters to be rested for that 3-3 draw with Hoffenheim on the weekend. Okay, he came on for 25 minutes, but my point is this team is rested and you’d assume their title hangover is long over.
Prediction: Bayern Munich wins 2-0.
Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid
John Molinaro: Of the four games in this round, this is the glamour tie, without question. How close do these Spanish rivals match up against one another? Consider that Atletico leads Barcelona by one point in the tightest La Liga title race in recent memory, and that their previous three encounters all ended in draws.
Under manager Diego Simeone, Atletico has rightfully earned a reputation for being defensively stingy—they’ve conceded only 22 times in La Liga, and four goals in this season’s Champions League. Atletico are also unbeaten in Europe with seven wins out of eight matches. Diego Costa has bagged seven goals in the Champions League for Atletico and he netted his 33rd in La Liga over the weekend. Do not underestimate this team.
Barcelona is in fine form, riding high after their recent win over Real Madrid in el clasico to climb to second in La Liga. Lionel Messi is scoring again, with 17 goals in his last 12 games for the Catalans. Barca is still susceptible to being opened up at the back, but when Messi is on form, it’s hard to stop him and Barcelona.
Prediction: Barcelona wins 2-1.
Soccer Central podcast: SPORTSNET.CA’s Soccer Central podcast, hosted by John Molinaro and James Sharman, takes an in-depth look at the beautiful game and offers timely and thoughtful analysis on the sport’s biggest issues. To listen and subscribe to the podcast, CLICK HERE.
