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UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal Draw
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Yesterday evening, the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal stage fixtures were drawn, leaving the fans with four very enticing home-and-away fixtures. With three English sides, two German sides, two Spanish sides, and one, unlikely Greek side, only the top leagues are left in competition, and only the cream of the crop will take to the pitch now. Let's take a look at each draw:
Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich
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Undoubtedly, the tie of the round is Cheslea vs. Bayern Munich.. The games will be a rematch of the 2012 final, where Didier Drogba's Blues stunned the Bavarians in their home, the Allianz Arena, and won their first ever Champions League trophy.
Bayern continue to storm their way in the Bundesliga but will know that Chelsea is an entirely different test; led by Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, and Eden Hazard, the London side will be stiff competition. Boasting stars of his own, however, Pep Guardiola will be hoping the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze can lead him past his arch-nemesis Jose Mourinho.
Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund
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The next most important draw of the round is that of Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. Another big-time rematch, this tie pitting the combatants of the 2013 semifinal against each other. Nobody will soon forget the incredible showing Robert Lewandowski put on at the Signal Iduna Park, burying four goals past Real Madrid to send the Germans to the final.
Things are a lot different now, though. Robert Lewandowski, Mario Gotze, and Mats Hummels are all gone, while Real Madrid has reinforced with the likes of Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, and Toni Kroos. It'll surely be an extreme test for der BVB against the team with La Decima, but in football, anything can happen.
Arsenal vs. Liverpool
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In the competition's only one-nationality encounter, two English teams in Liverpool and Arsenal take each other on. Two teams that are always in contention for the Premier League title are both in the race yet again, Arsenal in 2nd and Liverpool a little further back in 4th. In recent times, however, neither team has really made it that far in Europe; this is a chance to change that.
Brendan Rodgers' men will look to Mario Balotelli to lead the way. The Italian striker, under heavy pressure after replacing Luis Suarez, has been in brilliant form, leading the charts in the Premier League. It will be no simple task against Mesut Ozil and Gunners, however, and this all-English encounter could be the most thrilling of all.
Olympiakos vs. Atletico Madrid
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This is the sole tie that has gone a little under-the-radar in the quarterfinal stage. Atletico Madrid, last year's runners-up, have lost some brilliant players, but under the management of Michael Laudrup they've hardly missed a step. Antoine Griezmann, Arda Turan, and Koke have been the standouts as Los Colchoneros top La Liga and continue to fight in multiple competitions.
Olympiakos, however, are ready to be a real thorn in Atleti's side, the David to Atleti's Goliath. Kostas Mitroglou and Patjim Kasami especially have had fantastic seasons as their team leads the way for another Greek league title. The Mattress-Makers will be an entirely new challenge, and it'll take the performances of their lives to make the semifinals.
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