This is the panorama of the eight clubs looking for a ticket to the next phase of the Champions League
The matches from the first round of the quarterfinals of Champions League with Real Madrid and Chelsea gaining a significant advantage, while Bundesliga representatives Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are forced to return to stay alive in the most important club competition.
ESPN Digital presents what each of the eight teams needs to qualify for the semifinals.
Real Madrid vs. Liverpool
The first meeting of the series between the Spaniards and the English was won with authority by the team led by Zinedine Zidane. The “White House” team obtained an important result, winning 3-1, however, the score of the Reds Mohamed Salah could prove essential to the club’s aspirations in the Premier League to advance to the semi-finals.
Due to the goals scored by Vinicius Jr. (2) and Marco Asensio, the meringues will reach Anfield with the possibility to control the rhythm of the match. Real Madrid just have to keep the advantage they got at Alfredo Di Stefano and can even afford to lose 1-0.
In turn, Jürgen Klopp’s team is required to get at least two annotations to equalize the overall score and not allow any goals from Madrid. This result would qualify the Reds in the next round, but if Merengues scores a goal, Liverpool would need a target to send the game into overtime or two goals to win it.
If Real Madrid received two touchdowns at Anfield, the Reds would be forced to score five goals.
Manchester City Vs. Borussia Dortmund
With a goal from Phil Fooden in the last moments of the game, Manchester City managed to beat Dortmund 2-1 in the first leg of the quarterfinals.
However, despite the defeat, Dortmund have a real chance of advancing to the next round of Champions League due to the annotation he received Marco Reus six minutes from the end of the game. The Teutonic team must score a single goal and not allow any score against to eliminate Pep Guardiola’s team.
For its part, Manchester City must seek to maintain the advantage they gained at the Etihad Stadium, and a draw without a score would qualify them for the next stage of the competition. If they receive a goal from Dortmund, Pep’s team should only score one goal to advance to the semifinals.
If Dortmund score two goals, City could send the game into overtime with a touchdown. It should be noted that if the overall score ends 4-4, Manchester would qualify.
Porto vs. Chelsea
‘Blues’ got an extraordinary advantage in the first game in the series against porto and the team led by Thomas Tuchel has half a ticket to the semifinals of the Champions League.
Chelsea defeated Los Dragones 0-2, a score that suggests the Premier League team will be one of the semifinalists. The London team can lose the second leg 1-0 and still advance to the next round, so if they scored a goal in the second leg before Porto, the Blues would have practically condemned the tie.
In turn, the Portuguese team must at least equal the overall score to send the series in overtime and, if they want to advance without going through penalties, they must receive three annotations. A Chelsea goal would force Porto to look for at least four goals.
Bayern Munich vs. PSG
With a wonderful performance by Kylian Mbappé, PSG got a valuable victory in the first leg against Munich, and Mauricio Pochettino’s men are getting closer to the second consecutive Champions League final.
Mbappé shone in the triumph of the Parisian team with 2-3 goals against the Bavarian team, and the French team only has to maintain its advantage to qualify for the semifinals. With a goal in the Parc des Princes, PSG would force Munich to score three goals.
Those led by Hans-Dieter Flick must score two goals in Paris and keep their door clean to advance to the semifinals.