It's that time of the year again, folks! The UEFA Champions league is back, and it's looking to be more unpredictable than ever before. Big names like Liverpool and PSG have already been shown the door, and now we're left with just eight teams vying for that coveted trophy. It's like a game of musical chairs, but with soccer teams.

Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City are the favourites to win it all, with impressive records in European competition. But don't count out the underdogs, like Chelsea, Milan, Benfica, or Inter Milan. Even Napoli could pull off a shocker like Porto did in 2004. It's like watching a bunch of underdogs trying to steal the crown from the kings.

But enough of that, let's talk about the juicy stuff.

 

UEFA Champions League QF: Manchester City vs Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich faced off against Manchester City in a match that was supposed to be a battle of epic proportions. And boy, did it live up to the hype. But unfortunately for Bayern, it didn't end well for them. Manchester City handed them a humiliating defeat. It was like watching a trainwreck in slow motion, but you just couldn't look away.

Bayern started off strong, but as the game progressed, their defence started making some questionable decisions. Dayot Upamecano had a nightmare of a game, giving away the ball like it was Halloween candy. And Alphonso Davies, supposed to be one of the best defenders in the world, got beaten like a rented mule.

On the other hand, Manchester City's attack was on fire, with Eric Maxim Choupo Moting defining their every move. Bayern's attack, on the other hand, was like a fish out of water, flopping around with no direction.

Let's not forget about Thomas Tuchel's questionable decisions. He went for pace and left out Thomas Müller. And even when it was clear that Jamal Musiala was struggling, he just sat there like a bump on a log. It was like he was playing chess while everyone else was playing checkers.

And to add insult to injury, Bayern Munich has been virtually eliminated from two cup competitions in just one week. It's like they're trying to break some kind of record for the fastest way to go from hero to zero.

The winner will face off against either Real Madrid or Chelsea in the UEFA Champions league semi-finals.

 

UEFA Champions League QF: Benfica vs Inter

Inter Milan has finally ended their six-match losing streak with a 2-0 victory over Benfica in the Champions League quarterfinals! It's been over a decade since they've made it this far in the competition, so it's safe to say they're feeling pretty good about themselves.

Unfortunately for Benfica, they've suffered their second consecutive loss after a 13-game unbeaten streak in all competitions. Ouch, talk about a tough break. But hey, they're not giving up hope just yet! Coach, Roger Schmidt, believes they can still turn things around in Milan if they stay focused and bring their A-game.

Inter coach Simone Inzaghi knows his team can't get too comfy with their win, though. They'll need to bring their A-game in the second leg in Milan if they want to secure their spot in the semifinals.

And with a comfortable 3-0 victory at home for Manchester City, the pressure is on both Inter and Benfica to perform in the second leg.

But let's not forget about Benfica's journey to get here. They started from the bottom (third qualifying round, to be exact) and fought their way through a difficult group that included Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus. So, even though this loss hurts, they can take comfort in knowing they've come a long way. Here's hoping they'll bounce back and regain their winning form in the second leg!

The winner will face off against either AC Milan or Napoli in the UEFA Champions league semi-finals.

 

UEFA Champions League QF: Real Madrid vs Chelsea

We've got a real spicy one coming up tonight! Real Madrid and Chelsea are going head to head in the Champions League quarterfinals, and it's sure to be a nail-biter.

Both of these teams have been struggling big time in their domestic leagues, so this match could really make or break their entire season. Real Madrid is trailing way behind Barcelona in La Liga, while Chelsea is doing limbo in the Premier League. Yikes.

But let's not forget that these two have met in the knockout stages of the Champions League not once, but twice before. Chelsea advanced in 2021, but last year it was all about Real Madrid. So, who's gonna come out on top in 2023?

Honestly, it's anyone's guess. Both teams have been a bit lacklustre lately, but let's face it, Real Madrid is looking like the better squad. Meanwhile, the Blues are going through some major drama and don't seem to have what it takes to beat the reigning European champs.

Sure, Chelsea has had some decent performances in this competition so far, but Real Madrid is on a whole other level in the Champions League. These guys are like a beast that can't be tamed!

For Chelsea, the goal has got to be to keep this thing alive, but let's be real, that's going to be a tough ask against Real Madrid. Strap in folks, this is going to be one heck of a match.

The winner will face off against either Bayern Munich or Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League semi finals.

 

UEFA Champions league QF: Milan vs Napoli

So, tonight we've got Napoli taking on AC Milan in the Champions League quarter-final tie, but there's some bad news for the visitors. Victor Osimhen, who's been banging in the goals for them this season, is out with an adductor injury. Ouch. He picked it up while on international duty with Nigeria and has missed the last couple of matches, including a heavy defeat to Milan. Talk about bad timing.

Giovanni Simeone is also a doubt, so it looks like Giacomo Raspadori is going to have to step up and lead the line for Napoli. And, to make matters worse, Piotr Zielinski was missing in the last match but is set to return to the midfield tonight. Napoli's got some serious problems here.

Meanwhile, Milan rested a bunch of their key players over the weekend against Empoli. Divock Origi got some game time, but let's face it, he's unlikely to start tonight. Olivier Giroud is coming back to lead the line for Milan, with Rafael Leao and Brahim Diaz also expected to feature.

The bad news for Milan is that Pierre Kalulu is still out, which means they'll have to go with a back four again. Fikayo Tomori and Simon Kjaer are likely to be the centre-back pairing. And, of course, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still out with an injury. You never know, though, Milan might just surprise everyone tonight.

The winner will face off against either Benfica or Inter in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.