And so, 16 has become eight. Like every UEFA Champions League season, the first knockout round of the 2021/22 edition looked to be going according to plan, at least providing little shocks, until football reared its unpredictable sociopathic head once more.
Paris St Germain were set for a third successive quarter-final appearance having dominated 150 of the 180 minutes of their tie with Real Madrid; then came a mighty collapse that saw them crash out into stereotypically cartoonish fashion. Juventus were finally set for a first Last Eight appearance since 2019, but they produced another stinker, and fell apart to the benefit of Villarreal. Ajax, meanwhile, followed up six group stage wins with elimination at the hands of Benfica.
The fate of the eight teams left is still unknown, but their identities are not. So, how do the Champions League quarter-finalists rank?
8. Benfica
Benfica have pulled off a few shocks to get this far. They went past the group stage at the expense of Barcelona, and beat an Ajax side that were emerging as dark horses to go all the way. But the Portuguese side – in their first quarter-final since 2016 – are still outsiders, and pretty much the least-rated of the Last Eight teams. Another shock could beckon, but many wouldn’t be surprised if their journey ends here.
7. Villarreal
Unai Emery’s team are in a first Champions League quarter-final in 13 years, having seen off Juventus with an impressive display in Turin. The Yellow Submarines have only gotten this far on two other occasions – this is a first Champions League quarter-final appearance for Emery as a manager – and not many would bet on them going farther.
6. Atletico Madrid
For the entirety of their second leg against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Atletico Madrid felt like Atletico Madrid once more. Controlling a game despite ceding possession, producing a dominant 1-0 victory that looked slender but never really looked in doubt. But it would be remiss to suggest Diego Simeone’s team are back to what they know best; a lot of that game was also down to haplessness from Manchester United. Atletico can’t quite do what they do best anymore, they neither have the personnel or character to be as sturdy and mean to play against, nor the attacking complexity to be quite prolific at the other end. They still remain a threat, and not many sides in the Champions League would line up to face them, but they still need to be more than what they are now.
5. Chelsea
The holders had a mini-scare against Lille in their Last 16 second leg, but ultimately came off unscathed. Chelsea have made successive quarter-final appearances for the first time since 2012, but all is far from well. Political upheaval means Roman Abramovich has pretty much bid farewell to the club, and uncertainty still lingers around Stamford Bridge. They still don’t know if they can even afford to have fans for whatever away tie they get.
4. Real Madrid
‘The Champions League unlocks special powers.’ And for Real, those special powers came in the final half-hour of their tie with PSG. Seemingly down and out, talisman Karim Benzema stepped up to fire the most successful club in the competition to the Last Eight. But there are questions about Real, nonetheless, they didn’t look formidable against the French team by any means, and rode their luck for much of that tie. It’s hard to rule out Real Madrid, and they have the character, pedigree and manager to go all the way in this competition, but there’s plenty of room to improve.
3. Bayern Munich
On paper, Bayern Munich look the business. They put seven past RB Salzburg in their second leg, and stormed to yet another quarter-final. But even in that seismic win, Die Roten looked shaky, and have looked shaky both in Europe and on the domestic front, particularly in defence, for a while now. Julian Nagelsmann is still working out the kinks of this team, and they’re still quite ruthless, but they remain suspect, and will need to be tighter against better opponents.
2. Manchester City
A goalless draw at home to Sporting meant little for Man City, who had pretty much wrapped up their Last 16 tie in its first quarter. The Champions League remains the Holy Grail for Pep Guardiola and City, who have every reason to consider themselves as favourites. Questions remain of their manager overcooking the broth in the latter stages of the competition, but not many can touch them on their day.
1. Liverpool
Perhaps the best thing to happen to Liverpool was that defeat at home to Inter. It was a loss that was ultimately academic, and yet something of an alertness kicker for the Reds. It never ends according to plan when this is said about teams, but Jurgen Klopp’s side are in with a genuine shot of a quadruple, and their sense of resolve, character, and will has been bolstered by actual squad depth, and they can really go out on all fronts. They will take some stopping.
***The Champions League quarter-final and semi-final draws will take place on Friday, March 18
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