The Champions League draw for the quarterfinals and eventual semifinal matchups was held on Friday, with the eight remaining teams discovering their paths to glory. Some sets of fans *cough Liverpool* will be ecstatic with the Champions League draw. Others, not so much. Here is the full draw and the Champions League quarterfinal odds.
Champions League Quarterfinal Draw
The quarter-finals are set! ✔️
What's your reaction to the draw?#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/Je3NQHabuy— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 18, 2022
The road to the Champions League final pic.twitter.com/zjxoYczRn4
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 18, 2022
Champions League Quarterfinal Odds Of Survival For Each Team
Scale: 1-10
1: Don’t even bother showing up, your team has no chance
5: It’s a coin toss
10: Guaranteed ticket to the semifinals
The list will go in order from best chances to worst.
Liverpool
Opponent: Benfica
Odds of Survival: 8.5
The Reds couldn’t have dreamed of a more favorable matchup. Benfica shocked Dutch champion Ajax to sneak into the quarterfinals for the first time in six years. When Liverpool — and Chelsea last season — won the Champions League, the road to glory made a pitstop in Portugal to play a Primeira Liga club in the quarterfinals.
Liverpool outmatches Benfica in just about every position on the field. With the first leg being played in Portugal, Benfica might eke out a draw or narrow defeat, but when the second leg at Anfield comes it will likely be a massacre.
Prediction: Liverpool wins 6-1 on aggregate.
Bayern Munich
Opponent: Villarreal
Odd of Survival: 7
The biggest question for the German champion is which Bayern Munich will show up against Villarreal? Will the Bayern that annihilated Red Bull Salzburg 7-1 in the second leg be on display or the Bayern that keeps dropping points in the Bundesliga?
Bayern has a habit of showing up for the big occasion, and when it’s crunch time this team excels on the biggest stage. This will be a walk in the park for the Bavarian club if the team plays to its full potential.
Prediction: Bayern wins 4-1 on aggregate.
Manchester City
Opponent: Atlético Madrid
Odds of Survival: 6.5
This game is the definition of unstoppable force meets immovable object. City will be up against Europe’s most prolific and annoying defense. Even though this will be the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, Atlético is all too familiar with English competition.
City needs to break down the Atlético defense and give nothing to any Spanish counterattacks. The first leg will be played in Manchester.
Prediction: Manchester City wins 3-0 on aggregate.
Real Madrid
Opponent: Chelsea
Odds of Survival: 5.5
This matchup promises to be the spiciest. Los Blancos have revenge in mind after falling to the Blues in last season’s semifinals. One of the biggest what ifs for Real Madrid will be the health of top goal scorer Karim Benzema. Madrid’s savior of the Round of 16 suffered a calf injury vs. Mallorca on March 14.
The injury isn’t suspected to be too serious, however, if he’s unfit for the quarterfinals it will be a massive blow. If the chips fall right the biggest mismatch Real Madrid could look to exploit is ankle breaker Vinícius Júnior against Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso.
Prediction: Real Madrid wins 3-2 on aggregate.
Chelsea
Opponent: Real Madrid
Odds of Survival: 4.5
The off-the-field noise could hinder Chelsea’s focus on the upcoming match up. The Blues have done well so far in not letting it be too much of a distraction on the field.
Chelsea has nearly an identical squad that took down Real Madrid in the semifinals last season. The one big missing puzzle piece is the absence of Ben Chillwell in defense. Just like last year, the Blues play the first leg at Stamford Bridge. A victory in the opening leg is Chelsea’s best hope for success.
Prediction: Real Madrid wins 3-2 on aggregate.
Atlético Madrid
Opponent: Manchester City
Odds of Survival: 3.5
One Manchester club down, one to go. Atlético has the opportunity to become the proud owner of the city of Manchester. This time around, Atlético will have to face a more organized and, well, competent defense. Rúben Dias, John Stones and Aymeric Laporte won’t be make the same mistakes as our good friend “Slabhead” Maguire.
Prediction: Manchester City wins 3-0 on aggregate.
Villarreal
Opponent: Bayern Munich
Odds of Survival: 3
Critics have doubted Villarreal long before the Spanish club qualified for the Champions League. People doubted Unai Emery’s side in last season’s Europa League final vs. Manchester United, to advance out of its group and to even put up a fight against Juventus in the Round of 16.
Villarreal is built to be an underdog. They’re right where they want to be.
Prediction: Bayern wins 4-1 on aggregate.
Benfica
Opponent: Liverpool
Odds of Survival: 1.5
Any dog can have its day. Benfica will be praying it’s a Portuguese dog as the odds couldn’t be more stacked. Benfica hasn’t been elite in league play. After 28 games, the club is sitting 12 points behind rival Porto and six back from Sporting Portugal.
A Portuguese club seems to always be the sacrificial lamb in the Champions League knockout stages, and Benfica will need a miracle to prevent it from happening again.
Prediction: Liverpool wins 6-1 on aggregate.
Champions League Quarterfinal Schedule
April 5: Benfica vs. Liverpool & Manchester City vs. Atlético Madrid
April 6: Bayern vs. Villarreal & Real Madrid vs. Chelsea
April 12: Villarreal vs. Bayern & Chelsea vs. Real Madrid
April 13: Liverpool vs. Benfica & Atlético Madrid vs. Manchester City