Introduction
The UEFA Champions League quarterfinals are set to kick-off later this week, with the final eight teams competing for a spot in the semifinals. The quarterfinals will feature four exciting match-ups, including Manchester City vs. Bayern Munich, Real Madrid vs. Chelsea, AC Milan vs. Napoli, and Inter Milan vs. Benfica. As the world eagerly awaits these games to begin, here are some key talking points to keep in mind.
Pep and Tuchel’s Rivalry Continues – Manchester City vs. Bayern Munich
One of the most exciting match-ups of the quarterfinals is undoubtedly Manchester City vs. Bayern Munich. The game will also see former Barcelona teammates Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel go head-to-head as managers of their respective teams. Tuchel previously defeated Guardiola in both the FA Cup semifinal and Champions League final while managing Chelsea, so Guardiola will be eager to get one over his former colleague.
Chelsea’s Quest for European Glory – Real Madrid vs. Chelsea
Chelsea have had a mixed season under new manager Thomas Tuchel but have so far proved impressive in Europe after beating Atletico Madrid in the Round of 16 stage. Now they face another tough challenge against Real Madrid, who knocked out Liverpool in the previous round. But Chelsea has a good record against Real Madrid having only lost once in seven meetings, so they’ll be confident going into this match.
The Battle of Milan – AC Milan vs. Napoli
Another fascinating tie is AC Milan vs Napoli, which promises to be an intense battle between two of Italy’s top teams. AC Milan has had a resurgence this season under Stefano Pioli, while Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has become their standout player with the most assists in the Champions League. Both teams will be looking to secure a place in the semifinals and represent their country well in Europe.
Inter Milan’s Resilience – Inter Milan vs. Benfica
Finally, Inter Milan will face off against Benfica in a battle of two very different clubs. Managed by Roger Schmidt, Inter Milan has been performing well despite selling over £200m worth of talent this season. They’ll face a stern test against Benfica, who have been impressive in Portugal’s Liga NOS.
The Fantasy Team Picks for MD-9
In addition to the exciting match-ups, UEFA Champions League quarterfinals are also an opportunity for fantasy football enthusiasts from around the world to pick their top players for their teams. Here are some picks that could potentially offer significant returns.
Goalkeepers – Odysseas Vlachodimos and Ederson Moraes
One player worthy of consideration is Odysseas Vlachodimos of Benfica, who will be facing an Inter side that has shown signs of struggling recently. Another good option is Manchester City’s Ederson Moraes, who can potentially accumulate decent save points and is expected to advance to the next round.
Defenders – Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Alejandro Grimaldo, Eder Militao and Nathan Ake
Giovanni Di Lorenzo of Napoli would be a great pick due to his form; he is one of the best defenders left in the tournament and can get clean sheets, assists, and goals. Similarly, Benfica’s Alejandro Grimaldo can be a solid defensive option as he can get goals or/and an assist and/or a clean sheet, and is expected to continue his impressive form against Inter. Real Madrid’s Eder Militao will face Chelsea with their seemingly toothless attack that is struggling to score goals. Nathan Ake of Manchester City is an excellent budget option for defenders as he is assured of starts and is still a threat to score from setpieces.
Midfielders – Vinicius Jr, Kevin De Bruyne, Joao Mario and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
One player expected to be the key player and even earn PotM against Chelsea in MD9 is Vinicius Jr of Real Madrid, while Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City has been influential and will look to continue his impressive performances in the UCL against Bayern Munich. Joao Mario of Benfica and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Napoli can also be considered as they offer an opportunity to free up funds, while also providing the potential for good returns.
Forwards – Erling Haaland and Karim Benzema
The almost “musthave” player for any UCL fantasy team is undoubtedly Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland, with an impressive 44 goals across all competitions this season. Another valuable asset could be Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, who has the ability to score goals and provide assists.
Conclusion
The UEFA Champions League quarterfinals promise to be extremely exciting with some highly-anticipated match-ups lined up. It’s difficult to predict which team will ultimately triumph in the competition, but we can expect some highly competitive games filled with drama and surprises. Whether you’re rooting for Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Chelsea or any other teams, there’s no doubt that these matches are going to be packed with action.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
