Champions League quarter-finals preview: Who's hot, who's not and what the teams need to do to progress
HEAD IN THE GAME: Arsenal's Declan Rice (left) and team-mates balance a ball between their heads. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire.
Rui Borges has excelled since taking over the Sporting reins in 2024 and has moved away from the three-man backline favoured by Ruben Amorim, preferring a 4-2-3-1 setup.
Similarly, Mikel Arteta has recently utilised a 4-2-3-1 system, though favours a 4-3-3.
Sporting won back-to-back matches heading into the international break. That includes a resounding 5-0 win over Bodo/Glimt to book a quarter-final spot. They’ve won their last eight at home.
Arsenal, meanwhile, fell to a 2-0 EFL Cup final loss prior to the domestic hiatus. Defeat to Manchester City ended a 14-match unbeaten run.
Luis Suarez has made a fine start to the calendar year, scoring in 12 of 16 Sporting outings in 2026. The Colombian has netted four goals in five home European appearances this season.
Declan Rice continues to prove to be Arsenal’s most dependable player. His driving runs from midfield and deadball deliveries will again be key for the Gunners.
Pote may be tearing up Liga Portugal, but the creative star is struggling in Europe’s elite club competition. Indeed, he’s been directly involved in just two goals across six Champions League outings.
For Arsenal, Viktor Gyokeres will hope a return to an old stomping ground will provide the catalyst for a return to form. The Swede has scored in just two of his last 10 club appearances.
Chance their luck from range. Sporting have shown a willingness to give up chances from distance, and this suits Arsenal. Indeed, the Gunners have scored six Champions League goals from outside of the box. No team has scored more in the competition this season.
Take a leaf out of Manchester City’s book. The Cityzens opted against pressing the Arsenal goalkeeper and defence in the EFL Cup final, and the Premier League leaders were unable to play their usual style. If they sit off in the final third, it’ll frustrate the Gunners.
Winger-by-trade Maxi Araujo has been converted to a left-back for Sporting. The Uruguay international doesn’t need a second invitation to bombard up the flank, evident in the nine chances he created in the second leg against Bodo/Glimt. No player has managed more in a Champions League match this season.
Sporting are not to be underestimated, especially at home. Arsenal, though, have the knowhow to get the job done across both legs. Back the Gunners to progress to the semi-final.
Alvaro Arbeloa has fared well since succeeding Xabi Alonso at the Real Madrid helm. The 4-4-2 system is having a positive effect on Los Blancos.
However, they’ll have their work cut out against Vincent Kompany’s Bayern. The Bavarian bruisers are flying in the Bundesliga.
Real Madrid have responded well to recent setbacks to Osasuna and Getafe. They’d won five on the spin heading into the international break, including a 3-2 victory over rivals Atletico.
They’ll have their work cut out against a Bayern side that was unbeaten in 12 up until the domestic hiatus.
He may have received his marching orders against Atletico, but Uruguay captain Federico Valverde is flying for Los Blancos. The midfielder bagged a hat-trick in the last-16 meeting with Manchester City.
For Bayern, it’s hard to look beyond Harry Kane. The England captain bagged in nine of his 10 outings before the international break, netting 14 times in the process.
Remarkably, Kylian Mbappe has gone off the boil for Real Madrid. Injuries haven’t helped, but the Frenchman failed to score in four before bagging for France on international duty.
He’s not the only France international faltering. Dayot Upamecano’s form has nosedived, and a red card with Les Bleus last month hasn’t helped. The 27-year-old is there to be exploited.
Find a way to contain both Michael Olise and Luis Diaz. The Bayern wide pair have enjoyed a superb campaign to date, and are the only two players to have registered double figures for both goals and assists this season. Give them an inch, and they’ll take a mile.
Win the midfield battle. Bayern have the stars capable of dominating in a key area. However, when up against battlers such as Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, they need to gain a stranglehold of the game in the middle of the park.
Lennart Karl earned a first international call up of his career in March. The teenage German forward has excelled in his breakout campaign under Vincent Kompany. The 18-year-old has shone in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League this season, and a stand out display will contribute to his rise.
