When the UEFA Champions League draw for the Quarter-Finals set up a Bayern Munich vs PSG clash this early, nothing could herald a better news for the other six clubs.
The 2020 finalists will go head to head in the usual Home-Away contest to eliminate either of the two teams in the Quarter Final knockouts. For either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint Germain, this would mean a disappointing early exit from the league.
The other 3 matches are all competitive contests with Manchester City squaring up against Borussia Dortmund, Porto playing Chelsea, and Real Madrid battling out Liverpool in a series of mouthwatering clashes.
For Manchester City, who have by now spectacularly won the Premier League, the focus will shift to winning their first-ever Champions League. They have been in sublime form, breaking records with the latest one being 17 successful unbeaten away matches after they defeated Everton 2-0 in the FA Cup.
Their possible road to the Champions League is Borussia Dortmund, Bayern, or PSG, and then any one of the remaining 4 clubs in the finals. Guardiola has been kept away from this big trophy for 10 years, despite having an unmatched record in the Domestic leagues. Their run in the previous season witnessed a disappointing end after they lost to Lyon in a tie where they were the favourites. And having one of PSG or Bayern not stand their way this season is good news. But first, they will have to stop Dortmund and their sensation Eric Haaland in the quarter-final, a task not too easy.
Or could it be Chelsea? They beat the Spanish La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid 3-0 in the Round of 16, a tie that announced the resurgence of a side that has been kept out of this competition for a while, but were top performers at the beginning of the earlier decade. Chelsea faced an unforgettable 7-0 drubbing in last year’s round of 16 ties against Bayern Munich, their worst result in this competition for the longest time.
For Liverpool who arguably have the toughest test out of the 3 Premier League sides, will be an opportunity to seek revenge for the 2018 Champions League final defeat, when they play Real Madrid. Madrid is the only Spanish side left in the competition and defeating the giants would mean Liverpool turning around a dreadful season which has put into question the club’s future.
By no means can anyone predict who will be lifting the Champions League this season since all 8 teams have great caliber But there is a possibility of either Manchester City, Chelsea, or Liverpool bringing the trophy back to England.