Your Ultimate Champions League Guide
The summer of football continues tonight with the UEFA Champions League mini tournament in Portugal.
One of the favourites to win the tournament, PSG, get the Quarter Finals started this evening with an intriguing tie against high scoring Atalanta, as Europe’s most prestigious competition closes in on the finish line.
Via @ChampionsLeague on Twitter
How will the tournament work and which are the host stadiums?
The conclusion of this season’s Champions League will be like none before it, it will be one legged ties, without fans, and in neutral stadiums (in August!)
The Quarter Finals will be played on the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th of August, with the semis on the 18th and 19th of August.
The final in Lisbon is on the 23rd August.
The host venues are all in Lisbon but the games are split between two stadiums, Estadio da Luz and Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Who are the favourites to win the competition?
There are three obvious teams in this discussion, Ligue 1 Champions PSG, Bundesliga Champions Bayern Munich and Premier League runners-up Manchester City.
Whilst PSG have the favourable run to the final, Manchester City and Bayern Munich have the advantage of having their domestic leagues restart post-lockdown and so have greater match sharpness.
A likely semi-final between Bayern and Manchester City would be very difficult to call but I would just edge Bayern who looked formidable in the second half of the Bundesliga season, whilst Manchester City were far from it.
The dark horses for the competition are Atletico Madrid who have been in fine form post-lockdown in La Liga as they secured Champions League football for next season.
They have also become very difficult to beat in Europe since Diego Simeone took over and there are few better managers at holding onto a lead and seeing games out.
Atalanta may not be expected to beat PSG but they have once again been a breath of fresh air in Serie A this season and are as free scoring as the best sides in Europe.
PSG’s chances of success are also hindered by the injury to Mbappe in the French cup final, which will see him miss the Quarter Final at least.
On the balance of it, I’d have to say Bayern Munich are the favourites to win.
But don’t be surprised if Pep gets it just right and brings home the one piece of silverware that has been eluding Manchester City since their United Arab Emirates takeover in 2008.