Champions League quarter-finals kick off with Sporting vs Arsenal and Real Madrid vs Bayern on Tuesday
Four ties, eight teams, and seven days that will shape the rest of the European season. The Champions League quarter-finals begin on Tuesday with two heavyweight clashes, and Wednesday brings two more. Here is what to watch for across all four first legs.
Sporting CP vs Arsenal (Tuesday, Estadio Jose Alvalade)
Arsenal finished top of the Champions League league phase with a perfect eight wins from eight, scoring 23 goals and conceding just four. On European form alone, they are the team to beat. But Mikel Arteta's side arrive in Lisbon bruised by consecutive domestic setbacks, losing to Manchester City in the League Cup final before Southampton knocked them out of the FA Cup.
Sporting pulled off a remarkable comeback in the round of 16 and their home record this season has been formidable. The big blow for the hosts is the suspension of captain Morten Hjulmand after five yellow cards, removing the midfielder who organises everything in and out of possession. Arsenal have injury worries of their own, with Eberechi Eze, Mikel Merino and Piero Hincapie ruled out, while Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka face late fitness tests.
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich (Tuesday, Santiago Bernabeu)
No two clubs have met more often in Champions League history. Twenty-eight previous encounters, split right down the middle at 12 wins each. Madrid, though, have won the last three quarter-final ties between the sides and are unbeaten in their last nine European meetings with Bayern, winning seven and drawing two.
Real hammered Manchester City 5-1 on aggregate in the last 16, while Bayern were equally ruthless in putting 10 past Atalanta over two legs. Both sides are playing with serious confidence, and Tuesday's clash at the Bernabeu has all the ingredients to be the tie of the round.
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid (Wednesday, Camp Nou)
The all-Spanish tie adds a La Liga rivalry to the European mix. Barcelona battered Newcastle 8-3 on aggregate to reach this stage, with Raphinha in scintillating form. Atletico, built on Diego Simeone's trademark defensive organisation, will look to frustrate and counter. Camp Nou can be an intimidating place to visit, but Simeone's teams have never been short of resilience in big European nights.
PSG vs Liverpool (Wednesday, Parc des Princes)
Mohamed Salah confirmed in March that he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, which gives every remaining Champions League night a farewell feel. Liverpool demolished Galatasaray 4-0 at Anfield to overturn their first-leg defeat in the last 16, proving they can still produce big European performances under Arne Slot.
PSG swept past Chelsea in the previous round and will fancy their chances on home soil. The Parc des Princes under floodlights is a different proposition to a quiet Sunday afternoon in the league, and Liverpool will need to be at their sharpest to take anything back to Anfield. The return legs take place on April 14 and 15.
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