Every UCL quarter-final tie predicted as Arsenal and Liverpool sent warning

BIG DEBATE: The Champions League returns this week with Arsenal and Liverpool flying the Premier League flag whilst Real Madrid face Bayern Munich in a titanic clash

The Champions League quarter-finals begin on Tuesday with a heavyweight line-up that sees Arsenal, whose season is threatening to unravel, facing Sporting Lisbon and Real Madrid taking on Bayern Munich.

The Gunners have won all but one of their European games this term and have been favourites for much of the season. Their successive defeats domestically has cast doubt over their ability to get over the line - and they'll need to do a job on the Portuguese side if they're to silence the doubters.

Liverpool remain the only other Premier League side in the tournament, but they face a daunting task against defending champions PSG. It is a repeat of a last-16 tie from 12 months ago with the Parisians getting the better of the Reds, who have dropped off massively in the year since and are firm underdogs.

Real and Bayern square off with their first-leg taking place at the Bernabeu. The two teams have a staggering 21 European Cups between them and are among the most decorated teams on the continent. Bayern bring form and treble-winning ambitions to Spain, but Los Blancos have a knack in this competition.

There's an all-La Liga tie with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who both downed English teams in the last 16, squaring off. The Catalans were semi-finalists last season and want to exceed that, whilst Diego Simeone is a two-time runner-up in his days with Atletico.

The winner of that tie could face Arsenal, provided they can do a job on Sporting over the next 10 days. Mirror Football's writers cast their eye across the four quarter-finals as Europe really begins to hot up.

Sam Meade

PSG seeing off Liverpool seems like the most obvious result across the last eight. The Parisians are in form, the Reds aren't, and ultimately Luis Enrique's side are just a better team at present. They've kept last year's momentum going and, based on what we saw against Chelsea, will be a tough nut to crack.

A month ago you'd have said Arsenal would've made light work of Sporting. Now, we're not so sure. Mikel Arteta need to arrest the slide in north London and prove his team have the stomach for the fight. This tie though has all the ingredients of an upset.

Elsewhere I'd back Barcelona to see off Atletico, albeit Simeone's side have got the better of the Catalans in a cup competition already this season. Real seem to have a God given right to win European ties even when everything says they shouldn't, but I'm going to back the Germans to halt the Spanish giants.

From an English perspective it would be a great watch to see Harry Kane conquer Europe, and he's undoubtedly the form striker on the continent at present. He'd certainly be worthy of a Champions League winners' medal.

SEMI-FINALISTS: Bayern Munich, Sporting, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain

Andy Dunn

After the dull, tiresome, never-ending preliminary stages of the Champions League, we have got quarter-final match-ups that are beyond mouth-watering. Real Madrid versus Bayern Munich? What. A. Tie.

Hopefully, Harry Kane - who missed the dramatic win at Freiburg on Saturday - will be fit to start and if he is, I expect him to score in the Bernabeu and give Bayern a platform to progress. Not only will they progress, Bayern will go on to win the competition. And they will not have to deal with English opposition.

Sporting Lisbon are the dark horses of this competition and will cause a big upset against Arsenal while Liverpool will find Paris Saint-Germain too classy. The French side’s young, vibrant attacking unit will be too much for a Liverpool defence that suddenly looks a bit wooden.

And with Hansi Flick’s attacking options, Barcelona will get past Atletico Madrid to complete a great last four.

SEMI-FINALISTS: Bayern Munich, Sporting, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain

Ben Husband

Arsenal are wobbling…big time. But I still think they will have too much for Sporting, although they may have to overturn a deficit at the Emirates next week.

Liverpool were brilliant against Galatasaray at Anfield in the last 16, but completely bereft against Manchester City in the cup. And that’s probably about where they are in truth. Hot and cold, but at a level below Europe’s elite. That’s why I think PSG will come out of that one and pile even more pressure on Arne Slot.

Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich is a blockbuster. The Spaniards shut up a few doubters against City, but this Bayern are a different animal who I think will go all the way.

And in the final tie, I fancy Barcelona over two legs against Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone will make it tricky though, you know that for sure.

SEMI-FINALISTS: Arsenal, PSG, Bayern Munich, Barcelona

John Cross

The semi final line-up will be a heavyweight affair. My predicted last four is Arsenal, Paris Saint Germain, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Football rarely goes to plan or follow the odds but that would be a tasty line-up and it would be great news for the Champions League.

Arsenal face a really difficult quarter final tie with Sporting Lisbon - but I think over the two legs they will be too strong for their Portuguese opponents.

PSG have this incredible habit of really upping their game, tempo and momentum and that is why I think they will knock out Liverpool in that quarter final.

Barcelona are a far cry from their glory days but they can still blow teams away as they did against Newcastle and their pace and ability to get in behind should be a real worry for Arsenal if they meet in the semi final.

Then, finally, I think Bayern will get through against Real Madrid. I just have a sneaky feeling that this could be a big year for Harry Kane and - if he is fit - can score against any opponent right now. This is Ballon D’Or season for him.

SEMI-FINALISTS: Arsenal, PSG, Bayern Munich, Barcelona

Alex Richards

Arsenal were dumped out of the FA Cup in midweek, but over two legs, with the second at home, I can't see them falling short against Sporting Lisbon.

The Gunners should be too strong against a Sporting side who boast an excellent centre-forward in Luis Suarez - their replacement for Viktor Gyokeres - but who tend to lose to the sides you expect them to in this competition over the past two years.

Liverpool head to Paris at a low ebb after the drubbing by Manchester City on Saturday, and that should hopefully spur them on to dig in and come together as a collective, with their backs to the wall in Paris against the holders.

PSG know how to step it up against better opposition, but I think Liverpool might be able to do something a little special over two legs here. There's a lot of question marks over a number of players and Arne Slot right now, but this PSG side will give them chances.

Barcelona face Atletico Madrid having beaten them in the Spanish capital on Saturday night, coming back to win as Atleti went down to 10 men. Atletico rested a number of key men and are very much putting their eggs in the Champions League basket.

Already, the media in Catalunya is rife with suggestions that Atlet are going to try to bully their way through to the last four by any means necessary. I can actually see it coming to fruition, provided they toe that disciplinary line very, very carefully.

Tie of the round is Bayern vs Real Madrid. A huge test for Vincent Kompany, but also Alvaro Arbeloa, if he wants to be in the discussions to get the job at the Bernabeu on a permanent basis.

Madrid are getting their star men back at just the right time, while the knock Harry Kane sustained on England duty couldn't have been worse timed. When it comes down to it, I'd anticipate a goal-fest across the two legs, with Real edging it.

That'll leave two English clubs and two from Madrid in the semi-finals.

SEMI-FINALISTS: Liverpool, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid