The UEFA Champions League returns to conclude the second legs of the 2022/23 campaign’s quarterfinals this week, with four of the eight remaining teams establishing a lead last time out. Desh Parthab looks at five players to keep an eye out for.
The business end of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal is upon us, with four club’s progressing at the expense of their opponents.
Manchester City secured a 3-nil victory on home soil against Bavarian giants Bayern Munich – in what was the most eye-catching result of the first leg. Real Madrid and Inter Milan both recorded 2 nil wins over Chelsea and Benfica respectively.
The Londoners have netted just twice across their three tournament fixtures, following the group stages. Real Madrid and Chelsea have faced each other in the knockout stages for three consecutive seasons.
Indeed, both clubs went on to lift the trophy in the respective campaigns and you wonder if this will be the third time running. My pick of this round of action is an all-Italian Champions League clash that is bound to produce fireworks.
Napoli bank on Osimhen in bid to overturn deficit
Despite being the top scorers in both the Serie A and the UCL, Napoli have blanked in three of their previous four fixtures (across all competitions).
Victor Osimen’s absence from the Partenopei has coincided with their poor form in front of goal, however, he appears to have made a comeback from his injury as seen by his cameo appearance on the weekend’s domestic duty.
I expect the dangerman to start Napoli’s crunch encounter with AC Milan and overturn their 1 goal deficit!
Victor Osimhen has returned to training ahead of Napoli’s UEFA Champions League second leg against AC Milan. 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/nhJeS41qhf
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 17, 2023
Lukaku to lead the way once more as Inter look to see off Benfica
Romelu Lukaku has returned 2 goals and an assist across his previous 4 appearances for Inter Milan, across all competitions.
During that spell, he attempted 12 shots, hitting the woodwork once and missing 2 big chances. Inter’s form of late has been less than flattering – just one win across their previous eight fixtures (across all competitions).
Furthermore, they’ve recorded just two clean sheets during that run. Despite that, I expect the Chelsea loanee to fire the Nerazzurri into the semi-final of Europe’s toughest club competition.
FT: Benfica 0-2 Inter Milan
— Eng. Nyasikera (@Arap_Nyasikera) April 11, 2023
Romelu Lukaku has scored 16 goals in his last 17 European appearances for Inter, including nine in his last 11 #ChampionsLeague games for the Italian side.
He has scored 3 Champions League goals this season - as many as he has managed in Serie A pic.twitter.com/Npu4Yty9ZK
‘On the right tack’ Goncalo Ramos is the future
Benfica enter the San Siro on the back of 3 straight losses, across all competitions. Despite this, Goncalo Ramos is my pick to liven up this encounter and spur on the comeback!
The dangerman has had 36 (25 Goals 11 Assists) direct goal involvements during his 40 appearances across all competitions this season. Lets not forget that this is the man that was picked ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal’s all important knockout clash in Qatar, wherein he delivered a hatrick.
Gonçalo Ramos for Benfica this season 👏
— Stats24 (@_Stats24) April 11, 2023
🇵🇹 Portugal, Primeira League
🥅 23 games
⚽️ 17 goals
🎯 2 assists
🌍 Champions League
🥅 8 games
⚽️ 3 goals
🎯 1 assists pic.twitter.com/8NmSQwk8VM
Haaland flying Golden Boot race
Manchester City have won their previous 10 fixtures, across all competitions by an aggregate scoreline of 37-4.
Their dangerman, Erling Haaland has had more than a hand in that flurry – netting 15 of those 37 goals. He comes into this fixture on the back of 47 goals for the season, across all competitions this season – the most ever by a Premier League player in a single season.
Can Haaland keep this up? 🤔#UCL pic.twitter.com/0zANOTHljq
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 11, 2023
Leroy Sane and Bayern still have belief
Leroy Sane could settle his score with Pep Guardiola and Co. this week.
The former City windeman was more than desperate to get on the score sheet upon his return to Manchester, afterall, he was responsible for all 4 of Bayern’s efforts on target! I foresee the Sane onslaught to continue on the other side of the English channel, in what is sure to be a feisty encounter…
Pep Guardiola says the row between Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane could actually make Bayern the more dangerous side in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final 👀
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) April 17, 2023
