Champions League: Which fixture do you want to see after Friday draw?

 

Photo [Courtesy]

The football world will be swept with jitters when the European football management lands in Nyon-Switzerland on Friday for the UEFA Champions League quarter-final draw.

Eight clubs survived the epic knockout phase that was full of surprises and historic scenes to make it to the quarter-final stage. Fans will be up for a short but nervous wait to find out who plays who in the last eight this season.

Only five countries are represented in an eight-team list that will be presented in Nyon on Friday. England occupies a huge part of the list with four teams making the cut while Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Portugal get to occupy the four remaining slots.

The teams in the last eight include Ajax (Netherlands), Barcelona (Spain), Juventus (Italy), Liverpool (England), Manchester City (England), Manchester United (England), Porto (Portugal) and Tottenham Hotspur (England).

Game Yetu looks at the draw guide for the countries still represented in Europe’s elite competition.

England vs the rest of the world

England

Manchester City [Courtesy]

English teams used to rule the Champions League in terms of how many proceeded to the quarters and semis of the competition. However, their domination took a hit and have struggled in recent years to make it through.

But this season sees former English glory restored, with four sides through to the quarterfinals. Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Manchester City make up an incredible English list that is set to cause problems in the last eight.

The English Premier League is the richest football league on the planet. It has 14 of the 30 richest clubs in the world. The league is also one of the most competitive in world football, with this season’s race for UCL qualification set to go to down the wire.

Liverpool will be hoping to reach the final for the second time running [Courtesy]

Four clubs, two in the last eight of the Champions League this season are locked in a bruising battle for the two spots left for next season.

The league’s difficulty shows just how much quality is packed in the English brigade, leaving the fans with nothing else but high expectations for the quarterfinal.

Others

Ajax pose a serious threat in the last eight [Courtesy]

The other four countries represented may have just one side each to field in the quarters but possess the capability to upset the English teams. Juventus, Barcelona, Ajax and Porto have a great history in this competition, humbling great sides to get to this stage.

The most notable was Ajax’s thrashing of the mighty Los Blancos at the Santiago Bernabeu in the round of 16. The Eredivisie outfit went to Bernabeu trailing 2-0 but pulled a miracle by seeing off a struggling Real Madrid side 4-1.

Juventus, on the other hand, boast a star-studded squad with Portuguese hotshot Cristiano Ronaldo among their ranks. Barcelona equally impress in terms of quality with Lionel Messi and co out to upset anyone that will stand in their way after the Friday draw.

The teams’ form this season

Ajax

This season: W8 D5 L1
Top scorer: Dušan Tadi? (9, including three in qualifying)

Barcelona

This season: W5 D3 L0
Top scorer: Lionel Messi (8)

Juventus

This season: W5 D0 L3
Top scorer: Paulo Dybala (5)

Liverpool

This season: W4 D1 L3
Top scorer: Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah (3)

Manchester City

This season: W6 D1 L1
Top scorer: Sergio Agüero (5)

Manchester United

This season: W4 D1 L3
Top scorer: Romelu Lukaku, Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford (2)

Porto

This season: W6 D1 L1
Top scorer: Moussa Marega (6)

Tottenham Hotspur

This season: W4 D2 L2
Top scorer: Harry Kane (5)

Back to the draw…

The fact that there is no seeding or country protection, promises an epic draw on Friday with mouthwatering clashes expected regardless of which team you are drawn against.