Eight Teams Will Battle for One Prestigious Champions League Title

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid are one of the teams competing for the 2014 Champions League. (Courtesy of Jan Solo Via Flickr)

By CONRAD ZAJKOWSKI

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid are one of the teams competing for the 2014 Champions League. (Courtesy of Jan Solo Via Flickr)
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid are one of the teams competing for the 2014 Champions League. (Courtesy of Jan Solo Via Flickr)

With the end of the Champions League quarter-final draw, we are now one step closer to finding out which team will become the champions of Europe. Each of the four upcoming matchups will be a difficult test for the remaining teams.

Here are some of my predictions for which team will make the semifinals for football’s most valuable trophy.

Bayern Munich vs. Manchester United

Both Bayern Munich and Manchester United are historically successful. However, there are opposite expectations for the both of them. Bayern Munich won the competition last year. Now the team has improved even more with their new manager Pep Guardiola. They have been expected to win the competition from the get-go and so far, they have been living up to those expectations. Bayern Munich has not shown any signs of wear and tear in their domestic competitions.

Manchester United’s season, on the other hand, can be compared to the sinking of the Titanic. For the past two decades, Manchester United was a ridiculously dominant team in England under the legendary Coach Sir Alex Ferguson. Now the team is a shell of its former self. They currently sit in seventh place and are unlikely to place in the top four to make the Champions League next season. However, they are still in the competition this year, which means they can pull off an upset with the quality of players they have.

I would predict that there’s a 75 percent (or greater) chance of Bayern Munich toppling Manchester United. Bayern Munich’s performances so far have been consistent and dominant while Manchester United is just a fraction of what they once were.

Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund

Although Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are meeting for the second consecutive year, the circumstances are completely different. After selling one of their main players, Mario Gotze, Borussia Dortmund isn’t as strong as last year. Making matters worse, Borussia Dortmund’s main striker, Robert Lewandowski, will miss the first game between the two sides. It’s a blow to Borussia since he previously scored four goals against Madrid in just one game.

Real Madrid has improved since last year. Although they have sold Mesuit Ozil and Sami Khedira is injured, Real Madrid did break the world transfer fee by signing Gareth Bale for 91 million euros. And Bale has not disappointed so far. He has found a way to work with Cristiano Ronaldo to form a terrifying attack.

There is a 65 percent chance that Real Madrid will beat Borussia Dortmund. Borussia has gotten weaker while Madrid is possibly in its best form in the last couple of years.

Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid

Spanish rivals, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, are fighting to win the La Liga title and are just a few points away from each other.

The two teams have already played each other once this season, which ended in a draw. Barcelona has added Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior to their team, making their attack even deadlier than Lionel Messi alone. Atletico Madrid has also improved, with Diego Costa scoring goals like a machine.

This is a very even matchup. Barcelona is the slight favorite because of their experience in the Champions League. However, Atletico is accustomed to playing against Barcelona and will have nothing to lose. There is a 55 percent chance that Barcelona will defeat Atletico Madrid due to their experience and star power.

Chelsea vs. Paris Saint Germaine

Chelsea and Paris Saint Germaine are yet another leveled matchup. Both are favorites in winning their domestic titles in England and France. Although they have never played against one another, it is fair to say that both teams are able to beat the other.

Chelsea has the better defense between the two sides. However, Paris Saint Germaine has a much better attack with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edison Cavani. Taking these factors into consideration, it seems that Paris Saint Germaine has the edge, especially since they are more dangerous on the attack. There is a 55 percent chance that Paris Saint Germaine will defeat Chelsea.

This matchup is tough to call though. Chelsea does have the successful Jose Mourinho as their coach, and is a veteran team with players who have all had of experience in the Champions League. So it’s clear to see why some view them as the favorites. But in the end, it all comes down to what happens on the pitch for 90 minutes because in all sports, anything can happen.