Champions League Semifinal Draw: Real Madrid Gets Bayern Munich Again

Champions League 2021-22 Ability Rankings: Liverpool climb and Man City autumn afterwards quarter-concluding draw

Tom Maston

18 Mar 2022 12:00+00:00

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• UEFA Champions League
• Real Madrid
• Bayern München
• Liverpool
• Atlético Madrid
• Benfica
• Villarreal
• Manchester Metropolis
• Chelsea
• Features & Opinions

After a dramatic concluding 16, who of the remaining viii sides is nigh likely to become on and lift the European Cup in Paris?

After just over ii months away, the Champions League returned in style, with the concluding sixteen throwing up plenty of talking points and surprises every bit Europe's elite continue to battle for the greatest prize the continent has to offering.

Defending champions Chelsea remain live and are joined in the quarter-finals by some of the best teams European football has ever seen, though Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Ajax all fell in the kickoff knockout round.

So, who are the favourites to lift the trophy post-obit the draws for the latter stages, and which teams are set for continental thwarting?

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GOAL's Champions League Power Rankings are hither to lay information technology all out...

(Previous rankings later final 16 second legs, March 17)

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eight . Benfica | Concluding time: eighth

Regardless of who Benfica drew, they were always going to be considered as outsiders for the competition, only they could barely have asked for a more hard tie than facing Liverpool.

In Darwin Nunez, the Portuguese side possess one of Europe'south nigh in-form attackers, but the Uruguay international volition have to produce something special if his team are to brand it into the final four.



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vii . Villarreal | Final time: 7th

After knocking out Juventus in emphatic fashion in the final xvi, Villarreal will fear no one going forward, but a quarter-concluding tie with Bayern Munich volition exist far from straightforward.

The Europa League champions have shown they take what it takes to win knockout ties in continental competition, simply it feels similar taking down the Bundesliga giants might exist a footstep too far for Unai Emery's men.



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6 . Atletico Madrid | Last time: sixth

Undoubtedly the weakest side in their half of the draw, Atletico Madrid will have to be at their very best to get all the way to the terminal, knowing they will have to beat out Manchester City and either Chelsea or Real Madrid to do then.

That said, if whatsoever team tin cause an upset in the competition, it is the one managed past Diego Simeone, and they volition not brand life like shooting fish in a barrel for City in the quarter-finals as they look to complete a Manchester double in this season's competition.



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5 . Chelsea | Last fourth dimension: 5th

Chelsea will take confidence from the fact that they beat Existent Madrid in the semi-finals of concluding season'due south tournament when they face off again in this yr's quarters, but there is no doubtfulness that the circumstances are dissimilar.

Not only are Madrid a much better side now than they were then, they could however have the advantage of getting to play their abode leg in front of fans while Chelsea are forced to play backside closed doors at Stamford Bridge amongst their ongoing ownership problems.

Between two closely-matched sides, that could brand all the deviation.



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4 . Real Madrid | Last time: 4th

The confidence boost that Real Madrid's comeback win over Paris Saint-Germain will have given them should non be underestimated heading into the latter stages.

This is a team that is constantly told that it can win from any position it finds itself in, and at present that they likely believe that themselves too, they will take some chirapsia.



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iii . Manchester City | Terminal time: 1st

With their potential title-decider against Liverpool falling between the two legs of the quarter-finals, one of the last things Manchester Urban center would accept wanted is a double-header against Atletico Madrid to contend with.

City have undoubtedly ended up on the more difficult side of the draw, with a semi-final against either Chelsea or Real Madrid to follow if they get past Atleti. That is not to say they cannot all the same win the whole tournament – they will just take to take a hard road to get in that location.



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two . Bayern Munich | Last time: 3rd

Bayern may non exist in great form right now, having won just three of their last vii games in all competitions, simply they will hope that the international suspension will provide them with the chance to recharge some batteries before the terminal sprint towards the season's finishing line.

Avoiding a truly daunting Champions League quarter-last opponent by drawing Villarreal should aid Julian Nagelsmann's side as they aim for a second European Cup in three seasons.



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ane . Liverpool | Last time: 2nd

Flying in the league, still in one domestic cup having already won the other, and at present having drawn what seems to exist the weakest side left in the Champions League quarter-finals – life is good for Liverpool right at present.

Time will tell merely how much Trent Alexander-Arnold's absenteeism volition affect them domestically, simply they should have enough to reach the semi-finals without the England full-dorsum, with the hope being he will have returned when tougher European tests sally in May.

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Source: https://www.goal.com/en-cm/lists/champions-league-2021-22-power-rankings/1ay6ep49f2taa1crgsb7qpip4l

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