The last eight clubs involved in the Champions League are now known: Atlético de Madrid, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Villarreal. While the draw for the quarter-finals takes place on Friday March 18 in Nyon (Switzerland), this European campaign has already delivered some lessons.
Thus, England still imposes itself as the stronghold of European football, but Spain is on an equal footing. After two Champions League winners in the past three years (Liverpool in 2019 and Chelsea in 2021) after two 100% English finals (Liverpool-Tottenham and Chelsea-Manchester City), the trend is still confirmed. England place three clubs in the quarter-finals.
The defending champion, Chelsea, who is going through a difficult period on the extra-sporting level, eliminated Lille on Wednesday evening. For their part, Manchester City and Liverpool, winners of Sporting and Inter Milan respectively, are among the favorites to win the “big ears cup”.
Among the Spaniards, who will try to regain sovereignty over European football which lasted from 2011 to 2018, Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid and Villarreal ensure representation. It is the only country to have at least one club in the quarter-finals since the 2005-2006 season.
For the second year in a row, there will be no Italian club in the quarter-finals, after the surprise rout (3-0) of Juventus at home against Villarreal on Wednesday evening. These repeated Italian failures give way to new faces, like Unai Emery’s club. Winner of the Europa League last year in the final against Manchester United, the Spanish team is participating in its first edition of the Champions League since the 2011-2012 season, and compensates for the absence of FC Barcelona. She has already reached the semi-finals of the competition in 2005-2006.
While the 2021-2022 Champions League was relatively open this season in the round of 16, it therefore does not completely close to the surprise teams in the quarters, even if six of the clubs present are regulars at prestigious European games. In addition to Villarreal, Benfica will also serve as little thumb. After carrying out a hold-up on the lawn of Ajax on Tuesday, the Portuguese club will play for the third time in the quarter-finals of the C1 in the last decade.
Will the semi-finals open to one of these unexpected clubs? Yes, if the draw designates a quarter between Villarreal and Benfica on Friday. Otherwise, the mission will be complicated especially for the Portuguese club, if we rely on the statistics. Apart from those playing in the five major European championships, only three clubs have managed to reach the C1 semi-finals, Porto in 2004, PSV Eindhoven in 2005 and Ajax in 2019.