Champions League quarter-final draw already completed as Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa plan route to Munich
As the Champions League last-16 ties are decided this week, clubs will be setting up their quarter-final clashes at the same time. That is because when the round of 16 draw was made, the entire route to the final in Munich was mapped out for each team. Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa are eyeing European glory After topping the league phase, Liverpool were handed a very tough tie against a newly rampant Paris Saint-Germain side. But the Reds stole a 1-0 win in Paris last week, and they’re now preparing for the second leg at Anfield. Meanwhile, Arsenal made history in their first leg against PSV Eindhoven, winning 7-1 in a thumping in the Netherlands. And the Aston Villa, they beat Club Brugge 3-1 away from home and will feel confident of winning the second leg too. Usually, fans would then be awaiting a quarter-final draw after the last 16, but that’s different this year. We already know who each team will face on their route to the final after the entire draw was mapped out. If Liverpool progress, they will face either Aston Villa or Brugge. So it means a potential all-Premier League quarter-final is on the cards unless PSG come back at Anfield. Should Arsenal triumph against PSV, they will face the winners of the Madrid derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. With all the English teams on the same side of the draw, it also means it could be Arsenal vs Villa or Liverpool in the semi-finals. Arteta took Arsenal to the Champions League quarter-finals last seasonGetty Emery is looking to guide Villa to their first European Cup quarter-final since 1983Getty On the other side of the draw, Barcelona and Bayern Munich know they have their work cut out to reach the final at the Allianz Arena. Barcelona are taking on Benfica in the last 16, while Bayern are facing their Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen. For Barca, if they emerge victorious, they will come up against either Borussia Dortmund or Lille in the quarter-finals. As for Bayern, they could come up against Inter Milan or Feyenoord. It means that Barca could face Bayern in the semi-finals – a repeat of their league phase meeting from October, which saw the Spanish side ease to a 4-1 win. Below is the route to the final, with each team’s road to Munich mapped out… All three English teams have landed on the same side of the drawPrime Sport Champions League draw: What has been said? After scraping a 1-0 win away at PSG in the first leg of their last 16 tie, Liverpool need to be at their best to reach the quarters. That’s what manager Arne Slot has said ahead of the second leg that could set up a clash with Aston Villa. When asked if his side need their best performance of the season, he said: “Yes, I do think so, because this is the most complete team we’ve faced so far. “What I mean by complete – and okay, we’ve faced Arsenal and City and it’s not that there are big margins – but the intensity they’ve played at combined with the quality they have… they have so much quality and a great, great, great manager. “He lets the team play in a way that is not easy to play against his team; he brings the best out of every player, and he brings an incredible work-rate into the team. “That’s why I think we have to be at our best.”
As the Champions League last-16 ties are decided this week, clubs will be setting up their quarter-final clashes at the same time.
That is because when the round of 16 draw was made, the entire route to the final in Munich was mapped out for each team.
After topping the league phase, Liverpool were handed a very tough tie against a newly rampant Paris Saint-Germain side.
But the Reds stole a 1-0 win in Paris last week, and they’re now preparing for the second leg at Anfield.
Meanwhile, Arsenal made history in their first leg against PSV Eindhoven, winning 7-1 in a thumping in the Netherlands.
And the Aston Villa, they beat Club Brugge 3-1 away from home and will feel confident of winning the second leg too.
Usually, fans would then be awaiting a quarter-final draw after the last 16, but that’s different this year.
We already know who each team will face on their route to the final after the entire draw was mapped out.
If Liverpool progress, they will face either Aston Villa or Brugge.
So it means a potential all-Premier League quarter-final is on the cards unless PSG come back at Anfield.
Should Arsenal triumph against PSV, they will face the winners of the Madrid derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
With all the English teams on the same side of the draw, it also means it could be Arsenal vs Villa or Liverpool in the semi-finals.
On the other side of the draw, Barcelona and Bayern Munich know they have their work cut out to reach the final at the Allianz Arena.
Barcelona are taking on Benfica in the last 16, while Bayern are facing their Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen.
For Barca, if they emerge victorious, they will come up against either Borussia Dortmund or Lille in the quarter-finals.
As for Bayern, they could come up against Inter Milan or Feyenoord.
It means that Barca could face Bayern in the semi-finals – a repeat of their league phase meeting from October, which saw the Spanish side ease to a 4-1 win.
Below is the route to the final, with each team’s road to Munich mapped out…
Champions League draw: What has been said?
After scraping a 1-0 win away at PSG in the first leg of their last 16 tie, Liverpool need to be at their best to reach the quarters.
That’s what manager Arne Slot has said ahead of the second leg that could set up a clash with Aston Villa.
When asked if his side need their best performance of the season, he said: “Yes, I do think so, because this is the most complete team we’ve faced so far.
“What I mean by complete – and okay, we’ve faced Arsenal and City and it’s not that there are big margins – but the intensity they’ve played at combined with the quality they have… they have so much quality and a great, great, great manager.
“He lets the team play in a way that is not easy to play against his team; he brings the best out of every player, and he brings an incredible work-rate into the team.
“That’s why I think we have to be at our best.”
