How the UEFA Champions League quarter-finalists match up
August 17, 2013An analysis of the four Champions League quarter-finals after Friday’s draw in Nyon, Switzerland:
MALAGA (ESP) v BORUSSIA DORTMUND (GER)
Financial problems have obliged Malaga to sell a glut of players, but they nonetheless produced a stunning second-leg comeback to oust seasoned campaigners Porto in the last 16.
Gifted Spanish playmaker Isco, 20, is coveted by some of Europe’s top sides, while experienced former Lyon stalwart Jeremy Toulalan anchors the midfield.
Borussia Dortmund have fallen well off the pace in the defence of their Bundesliga title but their performances in the Champions League have been sensational.
A fizzing ball of energy, Juergen Klopp’s all-action side finished above Real Madrid, Manchester City and Ajax in the group phase before an emphatic 5-2 aggregate defeat of highly regarded Shakhtar Donetsk in the last 16.
REAL MADRID (ESP) v GALATASARAY (TUR)
Real Madrid have sparked their season into life in recent weeks, with back-to-backs wins over eternal rivals Barcelona followed by victory against Manchester United in the Champions League.
Despite reports of player discontent with coach Jose Mourinho, the two victories over Barca proved the nine-time European champions remain one of the most devastating counter-attacking teams the world has ever seen.
Galatasaray squeezed through the group phase, but the eye-catching January acquisitions of Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder have given them Champions League know-how at the business end of the pitch.
In striker Burak Yilmaz they boast the competition’s joint-top scorer, but their attack-minded approach could be undone by Madrid’s counter-punching style.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (FRA) v BARCELONA (ESP)
Despite the high-profile signings of players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Lucas Moura and David Beckham, Carlo Ancelotti’s Paris Saint-Germain remain a work in progress.
Recent results in Ligue 1 have included defeats by unheralded Sochaux and Reims, and when Ibrahimovic – who is suspended for the first leg – is unable to pull them out of trouble, they can look like a team of strangers.
Barcelona demolished doubts about their form with a thrilling 4-0 evisceration of AC Milan in the last 16.
The dazzling pace of their passing interchanges confirmed that reports of their demise have been greatly exaggerated, while in Lionel Messi, author of a fine brace against Milan, they possess the world’s finest player.
The most finely poised tie of the last eight pits Jupp Heynckes’ bristling Bayern Munich against Antonio Conte’s rejuvenated Juventus.
Bayern’s team brims with attacking talent to such an extent that Arjen Robben and Mario Gomez are no longer guaranteed to start, although the runaway Bundesliga leaders almost allowed themselves to be surprised by Arsenal in the previous round.
Tactically versatile, Juventus can call upon a rock-solid defence and a midfield bossed by the effortlessly stylish Andrea Pirlo.
They still lack a prolific striker, but young French midfielder Paul Pogba has shown he has an eye for goal on several occasions since his close-season move from Manchester United.