Real Madrid are the masters of European football. Their Champions League adventure, however, may just end at Bayern’s expense. FC Hollywood, after all, are one of the favourites to go the distance.
Hansi Flick is hoping that his high-defensive line in a 4-2-3-1 won’t be exposed by La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid.
Diego Simeone has previously capitalised upon the Bluagrana’s high press, evident in their Copa Del Rey semi-final double header.
Barcelona headed into the international break on an eight-game unbeaten run, winning seven, which included a 3-0 win over Atletico. They’ll play Los Colchoneros three times in the space of 10 days.
Atleti haven’t been in great form, losing their final two games before the break in domestic action.
Lamine Yamal continues to dazzle on the Barcelona frontline. With Raphinha absent, there will be more pressure on the Spaniard to pin Atletico back.
A potential future Barca star has hit form at just the right time. Julian Alvarez came in for criticism earlier in the season. The Argentine looks back to his best for this Barcelona double header.
Ferran Torres has scored 16 goals for Barcelona this season, a solid haul. However, the Spain international has failed to score since netting against Elche on January 31st.
After a bright star to life with Atletico, Ademola Lookman has gone off the boil. The Nigerian ended a seven-game goalless run in their 3-2 Madrid Derby defeat last month.
Wear appropriate footwear, especially in the second leg. The Tottenham players were slipping all over the place in their 5-2 Champions League defeat in Madrid last month. Similar happened to Barcelona in the Copa Del Rey. Don the right boots, and the Blaugrana should be OK.
Ruthlessly expose Barcelona’s high defensive line. Hansi Flick implements a high backline, and their desire to play on the front foot can come undone against opponents that spring forward quickly. Atleti have done so before and can do so again to help book a semi-final spot.
Marcos Llorente has scored four Atletico goals this season, all of which have come in the Champions League. The versatile Spaniard flies forward from right-back with reckless abandon. If he’s not kept in check by the La Liga champions, then the Spaniard will make Barcelona pay.
Atletico will be no pushovers. However, they’ve fluffed their lines in the Champions League previously. A Raphinha-less Barcelona should still have enough to edge past the capital outfit.
Luis Enrique’s PSG side dictate the tempo, with dominance in midfield the key in the Spaniard’s favoured 4-3-3 system.
It was the same setup that controlled proceedings when PSG faced Arne Slot’s Liverpool last season.
PSG haven’t been their barnstorming best in Ligue 1 this season. However, they remain France’s best side and won three leading into the international break.
Conversely, Liverpool have been poor. They won only two of six matches before the March internationals with pressure mounting on Arne Slot.
While he’s been linked with a summer move away, Bradley Barcola has been in flying goalscoring form. Indeed, the Frenchman has scored in five of his six outings at the time of writing.
With the Reds frontline misfiring, Dominik Szoboszlai has been doing his utmost to help Liverpool. The Hungarian has been shining, whether it’s in midfield or right-back.
2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele has struggled due to injury this season. However, his Champions League showings have left little to the imagination having scored just twice in the competition.
It’s been a sub-par maiden English campaign for Florian Wirtz. The German has shown glimpses of his quality but looks a shadow of the player who shone for Bayer Leverkusen.
Make their dominance count. PSG enjoyed 70.4% possession in the first leg in Paris against Liverpool last season, mustering 27 shots, only to ultimately fall to a 1-0 loss. While they won the two-legged tie, they’ll be keen to a potential slip up in their quest to defend their crown.
Not allow PSG the chance to settle into dictating the tempo. Vitinha is one of the best ball-playing midfielders in world football, while Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves are no slouches either. Liverpool will struggle to wrestle control of the clash if they can’t keep tabs on the trio.
Senny Mayulu has built upon a fine breakout campaign in style. The 19-year-old is now a trusted member of Luis Enrique’s side, impressing in both midfield and attack. The young Frenchman bagged his second Champions League goal in the 3-0 win over Chelsea last month.
Liverpool are enduring a disappointing campaign. The second leg being at Anfield will help the Reds, but it would be a huge shock for PSG to crash out of the competition at the quarter-final stage.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
