Champions League Quarter Final Predictions: 1st Leg

TUESDAY:

ARSENAL V REAL MADRID

Arsenal beat Real the last time the two teams met in this competition back in 2006 with Thierry Henry's solo goal being the difference. I watched that goal online recently and I felt that I could've had it on my list of top 10 Champions League goals.

The Gunners rested two of their big hitters against Everton at the weekend in Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard who should both come back into the team for this one.

Resting those players was understandable as Arteta wanted to save them both for this game, and especially Saka who has just come back from a long lay off.

Real Madrid for me are the favourites to win this competition and I've said that all season as they have both the knowhow and arguably the strongest squad.

They'll definitely be the favourites to win this tie with one of the reasons being that they have more goals in them.

Arsenal are without a recognised striker with both Jesus and Havertz injured for the rest of the season, whereas Real have arguably the best front four in Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius and Mbappe.

The Gunners will do their best to stay in the game, but with that attacking line up I think Real will gain the advantage here.

PREDICTION: 0-2

BAYERN MUNICH V INTER MILAN

Bayern Munich come into this game with a number of players out injured including Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies, the latter of who is out for the season.

They should still be the favourites to progress from this tie though as they'll have their other big hitters available like Michael Olise, Harry Kane and Leroy Sane.

Thomas Muller announced that he's leaving Bayern at the end of the season over the weekend and he'll no doubt want to go out on a high by winning not just the Bundesliga, but the Champions League as well.

Inter Milan reached the final of this competition two seasons ago which shows that they're not a side to be underestimated.

Simone Inzaghi's side will make it difficult for Bayern here as they're a side who are very difficult to beat defensively.

But I think Bayern will have enough quality in attack to find a way past Inter's rigid defence and gain the advantage in this tie.

PREDICTION: 2-1

WEDNESDAY:

BARCELONA V BORUSSIA DORTMUND

Barcelona for the first time in a while are being seen as one of the favourites to win this competition and one reason why is because of the firepower they have in attack.

But I personally don't see them winning it because they do look vulnerable defensively and to win the Champions League, you need to have a stronger defence.

Borussia Dortmund appear to be that side who do better in Europe than they do in the Bundesliga and it was the case for them last season as well as they reached the final whilst finishing 5th in the Bundesliga.

This season they're 8th in the Bundesliga and five points outside the top four but are in the Quarter Finals of this competition.

Both sides have the two top scorers in the competition with Barca having Raphinha who has 11 goals and Dortmund having Serhou Guirassy who has 10.

Both teams will definitely score in this first leg and I see both Raphinha and Guirassy scoring. But I think Barca will be the side that come out on top here as they have more firepower.

PREDICTION: 4-2

PSG V ASTON VILLA

PSG look more like a team this season than they have done in recent seasons and one reason for that has to be because they've stopped signing the superstar big names.

Luis Enrique's side scooped up the Ligue 1 title over the weekend with their win over Agners and could still go the entire season undefeated.

A Champions League win alongside that could make this their best ever season and they have a better chance this season because they're more cohesive.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery returns to his former club for the first time since he left in 2018 in this first leg and he'll feel that he has something to prove.

He wasn't held in the highest regard during his time in Paris and he'll want to show that he's a better manager now than he was when he was when he was in charge of them.

Villa have already beaten Bayern Munich in this competition this season and they'll be feeling confident that they can beat PSG due to that and the form they're currently in.

But PSG are also in great form and as they're at home and have arguably higher quality players, I think they'll go ahead in this tie.

PREDICTION: 2-0