Can one of these four former champions emerge atop the UEFA Champions League in 2014? (clockwise from top left: Matthias Hangst/Witters Sport; Michael Regan/Getty Images; Bongarts; Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
The UEFA Champions League has whittled itself down to its final four pairings, and after a tense Round of 16 we are down to just eight teams left in the race to be crowned kings of Europe. The octet comprises a list of European bluebloods; five of the eight teams left have previously won the Champions League, and all but one of the remaining clubs has played in the final within the past dozen years.
There is a glaring absence of English clubs left in the competition, as Chelsea, Manchester City, and Arsenal all bombed out in the Round of 16. Otherwise, few surprises occurred in the octofinals, and any of the remaining eight would be a worthy Champions League winner this season. What the draw did offer in the way of surprises was a couple of interesting rematches — one an all-Madrid affair that mirrors last season’s Champions League final, the other a rematch of the two teams to emerge from Group F.
How will the quarterfinals play out, and who will reach the semifinals with their dreams still intact? Let’s dive in and evaluate each of the four quarterfinal draws to get a better understanding of what is likely to transpire between April 14 and April 22 over the two-leg series… click through to learn more about each pairing.
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