THE CHAMPIONS BLOG: QUARTER FINAL DRAW SPECIAL

Just like in the Round of 16, we have just as exciting and enticing matches in store for us in this season's quarter finals. Some of the matches that are being played have even been formed as classics over the years. In a special edition of the Champions Blog, we look at the four matches in store for us in this season's Champions League quarter finals. 

Game 1: Arsenal vs Bayern Munich

The first game of the quarter finals will be a classic, containing England's Arsenal and Germany's Bayern Munich. Arsenal have made the quarter finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2010 while Bayern have made the quarter finals for the 5th consecutive season in a row. Arsenal have never won the Champions League before, but they came very close in 2006 when they were narrowly defeated by Barcelona in a Parisian final. Bayern are the most successful German team in the competiton, winning the competition six times, most recently in 2020. The last encounter with these two sides came in the 2016/17 Round of 16, when Bayern Munich annihilated Arsenal 5-1 at the Emirates to send themselves into the quarter finals with a resounding 10-2 aggregate win. 

Leg Locations: 

Leg 1: Tuesday 9th April 2024 (Emirates Stadium, London, England)

Leg 2: Wednesday 17th April 2024 (Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany)

Last Encounter in Competition:

2016/17 Round of 16: Bayern Munich 10-2 Arsenal (on aggregate)

Highest Finish in Competition:

Arsenal: Runners-Up (2005/06)

Bayern Munich: Winners (6) (1973/74, 1974/75, 1975/76, 2000/01, 2012/13, 2019/20)

Game 2: Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund

Match 2 of the quarter finals contains Spain's Atletico Madrid and Germany's Borussia Dortmund. Both teams have had a contriversal and questionable season, due to their performances in their domestic league throughout the season, however that didn't stop them from performing well in Europe. Atletico Madrid are making their first quarter final appearance since 2022 after finishing bottom of their group last season, while Dortmund have returned to the quarter finals after a 3 year absense. The best Atletico have gone in the competiton was finishing runners-up on three occasions, 1974, 2014 and 2016. Borussia Dortmund are one of three German teams to win the Champions League, having done so in the 1996/97 season. The last time these two sides met in the competition was in the 2018/19 group stage, when Dortmund won 4-0 in Germany and Atleti won 2-0 in the return fixture in Madrid. 

Leg Locations: 

Leg 1: Wednesday 10th April 2024 (Estadio Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain)

Leg 2: Tuesday 16th April 2024 (Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany)

Last Encounter in Competition: 

2018/19 Group Stage: Atletico Madrid 2-0 Borussia Dortmund

Highest Finish in Competition: 

Atletico Madrid: Runners-Up (1973/74, 2013/14, 2015/16)

Borussia Dortmund: Winners (1) (1996/97)

Game 3: Real Madrid vs Manchester City

This is the fourth time within the span of five seasons that Real Madrid and Manchester City have met in the competition; however, this is the first time that the two sides are meeting in the quarter finals with other games being played in the Round of 16 and Semi Finals. This is the fifth season in a row that Real Madrid have managed to make the quarter finals while this is Manchester City's seventh. Real are the most successful team in the Champions League, having won the Champions League 14 times while Manchester City are the newest team to win the Champions League, having won it last season in spectacular fashion. The last encounter between these two sides came in last season's semi finals when the two sides drew 1-1 in the Santiago Bernabeu while the Citizens won 4-0 in the return leg in Manchester. 

Leg Locations:

Leg 1: Tuesday 9th April 2024 (Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain)

Leg 2: Wednesday 17th April 2024 (Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England)

Last Encounter in Competition:

2022/23 Semi Finals: Manchester City 5-1 Real Madrid (on aggregate)

Highest Finish in Competition:

Real Madrid: Winners (14) (1955/56, 1956/57, 1957/58, 1958/59, 1959/60, 1965/66, 1997/98, 1999/2000, 2001/02, 2013/14, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2021/22)

Manchester City: Winners (1) (2022/23)

Match 4: Paris Saint Germain vs Barcelona

PSG and Barcelona have both returned to the quarter finals of the this competition after 2 and 3 respective seasons. Every one surely remembers Barcelona's comeback on PSG in the 2016/17 season, coming from 4-0 down to win 6-5 on aggregate, which can be remembered as the greatest comeback in the history of the competition. Paris Saint Germain have never embedded their name on the trophy but came close in the 2019/20 season, falling short 1-0 into the hands of Bayern Munich. Barcelona are the second most successful team in the competition, winning the competition 5 times, most recently in the 2014/15 season. The last encounter between these two sides came in the 2020/21 season in the Round of 16, when PSG managed to avenge their 2017 defeat by winning 5-2 on aggregate, winning 4-1 in Catalonia while drawing 1-1 in the French captial.

Leg Locations: 

Leg 1: Wednesday 10th April 2024 (Parc de Princes, Paris, France)

Leg 2: Tuesday 16th April 2024 (Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain)

Last Encounter in Competition:

2020/21 Round of 16: Paris Saint Germain 5-2 Barcelona (on aggregate)

Highest Finish in Competition:

Paris Saint Germain: Runners-Up (2019/20)

Barcelona: Winners (5) (1991/92, 2005/06, 2008/09, 2010/11. 2014/15)

Just like we saw in the Round of 16, the quarter finals only has more exciting matches and drama in store for us as 8 teams battle for the right to be Europe's best team. Who will be the final two to light up the final in London, and who's European dream will end in the hands of their opponents. Find out when the Champions Blog returnes in April for the quarter final showdown.