Who Will Qualify for the Champions League Quarter Finals?
The Champions League is in the knockout stages and we’ll soon know just who the eight quarter finalists will be. The eight ties in the last 16 will be concluded this and next week. Most of the ties are finally balanced but who will be reaching the last eight?
Bayern Struggling
The early part of this season indicated that Bayern Munich would be strong contenders to win the Bundesliga and the Champions League. New signing Harry Kane has been in excellent form in his first season but it’s been going wrong for Bayern in recent months.
They are only second in the Bundesliga and their grip on the title is loosening. After dominating their Champions League group (including beating Manchester United twice), they lost the away first leg of their last 16 tie against Lazio 1-0.
Bayern have been losing too many games of late but on the road. 12 of their last 15 home games have been won with only Werder Bremen beating them in mid-January. Not since 2021 have they lost a home Champions League match with two wins and a draw this season. It’s 1/4 at bet365 that they win this match on March 5 and 4/11 to qualify.
Lazio have a slim advantage but have lost three of their last five away matches. Their last two away Champions League games have produced losses at Feyenoord and Atletico Madrid with five goals conceded. They lost at Bayern in 2021 and are 11/2 at WIlliam Hill to get the draw that would see them go through.
The past two seasons have seen Barcelona end up being moved to the Europa League. The La Liga side have made it through to the knockout stages this season. They host Napoli on March 12 with the scores level at 1-1.
Barca will be pleased at coming away from Napoli with a draw despite leading in that first leg. Away form in Europe has seen them win one of four Champions League games this season. At home though, Barcelona have won all three with nine goals scored. You can get 6/10 at BetVictor on them beating Napoli.
The Serie A champions are having a difficult season and are only ninth in the table. They have only won one of their last eight away matches and already lost 4-2 at Real Madrid this season. It’s 9/2 at bet365 that they can get a surprise win at Barca but a home win is likely.
There are only a couple of ties where a side has a two-goal lead from the first leg. Cup holders Manchester City won 3-1 at Copenhagen and are 7/4 with BetVictor to again win the Champions League.
PSG are still chasing their first ever Champions League title. They look to be on their way to the last eight after a 2-0 home win over Real Sociedad. Bet365 gives odds of 12/1 that PSG finally win the Champions League this season.
Comeback time for Arsenal and Atletico
Arsenal haven’t reached the Champions League quarter finals since the 2009-10 season. Their last seven times in the last 16 have seen them fail to progress. They’re in danger of doing that again this season after losing the first leg of this tie 1-0 in Porto.
Arsenal have been scoring goals aplenty this year and will fancy their chances of reaching the last eight. All three of their home Champions League games this season have been won to nil. You can get odds of 2/9 at William Hill they win on March 12.
Porto have lost two of their last four away games in the Champions League. Only one clean sheet has been kept in their last eight matches on the road so the Gunners have to be considered favourites here. Porto are 9/4 at bet365 to qualify.
Atletico Madrid are 1-0 down after the away leg of their tie against Inter. The La Liga side aren’t that hot on the road but are so impressive on home soil. They scored 11 goals in their three home group fixtures and have gone eight home Champions League games without defeat. William Hill gives odds of 9/5 they beat Inter on March 13.
Inter are on a long winning streak and will make life difficult for Atletico. Two of their three Champions League away games this season have finished level. A draw will see them qualify and that’s 85/40 at BetVictor.
Elsewhere, it’s looking good for Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, both of whom should reach the last eight.
