From the 36 teams that started this season’s Champions League, only eight remain as we hit the quarter-final stage.
Several big hitters have already fallen by the wayside, including Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Inter, Juventus and Manchester City. Only the best of European football have made it this far.
The Athletic highlights some of the best bets across this week’s Champions League quarter-final first legs. All kick-offs are 3pm ET/8pm BST.
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich
Estadio Bernabeu, Tuesday, April 7
Heavyweight encounters don’t come much bulkier than this. Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have won the Champions League/European Cup 21 times between them and have their sights set on more continental glory.
Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last nine Champions League meetings with Bayern Munich, winning seven. This, however, will be quite the test for Alvaro Arbeloa’s side.
Bayern are favourites to win in the Spanish capital. The Bavarians have scored 11 goals in their last three outings in all competitions and boast one of the most fearsome forward lines in the game — Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz will take some stopping.
The last seven matches between these two teams have produced over 2.5 goals, which can be backed at 2/5. While Kane’s fitness is in question, Olise will feature. Nobody has produced more assists in this season’s Champions League than the Frenchman, who is 1/1 to score or assist.
This promises to be one of the most captivating encounters of this season’s Champions League.
Sporting CP vs Arsenal
Estadio Jose Alvalade, Tuesday
Arsenal’s season is at risk of slipping through their fingers after successive defeats to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final and Southampton in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Sporting CP could be equipped to expose this insecurity further. The Primeira Liga champions boast a strong home record, suggesting Arsenal will do well to leave Lisbon with a victory.
Rui Borges’ team have won all five of their home matches in this season’s Champions League, beating Kairat Almaty, Marseille, Club Brugge, Paris Saint-Germain and Bodo/Glimt, scoring an impressive 16 goals in the process.
At 7/2, there could be value in backing Sporting to take a lead to north London for next week’s second leg. The Portuguese hosts are also 11/4 to score more than 1.5 goals.
While no team has kept more clean sheets than Arsenal (six) in this season’s Champions League, their recent wobbles suggest Tuesday could be another challenging match.
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid
Camp Nou, Wednesday
They are clashing for the second time in only a matter of days after Robert Lewandowski’s late winner gave Barcelona all three points in La Liga.
Barca enter Wednesday’s game having won all of their last nine matches at home, scoring an incredible 33 goals in the process.
Lamine Yamal is 9/2 to score at any time. The young winger has five goals in eight Champions League appearances this season and is a constant threat on the right side of the Barca front line.
Giuliano Simeone exposed Barcelona’s high defensive line to score an opener for Atletico Madrid on Saturday, making the price of 4/9 for both teams to score somewhat attractive. Diego Simeone’s side will set up to exploit Barca in quick transition.
Barca are 19 points ahead of Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga, but this could be a competitive quarter-final tie that produces drama over both legs.
Paris Saint-Germain vs Liverpool
Parc des Princes, Wednesday
Having struggled for top form this season, PSG put down a marker by thumping Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate to make the Champions League quarter-finals.
Liverpool, on the other hand, travel to Paris after damaging defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City either side of the international break. Arne Slot needs a positive performance and result to ease the mounting pressure on him.
PSG have won just three of their six home games in the Champions League this season and have kept just one clean sheet over this run, giving Liverpool hope that they could do some damage.
Hugo Ekitike has scored three times in the Champions League this season and is 7/5 to score or assist in the French capital. Dominik Szoboszlai is 7/2 to score at any time — the Hungarian has shown he can be a threat from free kicks.
At 1/1, Liverpool are relatively long for a double chance to win or draw. They won at the Parc des Princes last season before exiting the Champions League at the round of 16 stage over two legs. This might not be clear-cut.
