Since the end of the summer, the best soccer teams in Europe have been competing in the Champions League. Now, in March, the pool of teams has been narrowed down to just eight. Three teams from the Serie A remain, as well as two from the English Premier League, and one from Liga Nos, Bundesliga, and La Liga Santander. With some great matchups in store for the upcoming weeks, this Champions League will surely be a classic. 

April 11th, 3:00 pm and April 19, 3:00 pm: Benfica v Inter Milan 

The first fixture takes place on April 11th between Benfica and Inter Milan. Benfica’s round of 16 games against Club Brugge showed that they are a team to be reckoned with. In the first leg against their round of 16 opponents, Benfica won with a convincing score of 2-0. In the second leg, Benfica knocked out Club Brugge with a dominant 5-1 win to move the aggregate score to 7-1. While Benfica often finds themselves to be underdogs in the tournament, their great form in their domestic league is bound to make them a threat for the Champions League trophy. While Joao Mario and Gonçalo Ramos continue to perform for the Portuguese side, a powerhouse club such as Inter Milan is undoubtedly a team who knows how to handle the pressure in the quarterfinals. In the previous round, Inter Milan knocked out FC Porto. While Inter Milan got through to the next round with a shaky 1-0 aggregate, the team’s all-around talent will make them favorites in this upcoming fixture. With Lautaro Martinez leading the offense and Milan Skriniar protecting the goal in the back, the two legs between these teams are sure to be entertaining. 

April 11th, 3:00 pm and April 19th, 3:00 pm : Manchester City v Bayern Munich

At the same time as the Benfica v Inter Milan game, Manchester City and Bayern Munich will be playing in the Etihad Stadium for their first fixture. This matchup between two of the world’s best teams is must-watch soccer. Both of these teams were considered contenders to win the tournament back in September, and having these two teams face off in the quarterfinals will be thrilling. The first leg between these two teams will be played in Manchester, so in a game as close as this is expected to be, the home crowd could help City get the win. However, the same could be said for Bayern when they play at home in Munich on the 19th. City’s world-class striker Erling Haaland will likely give Bayern a run for their money, and his performance in both games will likely decide who moves on. While Man City is one of the strongest opponents left in the tournament, Bayern’s elimination of Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 also proved that they have one of the best chances to be Europe’s best. With Bayern’s young star Jamal Musiala leading the talented squad, it is hard to predict the winner of this quarterfinal matchup

April 12th, 3:00 pm and April 18th, 3:00 pm: Napoli v AC Milan

A day after the first two fixtures, Napoli and AC Milan square off for a spot in the semi-final. These two Italian teams will surely battle it out on the pitch with everything they have. With these teams being very familiar, their domestic rivalry will soon turn into a fight for the title of Europe’s best team. While this matchup looks rather even on paper, Napoli’s form in the Serie A has made them one of the best teams in the world. With a nineteen-point lead in the Italian top division, Napoli’s success has also been consistent. Their two top scorers, Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, have netted over thirty combined goals in their league, and their success is not expected to stop in the Champions League either. Although Napoli is the clear favorite, AC Milan is not a team to be taken lightly. With AC Milan’s successful history in the Champions League, their chance of winning the tournament is as great as any other team’s. Milan’s experience with Olivier Giroud and their notable pace in every other position makes them a formidable opponent, and their win over Tottenham in the previous round proves that they can pull off the win against a tough opponent such as the one they face next. While Napoli appears to hold the advantage in this quarterfinal matchup, this Italian square off will be a fixture to watch. 

April 12th, 3:00 pm and April 18th, 3:00 pm: Chelsea v Real Madrid

Sharing the match days with Napoli and AC Milan are English club Chelsea and Spanish club Real Madrid. This quarterfinal draw between the 2021 and 2022 winners of the Champions League is sure to be interesting. Real Madrid’s status as the winningest team in the history of the Champions League always makes them a scary opponent. With back-to-back titles not being out of the question for such a historic club, Real Madrid will likely win this quarterfinal matchup. On the other side of the quarterfinal is the strong yet inconsistent Chelsea FC. With Chelsea’s poor positioning in the English Premier League, it is quite a surprise that they remain in the tournament. Nevertheless, Chelsea beat one of the most in-form teams in the world in the round of 16, Borussia Dortmund, giving them momentum that could help them in this round of the Champions League. However, with holes in their defense and a lack of goals coming from their offense, it is not unreasonable to assume that Real Madrid will be moving on to the next round. 

After the quarterfinals, the fixtures for the semi-finals will already be set. The winner of Real Madrid and Chelsea will play the winner of Bayern Munich and Manchester City, while the winner of Benfica and Inter Milan will play the winner of AC Milan and Inter Milan. With the possibility of more compelling matchups, such as the chance of the Milan rivalry taking place in the semis, this Champions League will likely be one to remember.