Everything You Need To Know About This Week's Champions League Quarter-Final Ties

The Champions League quarter-finals are upon us and there are some mouth-watering ties in store to determine this year’s semi-finalists.

Here is all you need to know about the quarter-final first legs.

Benfica v Inter Milan 

Where: Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Lisbon

When: Tuesday 11 April, 8pm

TV: BT Sport 2

Betfred odds: Benfica and BTTS is 18/5

Benfica have been one of the biggest surprise packages in the Champions League but also one of the most exciting teams to watch. Rodger Schmidt’s team are seven points clear at the top of the Primeira Liga and they are just two games away from reaching the Champions League semi-finals. 

There is no doubt that Inter Milan will need to do their homework for this match as they could easily find themselves in a sticky situation in Lisbon for the first leg. Many are expecting Benfica to progress from this tie because of how well they have played in the competition so far and Inter Milan have been quite an inconsistent side for much of the season. You just don’t know which Inter is going to turn up.

Manchester City v Bayern Munich

Where: Etihad Stadium, Manchester

When: Tuesday 11 April, 8pm

TV: BT Sport 1

Betfred odds: Leroy Sane to score anytime is 10/3

Once again Manchester City are on the hunt for their first Champions League title and they will face a huge test in Bayern Munich to reach the last four, in what is arguably the pick of the ties. Pep Guardiola has made it known that he wants to secure the club the Champions League before he ends his tenure as manager, but we know that he has been his own worst enemy when City have gone close in the past.

There was his side’s late collapse against Real Madrid last year after some bold substitutions and of course there was his baffling lineup in their loss to Chelsea in the 2021 final. Interestingly, City’s two battles against Bayern will come against former Blues boss Thomas Tuchel, so Guardiola and his players are certainly going to be facing some of their demons in this tie.

AC Milan v Napoli 

Where: San Siro, Milan

When: Wednesday 12 April, 8pm

TV: BT Sport 2

Betfred odds: Over 1.5 Napoli goals is 6/4

This all-Italian feels like a perfect Champions League quarter-final tie. Pitting the reigning Serie A champions against the side looking more and more likely to steal their crown could provide some fine entertainment. Napoli have stolen many headlines this year for their surprising title charge in Italy but also for their attractive style of play which has catapulted them into the last eight. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Victor Osimhen and Kim Min-jae have all been given the biggest plaudits this season, but credit must go to boss Luciano Spalletti for building such an exciting team.

Milan will look to put a dent in this historic campaign for Napoli, but they will also look to progress as far as possible given the fact that 22 points stand between them and their opponents in Serie A.

Real Madrid v Chelsea

Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

When: Wednesday 12 April, 8pm

TV: BT Sport 1

Betfred odds: Real Madrid to win 3-1 is 12/1

Here we are again. For the second consecutive season Real Madrid and Chelsea meet in the Champions League quarter-finals. If last year’s 5-4 aggregate score is anything to go by then we could be in for some cracking two-legged action in this tie.

Reigning champions Real Madrid will be eager to try and claim another record-extending European title as they sit 12 points behind rivals Barcelona in La Liga. A few of Los Blancos’ veterans, such as Toni Kroos and Luka Modric could either be entering the final weeks of their Real Madrid careers or the final weeks of having a prominent role in the team should they extend their stays. They in particular will want to finish their careers in white on a high and what better way to do so than with another successive Champions League title.

As for Chelsea, Frank Lampard is back at the helm until the summer and there will be no real expectation on him to deliver European glory for the Blues but rather steady the ship for what is going to be the biggest summer at Stamford Bridge in a long time. With Chelsea’s top four hopes in the Premier League practically vanquished, the fans could benefit on another profitable European adventure, but this tie is going to be extremely tough for them.