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Four matches, four teams, winner takes all. Unless you are Liverpool, then even a 1-0 loss will do to make the semifinals of the Uefa Champions League.
On Tuesday, four previous champions do battle as Juventus welcome Ajax in Turin and Manchester United return to Camp Nou – the scene of their first Champions League title.
Back then, Ole Gunnar Solskjær came off the bench and scored the winning goal in dramatic fashion – this time, Solskjær will remain on the sidelines as he travels as manager to Europe’s largest stadium.
Barcelona 1-0 Manchester United
Away from home in the Champions League, the Red Devils have lost one and won three. At home, they’ve won only once. Clearly, they feel more comfortable when they are being jeered – must be something about that hellfire. Barcelona, however, are undefeated this season and have scored an average of two goals at home across all competitions.
It should be an easy victory for the Catalan team, who took it easy this weekend when they faced bottom-placed Huesca and drew in a goalless match. United have had to come through West Ham and, with their top-four league finish intensifying, their focus will be a little wayward, especially with Arsenal supposedly on the up.
Juventus 1-1 Ajax
In Turin, Juventus will hope some of Lady Luck’s swooning eye for Cristiano Ronaldo can finally rub off on the team as a whole. The Portuguese international has now scored 125 Champions League goals, 64 of which have come in the knockout rounds and 24 in the quarterfinals. Lionel Messi has 42 goals in all his knockout games.
Ajax, to their credit, have been playing exquisite football – something of a throwback to the Johann Cryuff era. A second-half goal by David Neres ensured that this young side has a fighting chance for a first last-four berth since 1997 – where they were beaten by Juventus. The curse of the Old Lady hangs over Ajax like a wet blanket, but it is interesting to note that most of this current Ajax squad was not even born when that happened.
Manchester City 0-1 Tottenham
City will be glad Harry Kane is out for the rest of the season as he is Spurs’ top goal-scorer (five goals) in the competition. However, Spurs have South Korean sensation Heung-min Son, who has 18 goals this season. But the Lilywhites, unlike the Reds of Manchester, are averse to travelling winning only five of their last 19 European away matches.
City have now played five games against English clubs in the European competition and lost them all. It’s something Pep Guardiola needs to amend if he is to leave a European legacy at the club. And the firepower upfront is not in doubt as they lead the pack with 26 goals this season. Sergio Agüero has four goals in his last four matches and 15 in his last 15, while Raheem Sterling has looked menacing in the past few weeks.
Porto 0-2 Liverpool
Last year’s runners-up are the only team with a clear advantage this week, and the Reds will want to keep their unbeaten record of 16 matches in all competitions this week.
Jürgen Klopp’s team has that something special this season, as those in the know keep saying. With more good news being that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is well on the road to recovery, considering Mohamed Salah’s dry goal spell. Yet, the Egyptian king put those whispered rumours of his goal-scoring inadequacy to rest with a spectacular goal from outside the box against Chelsea this weekend.
Porto at the Estádio do Dragão have looked vicious this season, losing only three games in all competitions at the stadium and winning all in the Champions League. Last season, a Sadio Mané hat-trick pummelled them 5-0, but they haven’t conceded more than three goals in any game this season. Moussa Marega missed many chances in the first leg and will know that this is the final opportunity for him to shine.
As the top four becomes clear this week, old stars will shine and new ones will gallop to dwarf the veterans - or will the dreaded VAR play its controversial role and outshine all on the pitch?
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