UCL preview: Arsenal face Madrid as Bayern, Inter clash — who will advance?

The UEFA Champions League (UCL) is deep into the business end, with the big clubs ready to battle for the semi-final slots.

Spearheaded by Real Madrid, the reigning UCL champions, who have won the title a record 15 times. There is also the resurgent Barcelona that have defeated the Galacticos twice this season.

Bayern Munich and Inter Milan would also fancy their chances, while Paris Saint-Germain look poised to mount a serious challenge for their first-ever UCL title.

TheCable previews the four fixtures in the quarter-final of the most lucrative continental club competition in world football.

ARSENAL VS REAL MADRID

Real Madrid need no introduction in this competition; their record speaks volumes, and the team is still littered with talent, including Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.

However, Carlo Ancelotti’s side has been very complacent recently, requiring the play-off round to reach the last-16. They also needed a penalty lottery to overcome Atletico Madrid, their crosstown rival in the second round. A very porous defence has conceded in 11 of their 12 UCL matches, letting in two or more goals in half of them.

On the other hand, Arsenal have enjoyed a relatively easier route to this point, scoring nine goals in the last round against PSV. They have only failed to score in just two UCL matches this season. Mikel Arteta’s dead-ball specialists should fancy their chances against a leaky Real Madrid defence. These two teams played each other last in 2006. Thierry Henry scored Arsenal’s only goal as the Gunners progressed to their first and only UCL final.

However, the luck seems to be on Real Madrid’s side this time.

BAYERN VS INTER

The two clubs are looking to regain the old spark in Europe despite measured dominance on the domestic scene. Bayern have the better team on paper with Harry Kane, the second-leading goalscorer in the competition, leading a frontline full of speed. The England captain will need all his years of experience to break down an Inter Milan defence that has kept eight clean sheets in their 10 matches this season.

Both sides are equally packed with experienced players, but what Inter lacks in on-field quality, they make up for in the technical area. Simone Inzaghi is reputed to be one of the best in-game tacticians who knows how to manage matches, and he faces Vincent Kompany, a rookie manager who has failed to convince against major opponents.

Historically, the Nerazzurri have eliminated Bayern Munich in their two previous knockout encounters, and the streak should continue this season.

PSG VS ASTON VILLA

The odds are firmly stacked against an Aston Villa side that faced average sides in the group stage and the earlier knockout round. Although Villa defeated Bayern Munich 1-0 in the group stage, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) look set to be their albatross.

Luis Enrique’s side have shaken off a poor start that produced just one win in the first five matches to sweep their next five games en route to this round. The Parisiens have scored three or more goals in that sequence, including a 7-0 victory over Brest in the Round-of-16. PSG are a technically woven team at the height of its power, just like Enrique wants it.

Although Aston Villa have the resurgent duo of Marco Asensio — on loan from PSG — and Marcus Rashford, they would be no match for PSG.

BARCELONA VS DORTMUND

Since losing the opening UCL fixture to Monaco, Barcelona have scored at least two goals in eight of nine matches- including three or more goals in seven.

They have Raphinha, who has scored 11 goals and is the competition’s leading goalscorer, followed closely by Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy who is joint-second with ten goals.

Barcelona’s Lamine Yammal has been one of the brightest sparks in Europe this season and has veteran Robert Lewandowski for support alongside Raphinha.

Both sides met in the group stage where Barcelona triumphed 3-2 in Germany, and a similar outcome in this potentially tricky tie.