Champions League and Europa League quarter-final second leg insights
A feast of European knockout football awaits us with the Champions League and Europa League quarter-final second legs dominating the schedule. Here are some BIG match insights to get you ready for it all.
Tuesday 18th April
The formbook doesn’t favour the hosts
The 14-time and defending European champions Real Madrid showed their class in the first leg, dispatching a disjointed Chelsea side 2-0 at the Bernabéu. Goals from the ageless Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio, who often proves to be the man for the BIG occasion, give Los Blancos a comfortable advantage. João Félix will wonder what might have been with his early chance, through on goal against Thibaut Courtois.
Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell will miss the second leg after his red card in Madrid, adding another unwanted issue to the backlog for interim Chelsea manager Frank Lampard. Their defeat in the Spanish capital was the fourth consecutive match they failed to score in across all competitions.
The Blues have a mountain to climb. Benzema, meanwhile, has 6 goals in 5 appearances against them, including a hat-trick at Stamford Bridge in last season’s quarter-finals.
Electric atmosphere expected in Naples
AC Milan recorded their second win over Napoli inside 11 days with a 1-0 success at San Siro in the first leg. That was thanks to a goal from Algerian midfield maestro Ismaël Bennacer, who was once on the books of Arsenal.
The Azzurri have it all to do but at least they should have Nigerian talisman Victor Osimhen back. That much has been confirmed by manager Luciano Spalletti. Osimhen has 25 goals in 29 club appearances this term.
This will be a huge test for the Serie A leaders who will be desperate to give Stadio Diego Armando Maradona one of its most memorable Champions League nights.
Wednesday 19th April
Citizens still on track for a treble
In arguably the most impressive team performance of the quarter-finals so far, Man City swept Bayern Munich aside 3-0 at Etihad Stadium to make them overwhelming favourites to reach the semi-finals. A reported post-match fracas between Sadio Mané and Leroy Sané hasn’t helped matters for the German champions.
Erling Haaland’s goal in the first leg was his 45th this campaign across all competitions, an all-time record tally for a Premier League player in a single season. John Stones also continued to excel in his hybrid role, collecting the ball in central midfield on a regular basis and making City tick alongside Rodri, who scored a stunning opener in the first leg.
Bayern’s record at Allianz Arena on Champions League nights is exemplary, scoring 11 goals without reply this season against Barcelona, Plzeň, Inter and PSG, and Pep Guardiola won’t be underestimating his old club. They’ll need to produce a memorable performance to complete a staggering turnaround though.
Nerazzurri showed their grit
A hugely impressive 2-0 win in Lisbon puts 2010 European champions Inter in the box seat. Goals from Nicolò Barella and Romelu Lukaku, a man who is averaging a goal every 28.7 minutes in the Champions League this season, will have the Nerazzurri feeling good about their chances ahead of the second leg at San Siro.
Benfica pose a counter-attacking threat through Gonçalo Ramos and Rafa Silva, so Inter won’t be able to count their chickens before they hatch, but they couldn’t have dreamed of a much better scenario than this. They also have vast experience across the spine of their team in the shape of Francesco Acerbi, Marcelo Brozović, Edin Džeko and this season’s super sub Lukaku.
Can they hold their nerve and reach the final 4? If they do, 2023’s Champions League final will definitely feature an Italian side. The last Serie A team to reach the final were Juventus, all the way back in 2017.
Thursday 20th April
Europa League specialists never say die
2 late own goals have drastically changed the complexion of this tie. Man Utd seemed to be cruising after a quick-fire first-half brace from Marcel Sabitzer but their lead was wiped out after Tyrell Malacia (84th minute) and Harry Maguire (92nd) put through their own net at the death.
To make matters worse for the Red Devils, Lisandro Martínez came off with a serious looking injury, and Bruno Fernandes is now suspended for the second leg. Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford may also not return in time.
This second leg has become a must-watch for the neutral. Sevilla, with the likes of Youssef En-Nesyri, Papu Gómez and Ivan Rakitić in their ranks, have more than enough quality and experience to ruffle a few feathers at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. Their recent pedigree in this competition is extraordinary, having won it in 4 of their last 6 participations in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020.
A throwback to the Juve of old
Visitors Sporting dominated the possession and made more chances in the first leg, but the Old Lady hung on to a precious 1-0 win. As was so often the case in the 1990s and early 2000s, a centre-back was the hero for an Italian side as Federico Gatti grabbed the only goal.
Juventus illustrated the depth of their squad by introducing World Cup winners Leandro Paredes and Paul Pogba from the bench, as well as BIG-money Serbian striker Dušan Vlahović.
Sporting will feel as though this tie is far from over though, and will draw confidence from their elimination of Premier League leaders Arsenal in the previous round. This is another European knockout tussle dangling on a knife-edge.