By IVES GALARCEP
The stacked deck that is the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal draw always figured to produce some enticing match-ups, and Friday morning’s draw did not disappoint.
Chelsea will face Paris St. Germain and FC Barcelona will meet La Liga foe Atletico Madrid in two of the more intriguing match-ups of the quarterfinal draw.
Defending champions Bayern Munich will meet struggling Manchester United while Real Madrid will meet injury-hit Borussia Dortmund in a match-up that would offer much more appeal if not for the rash of injuries being faced by the German club.
The Chelsea-PSG clash should offer plenty of subplots, as Jose Mourinho looks to continue his mastery of the quarterfinal round against Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a dangerous Paris side. Atletico has given Barcelona fits this seaosn, forcing three draws with their relentless pressure and organization. The all-Spanish match-up could provide a coming-out party for highly-regarded Atleti boss Diego Simeone.
What do you think of the match-ups?
Share your thoughts below.
Is it just me or is it kind of fishy that the top 4 teams don’t have to play each other in the quarters? I’m not a conspiracy theorist but we are talking about international soccer suits so anything is possible.
It’s almost as if it were seeded.
Seeded.
If you believe Goal.com’s ranking of the final 8 this morning, then the match-ups came out 1v8, 2v7, 3v6 and 4v5.
This obviously speaks to Ives’ influence in all matters football.
Athletico
Madrid
Bayern
Psg
And madrid wins champions, i hate madrid and i would love for athletico to win.
As for mls cup, toronto looks too good for mls standards. Tfc remind me of those galaxy with beckham in his last year.
If red bull or galaxy make no moves, good luck.
I see timbers vs tfc in mls cup
Didn’t you guys see what Man U did to Olympiakos? They are back! Bayern are shaking in their boots!
#nottheonion
That has been the talk around Manchester in the media. It’s hard to stifle a laugh.
RVP out 4-6 weeks, and theyre gone again…lol
Sorry for Man U. They are toast. Nobody can stop Bayern. They are to become the greatest team in soccer history should they win another historic treble.
Is there another draw after this round? Or are there set matchups for the semi’s?
There will be another open draw.
Super, Bayern are playing at United on 01.April. You know what that means don’t you.
Julian Green to have a brace against United, hop on the plane, fly to Arizona, and on 02.April score a hat trick against Mexico!
Lol, I would like the guy to have a game for Mexico. I dunno if that’s the one I would pick but hey.
Some great matchups. I’m thinking Real, Barca, Chelsea and Bayern, which would be the same last four as 2012.
Sounds about right. But I wouldn’t count PSG out. I think they will score quite easily. It’s not just Zlatan as they have Cavani as well.
finally some real football will be played.
What a sad comment.
MLS: not real football
EPL/La Liga/Bundesliga/etc: not real football
Champions League group stage: not real football
Round of 16: not real football
Quarterfinals: finally some real football
…it must be lonely up on that high horse.
Ha!
I think that he may have been simply referring to some of the lopsided matchups at the previous stage of the Champions League, where some of the teams were blown out at the first leg.
I don’t get out of bed for anything less than Barcelona/Real Madrid/Bayern/BVB/PSG.
Either that or they are paying me 10 grand a day.
Life is tough.
I bet on at least two scoreless draws in the first leg and one 1-0
Bayern is going to do terrible things to Manchester United.
Don’t worry, United’s got Chicharito. No problem.
Bwahahahhahahahahahahaha.
That makes me think German style S&M
Is that before or after Vidic gets sent off with a straight red?
I bet on at least two scoreless draws in the first leg and one 1-0
Bayern is going to eat Man U alive
Bayern Real Barca PSG
Undoubtedly
I dunno Chelsea could beat PSG.
Ya, Chelsea can win that. That will be one of the better matches. I would say that maybe Chelsea has a better collective back 4. But…. otherwise PSG actually has the advantage.
Not sure why people seem to think Barca will breeze past Atletico, that is going to be a very good matchup
yeah, I’d bet on Atletico, Barca has been shaky all season.