English teams have had a strong showing in European competition this season. As the Champions and Europa League’s reach the quarterfinal stage, only one English team has been eliminated (Burnley in the Europa League qualifiers) this season and the remaining six teams have all made it through to this later stage of their respective competitions.
Manchester City, Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool all still remain hopeful in the Champions League, while in the Europa League, London-based duo Arsenal and Chelsea are still going strong, although all teams have very different tasks ahead of them in their respective quarterfinal ties, which get underway across Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week, with the second leg ties taking place at roughly the same time the following week.
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Let’s now preview each of the games involving the British teams, plus the other matches in Europe this week, to give you our tips on how we see each of the eight games going across both tournaments. All kick off times this week are 8pm BST.
Champions League Quarterfinals 1st Leg
Tuesday 9th April
Liverpool v FC Porto
These two teams met in this competiton last season with Liverpool winning 5-0 on aggregate. I think this time around things may be a bit closer. Porto have not beaten Liverpool in six attempts and I can’t see the Portuguese side improving that record here and I think that come the second leg in Oporto next week, they may well have a mountain to climb in order to try and progress, especially with Liverpool’s tails being up on the back of some great results of late.
Tip – Liverpool to win (3/10) – Liverpool 3-0 FC Porto (13/2)
Tottenham v Manchester City
The all-Premier League clash starts with the first leg at Spurs new stadium. Man City won the league game between the teams at Wembley 1-0 but it was a game that perhaps should have finished in a draw. Spurs form of late is not that great whereas City’s is unbelievably good but will the new stadium factor play a role for the home side. I think it will to an extent but not enough to deny City a good result to take with them back to the Etihad.
Tip – Manchester City to win (17/20) – Tottenham 1-2 Man City (15/2)
Wednesday 10th April
Ajax Amsterdam v Juventus
Both these teams produced sensational second leg performances in the last round to reach the later stages of the competition with Juventus beating Atletico and Ajax beating Real, both of Madrid. The Dutch side have youth on their side, the Italian’s experience and of course Cristiano Ronaldo who I feel is likely to be the difference maker between the teams on the night and over the course of the two legs.
Tip – Juventus to win (5/4) – Ajax 1-2 Juventus (8/1)
Manchester United v Barcelona
Few teams have upset Manchester United in big games quite as often as Barcelona, two Champions League final defeats for the Red Devils will have them aching for revenge here but this is a Barcelona side that is still inspired by the genius of Lionel Messi and the brilliance of Suarez, Coutinho, Dembele and co. Defensively, I feel both sides are not great and I can see plenty of goals being scored and I think a high scoring draw is on the cards here.
Tip – Draw (27/10) – Man Utd 2-2 Barcelona (22/1)
Europa League Quarterfinals 1st Leg
Thursday 11th April
Arsenal v Napoli
This is a tricky encounter for the Gunners. Napoli are a real danger on home soil and Arsenal are likely to need a win at home in order to stand a chance of progressing. The Gunners lost to Everton at the weekend in a disappointing display at Goodison Park, but their home form has generally been excellent in recent times and as such, I am backing them to take a narrow lead with them into the second leg in Naples where there will still be plenty to play for.
Tips – Arsenal to win (5-4) – Arsenal to win 1-0 (17/2)
Benfica v Eintracht Frankfurt
I think these are two very well matched sides and this game is spiced up by on loan Luka Jovic being loaned from Benfica to Frankfurt where the Serbian striker has been a huge hit this season. The German side have been superb in this competition beating Inter in the San Siro to reach this stage of the tournament but Benfica are a grizzled, well-oiled team at this level and I can see this one going to Germany with both sides being level.
Tips – Draw – (9/4) – Benfica 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt (5/1)
Slavia Prague v Chelsea
I am very surprised at how short Chelsea are to win this game as I think Slavia Prague are a much better outfit than their odds are giving them credit for. They beat Sevilla to reach this stage and the Spanish side have won this trophy more than any other team. I can see this being a tough night for Chelsea and their away form in general isn’t that hot. As such, I am not as confident as the bookies are in a Chelsea win here, so instead I am backing the draw.
Tips – Draw (13-15) – Slavia Prague 1-1 Chelsea (11/2)
Villarreal v Valencia
These two teams have met twice already this season in La Liga, the first match in Villarreal ending in a 0-0 draw and the second game 60km away in Valencia ended in a 3-0 win for Valencia. This game though will be different and while Valencia are very tough to beat and something of a draw specialist, they are up against a side threatened by the relegation zone in La Liga and with plenty to battle for. Even so, Valencia for me are the form team and I think they will just about scrape the win here.
Tips – Valencia to win (9/5) – Villarreal 0-1 Valencia (7/1)
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