DECRYPTION – Everything you need to know before the draw for the C1 quarter-finals this Friday in Switzerland.
The draw for the Champions League quarter-finals takes place this Friday, from noon, at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. It will be followed on beIN SPORTS, Canal+ Foot et RMC Sport and live commentary on our site. It obviously concerns PSG, who defeated Real Sociedad (2-0, 2-1) in the round of 16. RC Lens took the door in the group stage and OM, during the third qualifying round, against Panathinaikos.
Is this a full print?
Yes. Unlike the round of 16, all teams can meet, even if they come from the same country or have already played against each other in the group stage. Paris can therefore fall on Manchester City, Arsenal, Real, Barcelona, Atlético, Bayern or Dortmund. Note that the posters for the semi-finals will also be revealed this Friday. The clubs will know their route to the final.
When will the quarter-finals take place?
The first leg matches take place on April 9 and 10, a week before the return matches, on April 16 and 17. Until then, PSG must still face Montpellier in the championship, Sunday, before the international break. Then, Luis Enrique’s players will challenge OM in Marseille (March 31) for the Classic, Rennes in the Coupe de France semi-finals (April 3) and Clermont in L1 (April 6?). Between the outward and return journey, they will meet with Lorient, at Moustoir. As for the Champions League semi-finals, it will be April 30 and May 1 for the first legs and May 7 and 8 for the return legs, with the final scheduled for June 1 at Wembley Stadium in London.
What results for PSG in the C1 quarters?
Eliminated in the round of 16 of C1 five times over the last seven seasons, including the last two (Real, Bayern), PSG has reached the quarterfinals of the competition eight times in its history, including seven under QSI and four with Laurent Blanc as coach (2013-16). Assessment? Three qualifications (Barcelona in 1995 and 2021, Dortmund in 2020) and five eliminations (Barça in 2013 and 2015, Chelsea in 2014, City in 2016). Let us also remember that the capital club reached at least the last four in the European Cup on four other occasions in the 90s, with a semi-final of the UEFA Cup in 1993 (Juventus) and a semi-final Cup Winners’ Cup (Arsenal), before winning the C2 against Rapid Vienna in 1996 and losing in the final in 1997, against Barça of Ronaldo (the Brazilian) and… Luis Enrique.
Read alsoChampions League: the scarecrow City, “Mbappéico”, the good pick Dortmund… What draw for PSG?
What would be the worst draw for PSG?
Outgoing European champion, Manchester City looks like a scarecrow. Certainly, Pep Guardiola’s players only appear in third place in the Premier League standings, a small point behind Arsenal and Liverpool, but they remain no less formidable, all positions doubled, the Haaland tandem /De Bruyne, talent, experience… Complete package. The team to beat. This is probably the opponent to avoid for everyone, including Paris-SG. Some will say, however, that Real, 14 times winner of the event and never too bothered by the referees, would represent an equally insurmountable mountain. One thing is certain: with Kylian Mbappé leaving for Casa Blanca this summer, no one wants to see a poster between PSG and Real within the two clubs. We can imagine the discomfort on both sides… City and Real, the clubs to avoid. However, there are only great teams at this stage of the tournament, that goes without saying.
And the best?
Borussia Dortmund are definitely the team to take in the quarter-finals. Fourth in the Bundesliga standings, Edin Terzic’s players will obviously not be easy to maneuver, but the other clubs are, a priori, superior on paper. Remember that they finished at the top of their group ahead of… PSG. But it was the Parisians who had the best in direct confrontations, 2-0 at the Parc des Princes and 1-1 in Germany.
