UCL Quarterfinals: A preview of the thrilling first and second legs

The UEFA Champions League 2023/24 is now down to the last eight teams! There are three teams from Spain, two from England, two from Germany, and one from France still on the road to this season’s championship title.

Before the much-awaited quarterfinals begin, analyse the teams to make the most of the possible betting prospects. Here's a preview of the upcoming UCL quarterfinal matches to help you make the best betting decisions:

Place your bets on the UCL Quarterfinals here

Quarterfinals Leg 1 matches: April 9-10, 2024

Leg 1 kicks off the Quarterfinals stage of the UCL with four matchups from the campaign’s remaining eight teams. Each matchup is expected to deliver unending thrills. Still, fans look forward to the game between defending champion Man City and UCL’s winningest team Real Madrid (14 titles, as of writing).

Let’s take a look at the recent form of each team:

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich (April 9)

Since Matchday 1 of the UCL, Arsenal has proven their dominance by winning all four matches against PSG. The Gunners finished at the top of Group B and are still in contention for the crown. Arsenal has had a smooth form recently, despite ending their last match in the Premier League against Man City with a goalless draw. They convincingly won their last four matches:

• Premier League: Arsenal vs Newcastle United: 4-1 (February 24, 2024)

• Premier League: Arsenal vs Sheffield United: 6-0 (March 5, 2024)

• Premier League: Arsenal vs Brentford: 2-1 (March 10, 2024)

• UEFA Champions League: Arsenal vs Porto: 1(4)-0(2) (March 13, 2024)

On the other hand, Bayern Munich is aiming to break their quarterfinal curse this season. They topped Group A in the group stage, proving their strength. Munich has also been in top form in their recent matches, with high-scoring games. However, it is worth noting that they fell short in their last Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund.

• UEFA Champions League: Bayern Munich vs Lazio: 3-0 (March 5, 2024)

• Bundesliga: Bayern Munich vs Mainz: 8-1 (March 9, 2024)

• Bundesliga: Bayern Munich vs SV Darmstadt: 5-2 (March 16, 2024)

• Bundesliga: Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund: 0-2 (March 30, 2024)

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich: Which team will come out on top?

Real Madrid vs Man City (April 9)

Real Madrid has shown promising form in this season's UCL. They finished at the top of Group C, ahead of tough teams. However, their recent match against Leipzig has reminded them not to be complacent. Nonetheless, with a strong lineup, Real Madrid has been securing victories with ease in their recent games:

• UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig: 1-1 (March 6, 2024)

• La Liga: Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo: 4-0 (March 10, 2024)

• La Liga: Real Madrid vs Osasuna: 4-2 (March 16, 2024)

• La Liga: Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao: 2-0 (March 31, 2024)

Meanwhile, Manchester City is a formidable opponent. They have set a record of scoring at least three goals in their last eight games in the UEFA Champions League this season, showing no signs of slowing down in their quest for the 2023/24 UCL title.

While their UCL campaign has been smooth, looking into their recent games would make you want to keep an eye on the team, as they are currently unpredictable on the field. Still, based on the odds, Man City is the top favourite to win the UCL title this season.

• UEFA Champions League: Man City vs FC Copenhagen: 3-1 (March 6, 2024)

• Premier League: Man City vs Liverpool: 1-1 (March 10, 2024)

• FA Cup: Man City vs Newcastle United: 2-0 (March 16, 2024)

• Premier League: Man City vs Arsenal: 0-0 (March 31, 2024)

Bet on Real Madrid and Man City's UCL matchup here

Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund (April 10)

Atletico Madrid’s performances have been a roller coaster ride recently. They successfully topped Group E in the group stage, however, despite qualifying early from the group stage, they faced a rough road to make it through the Round of 16. Atletico's passion and ability to create high-scoring matches are what could potentially propel them towards the finals.

• La Liga: Atletico Madrid vs Cádiz: 2-0 (March 9, 2024)

• UEFA Champions League: Atletico Madrid vs Inter Milan: 2-1 (March 13, 2024)

• La Liga: Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona: 0-3 (March 17, 2024)

• La Liga: Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal: 2-1 (April 1, 2024)

On the other hand, Borussia Dortmund deserves credit for winning the tough Group F. It was also not an easy journey for them to go through the Round of 16, as they put in tremendous effort against PSV to secure their place in the quarterfinals. When looking at Dortmund's recent form, there’s confidence they can reach the UCL finals.

• Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund vs Werder Bremen: 2-1 (March 9, 2024)

• UEFA Champions League: Borussia Dortmund vs PSV Eindhoven: 2-0 (March 13, 2024)

• Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund vs Eintracht Frankfurt: 3-1 (March 17, 2024)

• Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich: 2-0 (March 30, 2024)

Bet with crypto: Atletico Madrid vs Dortmund

Paris Saint-Germain vs Barcelona (April 10)

Paris Saint-Germain finished as runners-up in the challenging Group F and impressively advanced through the Round of 16. The team holds high hopes, especially with the presence of Kylian Mbappe, who is arguably the best player in the world at the moment. PSG has also shown its ability to produce high-scoring games and maintain consistency in recent matches.

• Ligue 1: Paris Saint-Germain vs Reims: 2-2 (March 10, 2024)

• Coupe de France: Paris Saint-Germain vs Nice: 3-1 (March 13, 2024)

• Ligue 1: Paris Saint-Germain vs Montpellier: 6-2 (March 17, 2024)

• Ligue 1: Paris Saint-Germain vs Marseille: 2-0 (March 31, 2024)

Meanwhile, Barcelona has broken their three-year curse of not getting past the knockout stages. This time, they managed to secure a place in the quarterfinals as they won Group H and advanced through the Round of 16 against Napoli. Barcelona's recent matches also highlight their potential to contend for the UCL crown this time around.

• La Liga: Barcelona vs Real Mallorca: 1-0 (March 8, 2024)

• UEFA Champions League: Barcelona vs Napoli: 3-1 (March 12, 2024)

• La Liga: Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid: 3-0 (March 17, 2024)

• La Liga: Barcelona vs Las Palmas: 1-0 (March 30, 2024)

Quarterfinal second legs: April 16-17, 2024

After the intense first legs of the UCL quarterfinals, the second legs are set for April 16 and 17, 2024. Take a look at the head-to-head records of the competing teams to gain a further overview:

Borussia Dortmund vs Atletico Madrid (April 16)

Dortmund and Atletico Madrid are facing off again for the first time since the UCL 2018/19 season group stage. In Group A, Dortmund secured a commanding 4-0 victory on Matchday 3. However, downplaying Atletico Madrid from the same group is not a choice, as they managed to defeat Dortmund with a 2-0 scoreline on Matchday 4.

Barcelona vs Paris Saint-Germain (April 16)

Both teams have faced each other twice in the Round of 16 of the UCL, specifically in the 2016/17 and 2020/21 seasons. PSG dominated the first leg in the 2020/21 season with a 4-1 scoreline, while the second leg ended in a 1-1 draw. Their head-to-head record shows that both teams have been trading wins back and forth.

Bayern Munich vs Arsenal (April 17)

Looking at their past encounters, Munich appears to be the clear favourite in this matchup. In their last encounter in the UCL, which was in the Round of 16 of the 2016/17 season, Bayern won both legs with a high-scoring 5-1 scoreline each. Arsenal will need to be extra careful and avoid mistakes if they want to have a chance against Bayern this time.

Man City vs Real Madrid (April 17)

The two giant clubs are no strangers to each other, having met in the semi-finals of the UCL in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons. Considering their recent UCL matchups, Man City appears to have a greater chance of winning, being the defending champions.

However, Real Madrid should not be underestimated due to their strong history in the competition. Expect an exciting and closely contested match between these two formidable teams in the quarterfinals.

What to expect in the UCL road to finals

The 2023/24 UCL season has been filled with intense matchups, showcasing the top teams determined to claim this season's UCL title. Start analysing the odds today and place your bets on who might emerge as the outright winner of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League. Based on the sports odds, here are the favourites to win:

• Manchester City

• Arsenal

• Real Madrid

• Bayern Munich

Predict the UCL season champion

Star players to watch

The players' skill set plays a crucial role in the success of each team. The UCL quarterfinals feature teams with legendary players who have consistently showcased their prowess on the field. Here are some star players worth keeping an eye on for potential betting opportunities:

• Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

• João Cancelo (Barcelona)

• Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

• Erling Haaland (Man City)

• Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)

• Marco Reus (Dortmund)

• Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)

• Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid)

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