Last Word on Football brings you this preview of the two Champions League Quarter Final ties taking place on April 12 as four of Europe’s elite collide.
Champions League Quarter Final Primer
Real Madrid vs Chelsea
When: Wednesday 12/04/2023 8 pm
Where: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain
Real Madrid
Position in the league: 2nd in La Liga
How did they get here?:
Real Madrid were drawn into Group F and neutral observers wouldn’t be blamed for thinking that only RB Leipzig posed any real threat. This proved to be the case as RB Leipzig beat them when Los Blancos had to travel to East Germany.
Despite this Madrid topped their group with 13 points and faced Liverpool in the last 16. This should have been a mouthwatering match-up with two of the dominant forces of European football over the last few seasons squaring off against each other. Instead, a 5-2 demolition by Madrid at Anfield rendered the tie effectively over after the first leg. It also demonstrated that, when fired up and engaged, Madrid still remain one of the best football teams in Europe.
Key Player: Luka Modrić
Luka Modrić is 37 years old yet remains as transcendent as ever. Despite often, if not always, being the most talented player on the pitch he has the ability to drift away from defenders and into space from where he can quite literally do it all. His passing range knows no limits, his ability to keep the ball glued to his feet no matter what pressure is being applied to him and he has an excellent knack for picking up the ball in and around the box to chip in with crucial goals. In La Liga, it appears that perhaps Father Time is catching up with even Modrić as some of his league performances haven’t been up to his usual standard, however, you only need to look at his performance against Liverpool in the last round to see that, when he wants to he can still turn back the clock.
Chelsea
Position in the league: 11th in the Premier League
How did they get here?:
Chelsea’s 1-0 loss to Dinamo Zagreb in their first game of the group stage followed by a 1-1 draw with RB Salzburg seemed to suggest that their Champions League performance was going to be as disappointing as the rest of their season. However, they then won all the rest of their games and ended up topping their group which contained fellow quarter-finalists AC Milan. This led to a last-16 draw against Borussia Dortmund and once again, Chelsea made their fans sweat. Despite dominating Dortmund in the away leg (21 shots to 14 including eight shots on target to two) they lost 1-0. Returning to Stamford Bridge they knew they had to win and they duly delivered defeating die Schwarzgelben 2-0.
Key Player: Thiago Silva
Any fans of the Premier League know that Chelsea have been struggling to score goals this season and their top goal scorer across all competitions is Kai Havertz who only has nine. As a result, remaining defensively solid and stopping Los Blancos from scoring is of the utmost importance. Thiago Silva may not have much pace but his positioning and ability to read the game mean this isn’t much of an issue as he always manages to be exactly where he’s needed. He is the defensive leader of The Blues and it will be on him to marshall the back line and do his best to stifle the attacking talents of Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jnr if Chelsea are to have any possibility of moving on to the semi-finals.
S.S.C. Napoli vs AC Milan
When: Wednesday 12/04/2023 8 pmWhere: Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, Naples, Italy
Napoli
Position in the league: 1st in Serie A
How did they get here?:
Napoli topped a dangerous-looking group that contained Liverpool, AFC Ajax, and Rangers FC and they did so in style. They defeated Liverpool 4-1 in match week 1 before beating Ajax 4-2 at home and most impressively 6-1 at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. They also looked extremely comfortable against Frankfurt in the round of 16 defeating the 5-0 on aggregate. In fact, in eight matches the Partenopei have scored a staggering 25 goals demonstrating that they truly have one of the most lethal strike forces in Europe. Napoli are also, quite simply, dominating Serie A having won 24 of their 29 matches and have opened up a 16-point gap on second place Lazio.
However, on 2nd April 2023, Napoli and AC Milan squared off in Seria A and the Milan-based outfit walked away as comfortable 4-0 winners so this tie may not be as easy for Napoli as one might think.
Key Player: Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen has been nothing short of a revelation this season. He has scored 25 goals in 26 appearances for the Neapolitans and will surely be one of the most sought-after players this summer as every top team needs a number nine fights for his signature. But of more importance than just his goals is the way he compliments Napoli’s wing players, especially Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Thanks to his strength and desire to run off the last defender Osimhen pins opposing defenders deep opening up spaces for the tricky Georgian to operate in. His hold-up play is also fantastic and his teammates can feel confident when crossing a ball into him that more often than not he’ll win his individual battle and fashion a chance.
For Napoli to progress they need Osimhen back and fit else Milan might fancy their chances of seeing off their domestic opponents.
AC Milan
Click the link to become a YouTube member and watch the presser live, in English ➡️ https://t.co/1QPRbMcF6j
Segui le parole di Mister Pioli e @TheoHernandez alla vigilia di #MilanNapoli ➡️ https://t.co/I4Pqio8GT0#UCL #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/r7rrUL9kqC
— AC Milan (@acmilan) April 11, 2023
Position in the league: 4th in Serie A
How did they get here?:
AC Milan were drawn into the same group as Chelsea and ended up coming second behind the London-based outfit. They saw off Dinamo Zagreb both home and away and a win and a draw against RB Salzburg capped off a strong group stage for the Rossoneri. They were then drawn against Tottenham in the last 16 and they emerged deserved winners after preventing Tottenham from creating anything at all over the two legs. Fikayo Tomori was excellent throughout both legs appearing incredibly composed and mature beyond his years.
And the Milan counterattack, through Rafael Leão and Theo Hernández was lightning quick albeit wasteful in front of goal. However, they were efficient and excellent when Milan and Napoli met earlier this month. Leão in particular was incredibly composed in front of the goal when he chipped a delicate ball over Alex Meret to open the scoring.
Can Milan’s attacking talents remain as composed when the bright lights of Europe’s biggest stage are pointed at them? Napoli will certainly hope not.
READ MORE: Champions League Quarter Final Preview, Start Times & More: Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Key Player: Theo Hernández
Theo Hernández, on paper at least, plays as a left-back for Milan and can be defensively solid when called upon.
However, he is at his best when the Milanese can break and he can carry the ball down the left wing at a speed that at times borders on the superhuman.
Once they’ve lost the ball opposing teams have no chance to form up in any kind of organised defensive shape before Hernández is in their face forcing them to choose to either commit, and see him pass the ball off or simply knock the ball past them, or to continue backing off until they’ve reached the edge of their own box. This attacking speed combines so well with the similar threat of Leão and the ageless Olivier Giroud to create chaos in the defensive line. If the 25-year-old is able to be at his dynamic and terrifying best the Rossoneri could create more than enough chances to win the game. They just need to make sure they score them.
