The draw for the quarter-finals of the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League has been made, throwing up some mouth-watering ties.
After some memorable moments in the Last 16, only eight of Europe’s biggest clubs remain, including holders Real Madrid and favourites Manchester City.
Napoli also remain, with Nigeria superstar Victor Osimhen leading the way for his side, netting four times for the Serie A leaders in this season’s Champions League campaign.
Here’s the quarter-final draw in full:
Real Madrid vs Chelsea
Inter Milan vs Benfica
Manchester City vs Bayern Munich
AC Milan vs Napoli
Semi-final draw:
AC Milan or Napoli vs Benfica or Inter Milan
Real Madrid or Chelsea vs Manchester City or Bayern Munich
Osimhen’s chance to shine
Napoli continue to make history. Not only are they 18 points clear at the top of Serie A and closing in on their first title since 1990, but Napoli will be competing at the quarter-final stage of the Champions League for the first time.
Super Eagle Osimhen has scored four times in Europe this season, including twice against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Last 16 second leg. With Napoli’s potential route of AC Milan in the last eight and Benfica or Inter Milan in the semi-finals, there’s a real possibility Osimhen will be appearing in the Champions League Final on 10 June.
Napoli have already won at the San Siro against AC Milan this season, winning 2-1 in September. The first leg will take place at the San Siro on 11/12 April and Napoli are already favourites at Bet9ja, where you can get odds of 2.36 for the Serie A leaders to win the first leg.
Heavyweights do battle
For the third season in a row, Real Madrid and Chelsea meet in the Champions League. Chelsea beat Real Madrid in the semi-finals en route to winning the trophy in 2021. While last year, Real Madrid returned the favour, securing a late 5-4 aggregate victory in a classic quarter-final tie, before winning the trophy themselves.
Manchester City have never won the Champions League and they must do it the hard way, by beating Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. Pep Guardiola returns to the club he managed between 2013 and 2016 but never made it past the Champions League semi-finals.
Erling Haaland will be key, having scored 39 goals for Manchester City so far. The Norwegian striker has netted five times against Bayern Munich while playing for Borussia Dortmund, although ended up on the losing side all seven times he’s faced them. We still make City favourites to lift the trophy, with odds of 3.25.
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