2023/24 Champions League predictions: Quarter-final first legs
There may have been a lack of upsets in the previous round but the vast majority of favourites advancing from the 2023/24 Champions League last 16 means there are some huge quarter-finals in store this week.
An elite eight remain, including current holders Manchester City and 14-time winners Real Madrid, and the draw produced some belting ties. We’ve reached the best period in the footballing calendar, folks. Strap in and let the chaos unfold.
Here’s how 90min sees this week’s quarter-final first legs panning out.
Tuesday 9 April
Man City face Real Madrid in the Champions League for the third consecutive year / Michael Regan/GettyImages
Two Premier League sides remain in the competition and they’re both in action on Tuesday against members of the traditional European aristocracy.
Manchester City and Real Madrid are hardly strangers given they’ve faced off during the two previous Champions League campaigns, although both of those ties came with a place in the final at stake. It’s arrived a little earlier this time around.
City benefitted from hosting the second leg last season and they’ll have that luxury again as they first travel to the Spanish capital to face a well-rested Madrid side that’s set to waltz to the La Liga title. More of the same, please, guys.
Arsenal have excelled domestically over the past couple of seasons and are now trying to make headway in Europe having reached the quarters for the first time in 14 years. The Gunners are top of the Premier League table and are now in search of a statement continental win against an awfully vulnerable Bayern Munich outfit.
Bayern are set to relinquish their Bundesliga crown for the first time in over a decade and they’ll travel to north London without any away support.
| Kick-off Time (GMT) | Fixture | Prediction |
|---|---|---|
| 20:00 | Arsenal vs Bayern Munich | 2-0 |
| 20:00 | Real Madrid vs Man City | 1-1 |
Wednesday 10 April
Luis Enrique takes on his former club in the last eight / Jean Catuffe/GettyImages
Wednesday’s ties might not boast the superstar quality of Tuesday’s bouts, but they’re nonetheless intriguing ties which appear even on paper.
Atletico Madrid stunned Inter on penalties to progress into the last eight and certainly won’t be deterred by their indifferent domestic form in 2024. Atleti are on the right side of the draw and have an excellent shot at reaching their third Champions League final since 2014.
However, you feel they’ll need to take a lead into the second leg given how poor they’ve performed on their travels this season. Borussia Dortmund overcame Bayern at the Allianz Arena two weeks ago, but they were beaten by Stuttgart at the weekend and have been plagued by inconsistency all season.
There are a few narratives to watch out for in Wednesday’s other game as Luis Enrique takes on his former club in the French capital. Paris Saint-Germain welcome Barcelona to Parc des Princes in a repeat of ‘La Remontada’ which Enrique oversaw on the opposite touchline.
PSG will stroll to yet another Ligue 1 title, but they remain heavily reliant on the departing Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman will be determined to lead PSG’s continental charge this season, with the French side taking on a Barca outfit that’s been liberated since Xavi announced he will be stepping down at the end of the season.
| Kick-off Time (GMT) | Fixture | Prediction |
|---|---|---|
| 20:00 | Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund | 3-1 |
| 20:00 | Paris Saint-Germain vs Barcelona | 1-1 |
Source: 90mins
