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The 2017/18 season is nearing its business end with clubs targetting silverware or improvements and players gearing up for club glory and the upcoming World Cup. Likewise, the Champions League is approaching the final stretch as eight teams look set to battle for the crown of Europe's best team this season.
The quarterfinals draw is out and it has threw up a few blockbuster matchups as one would expect. Juventus face Real Madrid once again after last year's final while Liverpool and Manchester City square off in an all English-affair.
Barcelona and Real Madrid remain favourites to win the tournament with Bayern Munich and Manchester City close behind. Juventus have the experience while it is all-in from Liverpool Roma and Sevilla as they have not been at this stage for quite some time now.
So, without further ado, here are the 8 things we can expect from the quarterfinals of this season's Champions League:
#8 Roma will defend at Camp Nou
The Italian side could not have asked for a tougher draw as they face Lionel Messi and co. in the quarterfinals. The Catalan outfit will be considered as favourites in this matchup as Roma are playing in the quarterfinals after a decade. However, Eusebio De Francesco's side have a slight advantage which could give them an outside chance.
The capital club play at home in the second leg of the tie. Thus, if they can manage to get a respectable result at Camp Nou, then the pressure will be on Barcelona as goalkeeper Alisson Becker's form and a boisterous home crowd can intimidate Ernesto Valverde's side.
Hence, Roma can be expected to be pragmatic in the first leg and defend as the Blaugrana will try to score as many as possible for the same reason. Thus, the Italian side will look to draw upon their country's famed defensive solidarity, particularly in the first 90 minutes.
#7 Wissam Ben Yedder to grab more goals
Sevilla would not have liked it one bit when they drew Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals. The Andalusian side knocked out big-spending Manchester United in the previous round and would have definitely hoped for a better matchup. However, Vincenzo Montella's side now have to take on one of the tournament favourites.
From another perspective, Bayern are the favourites to go through and Sevilla have nothing to lose. Hence, the Spanish side can and will go all out against the team from Germany. In the process, one thing the fans can expect for sure is a goal or two from previous round's hero Wissam Ben Yedder.
Nicknamed "Benyebut", meaning goal in French, the 27-year old has an uncanny knack of popping up with goals. The Sevilla no.9 already has 8 goals in the Champions League this season and received his maiden call-up to the French national team as a reward for his efforts. Thus, the fans would hope he can score enough for their team to sneak through.
#6 Bayern will hit top gear
The Bavarians have been flying under the radar this season, considering their lofty standards. They have not been in the favourites conversation as much as Real Madrid, Barcelona or even Manchester City. This is despite thumping Besiktas 8-1 over two legs in the previous round.
However, the business end of the tournament is approaching and Jupp Heynckes side will very well be aware of the importance to lay down a marker before the semi-finals. Heynckes was the last manager to lead them to a Champions League crown, back in 2013, and he will see this as an opportunity to make a statement.
Thus, Die Roten will be looking to not only beat Sevilla but also hit their top form by dismantling a Spanish side before they potentially meet the other Spanish heavyweights.
#5 Lionel Messi closes on this season's top goalscorers
The Argentine has been playing slightly below his otherworldly standards in this season's Champions League until the second leg of the previous round. The 30-year old looked keen on making up for lost ground as Chelsea could not touch him and he ended up scoring a brace while picking up an assist for Ousmane Dembele's goal.
Now, Messi has six goals this season, exactly half of Cristiano Ronaldo's total. The Barcelona no.10 has a relatively easy opponent in AS Roma in the quarterfinals and he will be looking to make up as much ground as possible in his next 180 minutes in Europe.
After all, both Messi and Ronaldo are tied up at five apiece in their Ballon d'Or battle and the Barcelona man will be looking to win the prestigious award back this time around. The Champions League is a key determinant and La Pulga will look to continue the form from the previous round against Roma.
#4 Paulo Dybala will light up Bernabeu
"It will be up to him to make Juventus history." Club legend and club vice-president Pavel Nedved could not have said it any truer about Paulo Dybala. The Old Lady have come agonizingly close to winning the Champions League only to falter in the finals against Spanish opposition, Barcelona in 2015 and Real Madrid in 2017.
Now, the Italian giants have a chance to make amends as they face Real Madrid in the quarterfinals. Massimiliano Allegri's side showed their vast experience in the previous round against Tottenham by stepping up in the key moments to seal progress. One of the stars of the second leg was Dybala.
The Juventus no.10 is considered to be one of the best-attacking talents of the current generation. While their defence consisting of Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini is still a force, the Serie A leaders need their attack to flourish if they want to overcome Madrid. Thus, Dybala will be entrusted with the task of unlocking Madrid and he can be expected to receive a standing ovation at the Bernabeu, similar to a former Juventus no.10, Alessandro Del Piero.
#3 Liverpool will make a statement
The Reds' march into the quarterfinals has been rightfully labelled as a pleasant surprise by Jurgen Klopp. The free-scoring side have already plundered 28 goals in just 8 games and are being considered as outside favourites for the tournament.
However, they are yet to face any of the tournament's strongest sides and Pep Guardiola's Manchester City present one such opportunity. Klopp is the only manager who holds a positive head-to-head record against the Spaniard among all managers with more than 10 meetings.
Thus, the German would want his side to announce themselves onto the European stage irrespective of the outcome of the tie with a strong performance over 180 minutes. In fact, Liverpool have the required tools to win the tie in Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. Hence, the Merseyside club can be expected to make a strong statement against the Manchester club.
#2 Kevin De Bruyne's Ballon d'Or audition
Manchester City have a huge chance to be crowned as Premier League champions at the home of their arch-rivals, Manchester United. However, the fixture falls right in between the two legs against Liverpool in the Champions League. While the league can be considered to be done and dusted, Guardiola's side has some distance to go before winning the elusive Champions League.
Further, just like Liverpool, the Citizens are yet to face tough opposition to send out a message. Thus, the tie is crucial for Guardiola due to several reasons. Another undercurrent for the fixture is Kevin De Bruyne's performance.
The Belgian has been pivotal to City's success this season and Guardiola rates him as the best player behind Messi. In the current footballing world, attacking greatness is usually measured by Golden Boots and Ballon d'Ors. De Bruyne is well-placed to win it if his side conquers the Champions League to complete a stellar treble. Thus, the 26-year old can be expected to make his mark in the quarterfinals.
#1 Ronaldo continues to prove this is his competition
Cristiano Ronaldo had a dismal start to the season and it coincided with Madrid's weak defence of their La Liga title. Los Blancos got knocked out of the Copa del Rey as well leaving Champions League as their only chance at a big trophy.
Right on cue, Ronaldo, as well as the team, stepped up when the knockouts began as they brushed past Paris Saint-Germain with the former taking centre-stage. The only player to score over 50 goals in the knockout stages, the Portuguese has seven goals in just five games against Juventus.
Time and again, Ronaldo has shown how much he loves the Champions League, and there is no reason why he will not attract the spotlight in a few weeks' time when the quarterfinals start.
