Champions League 2017/18: Ranking the 8 quarter-finalists

#3 Manchester City FC

Guardiola looking to win for the third time

Manchester City are the only team in the top 5 who have never won the tournament before. However, this year is definitely the best year for the club to break the duck. Pep Guardiola has revolutionized the playing style and mentality at Etihad and the results are there to be seen.

The Citizens are cruising in the Premier League, needing just 9 points from their last 8 games to lift the title. They have already won the Carabao Cup and now are aiming for the Treble with the Champions League. City topped their group consisting of Napoli, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Feyenoord and then almost finished their first knockout tie against Basel in the first leg itself.

Now, Guardiola's side have the quality and belief to take on any of the European elite and the manager himself has won the trophy twice with Barcelona. While the defense is not as water-tight as he would like, it is the midfield and attack that sets them apart as they can both wow and score past opponents. In Kevin De Bruyne, City have a player who is considered second only to Lionel Messi by their manager and the likes of Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Raheem Sterling, Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane add to their attacking strength.

Thus, Manchester City represent England's best chance of winning the Champions League for the first time since 2012.

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#2 FC Barcelona

Messi looks to be a man on a mission this season

After the sub-par season in 2016-2017, the Blaugrana have bounced back with a vengeance this season. New manager, Ernesto Valverde, has steadied the club off the pitch and handled Neymar's departure well to usher in the start of a new era at Camp Nou. The Catalan outfit are on course to win the La Liga, through to the finals of the Copa del Rey and are one of the hot favourites to win the Champions League.

Barcelona topped their group consisting of Juventus, Sporting Lisbon, and Olympiakos and then faced a potential banana skin against old rivals Chelsea in the round of 16. They negotiated Stamford Bridge with a respectable 1-1 draw before Messi turned it on at Camp Nou to win the tie comfortably.

Valverde's side have a robust defense guarded by a world-class goalkeeper in Marc-Andre ter Stegen and a mesmerizing attack with Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele supporting their magician. While their midfield remains the weakest link, the likes of Andres Iniesta knows how to get the job done when needed.

Thus, Barcelona are in prime position to try and win the trophy which they last won in 2015 and having lost only one game all season, one would not put it past them to be crowned the champions in Kyiv.