Friday, March 15, 2013

Quarter-final guide...

There are no Premier League representatives remaining. But eight teams are still in the hunt to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy at Wembley in May. Here's our club-by-club guide ahead of the quarter-finals.

March 15, 2013 
Credit:skysports.com
Eight teams still have a chance of lifting the Champions League trophy at Wembley in May
Eight teams still have a chance of lifting the Champions League trophy at Wembley in May

BARCELONA

Coach: Tito Vilanova
Star man: Lionel Messi
Previous best in CL/European Cup: Winners 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011
Chances: Barcelona lead the way in La Liga despite Vilanova's absence while he undergoes cancer treatment. Two of Barca's four European titles have been won at Wembley - what price a third success at England's national stadium in May?
Did you know? Prior to their 2006 Champions League triumph, Barcelona had not featured in a European Cup final since 1994.

BAYERN MUNICH

Coach: Jupp Heynckes
Star man: Franck Ribery
Previous best in CL/European Cup: Winners 1974, 1975, 1976, 2001.
Chances: Last season's beaten finalists are looking to make amends and look dead certs to reclaim the Bundesliga title.
Did you know? Bayern lost the 2011-12 Champions League final despite it being played at their home ground, defeated on penalties by Chelsea at the Allianz Arena following a 1-1 draw.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND

Coach: Jurgen Klopp
Star man: Robert Lewandowski
Previous best in CL/European Cup: Winners 1997
Chances: Caught the eye in the group stage and are being tipped as dark horses for the title with their dynamic attacking play. Klopp's tactical blueprint has made him a reported summer target for Chelsea.
Did you know? Dortmund, under Klopp, have won the Bundesliga for the past two seasons, securing a domestic double in 2011-12 by adding the DFB-Pokal.

GALATASARAY

Coach: Fatih Terim
Star man: Didier Drogba
Previous best in CL/European Cup: Semi-finals 1989
Chances: Snatched second spot in Group H and made themselves a much tougher proposition over the winter with the signings of Drogba - instrumental in Chelsea's success last season - and Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder.
Did you know? Gala became the first Turkish team to win a European trophy when they beat Arsenal on penalties to win the 2000 UEFA Cup.

JUVENTUS

Coach: Antonio Conte
Star man: Arturo Vidal
Previous best in CL/European Cup: Winners 1985, 1996
Chances: The Serie A champions look well on course to retain their domestic title and will be difficult opponents for anyone. This is their first appearance at the quarter-final stage in seven years however.
Did you know? Juve's original strip was pink, back in 1897. They adopted their new colours six years later when Turin-based Englishman John Savage acquired a set of black and white vertical striped shirts from a Notts County-supporting friend.

MALAGA

Coach: Manuel Pellegrini
Star man: Isco
Previous best in CL/European Cup: Debut
Chances: Impressive so far in their debut Champions League season, with their financial difficulties meaning UEFA has already barred them from participation in the Champions League or Europa League next term.
Did you know? Pellegrini took Villarreal to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2006, but during his brief period as boss at Real Madrid could only get Los Blancos to the last 16.

PARIS ST GERMAIN

Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
Star man: Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Previous best in CL/European Cup: Semi-final 1995
Chances: Mega-rich PSG have ambitions to win the Champions League this term and if striker Ibrahimovic can continue his superb form, it might just happen. The arrival of David Beckham will provide them with a new option at set-pieces.
Did you know? PSG were only formed in 1970, as a merger between Paris FC and Stade St Germain.

REAL MADRID

Coach: Jose Mourinho
Star man: Cristiano Ronaldo
Previous best in CL/European Cup: Winners 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002.
Chances: Over a decade on from Real's last Champions League triumph, victory over Manchester United must have given Real added belief that they can secure their 10th European crown. If, as has been speculated, this does prove to be Mourinho's last season at the Bernabeu, he would love to go out by claiming a third Champions League title, each with a different club having also triumphed with Porto and Inter Milan.
Did you know? Real appeared in eight of the first 11 European Cup finals.

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