No Ramos - Salah can now breathe and can Haaland extend his goal tally?
The Quarter finals starts tonight with a good preview of the games happening tonight;
Manchester City vs Dortmund
Pep Guardiola will be looking to get things right when he faces Borussia Dortmund in Manchester. His team has been knocked out of the CL at this stage in the last three seasons. No need for extra motivation and this tie against Dortmund looks very much the better step to make it into the semis.
Despite the abysmal form of the German side, the Champions League has been a great level of surprise. They are only here at the expense of Sevilla and that blessing of Haaland's goal scoring talent has kept them moving.
Pep has done it all domestically but only the CL trophy at City evades him. A great run of games for Manchester City gives Pep the upper hand over Edin Tirzic's Dortmund.
Haaland has been in the highlights and the absence of Sancho makes the task harder but Jude Bellingham and Mahmoud Dahoud have been imperious in the middle of park. Pep has Gundogän and De Bruyne who can pull all the necessary strings in there. Pep has tactically deployed fullbacks mostly in the middle so midfielders can push further forward and a possible false nine system to give the needed reward.
A great game on our hands, does Haaland add more to his goal tally or does the collective efforts of Manchester City urge this?
Real Madrid vs Liverpool
Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano hosts the two sides in the first leg. Both teams have gradually got their season running with some very good results.
The CL this season has presented a great front to Liverpool with only one loss this season at home to Atalanta. They brushed off RB Leipzig to make it here. The midfield looks more balanced with Fabinho now back as the holding midfielder. Kabak and Phillips have had a great partnership in defense as well.
Zidane says his team will want to focus on this particular one which is going to be played over 180 minutes. This will have to be done without captain, Sergio Ramos and Benzema will need to carry the team on his shoulders in this tie.
Targeting the rookie centre backs of Liverpool will be the main plan and if done to perfection, it gives the needed advantage heading into the second leg. Experience will count for Real Madrid and the Reds will be wary of this.
Diogo Jota is the surprise element for Klopp and his positioning and goal scoring is that bonus Liverpool can dwell on.
More room for Salah to breathe in Ramos's absence.
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