The smoke has cleared and the quarter-finalists of the UEFA Champions League have revealed themselves. After six months of drama on and off the field, the top 32 teams from Europe have been reduced to just eight, who will battle it out for the honour of being Europe’s top club in 2015.
The quarter-final stage will kick off on 14th April but the draw is going to be decided in some hours from now and here’s all you need to know about the impending draw.
Time and Place
Teams who qualified
| Team | Country & League | League Position | Round of 16 result (Agg score) |
| Barcelona | Spain (La Liga) | 1st | Manchester City (3-1) |
| Real Madrid | Spain (La Liga) | 2nd | Schalke (5-4) |
| Atletico Madrid | Spain (La Liga) | 4th |
Bayer Leverkusen (1-1)
(3-2 on penalties)
|
| Paris Saint-Germain | France (Ligue 1) | 2nd |
Chelsea (3-3)
(on away goals)
|
| AS Monaco | France (Ligue 1) | 4th |
Arsenal (3-3)
(on away goals)
|
| Bayern Munich | Germany (Bundesliga) | 1st | Shakhtar Donetsk (7-0) |
| Juventus | Italy (Serie A) | 1st | Borussia Dortmund (5-1) |
| FC Porto | Portugal (Primeira Liga) | 2nd | FC Basel (5-1) |
Format
There are three teams from Spain, two from France and one each from Germany, Italy and Portugal.There are no restrictions for this round, opening up possibilities for teams from the same country to be drawn against each other. With three La Liga teams involved, the chances of an all La Liga quarter-final matchup is very high. So don’t be surprised if we have an early El Clasico on the cards.
Teams to avoid
Going by current form, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are the two teams every other club would like to avoid facing at this stage of the competition. Both teams have won their last five matches convincingly.But with Bayern Munich enjoying a lop-sided domestic season and having to beat a comparatively weaker opposition in the Champions League Round of 16, the Bavarians have not been tested enough this season against quality opponents. So the team everyone would want to avoid will be Barcelona.
Dark Horses
While France’s hopes of winning the tournament will largely rest on Paris Saint-Germain’s shoulders, a much-unfancied AS Monaco can come out as the surprise team of this round.Monaco might not be an example of flowing and attacking football but what they have been so far, is efficient. Arsenal and Arsene Wenger will tell you all about the pitfalls of taking the French outfit lightly.
In Dimitar Berbatov, Joao Moutinho and Geoffrey Kondogbia, Monaco possess the class, experience and unpredictability to undo any defence. While Danijel Subasic in goal is in the form of his life, Leonardo Jardim’s side might just have another upset tucked away up their sleeve.
Dream draw
While an El Clasico is always a mouth-watering prospect, based on current form a Bayern Munich versus Barcelona clash will be the most tempting for the neutrals.The clash between two intense, attacking styles is enough to get any football fan drooling. If it isn’t, Pep Guardiola’s tactical manoeuvring to contain an unstoppable Lionel Messi will surely make for an enthralling affair.
Whichever way it does turn out, the draw surely guarantees brilliant football action when the tournament resumes next month.
Tickets
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