Chapter 481: Manchester City vs PSG, the Pinnacle of Money-Powered Football!

Chapter 481: Manchester City vs PSG, the Pinnacle of Money-Powered Football!

Manchester City advanced to the quarterfinals with ease, and there were no major upsets in the other matches either.

Paris Saint-Germain eliminated Chelsea with the same score as the previous leg, securing their place in the quarterfinals.

Benfica traveled to Saint Petersburg, braving the snow and cold winds, and managed to defeat Zenit St. Petersburg, also moving on to the quarterfinals.

Wolfsburg won 1-0 at home against Gent, progressing with an aggregate score of 4-2.

Real Madrid defeated Roma 2-0 at home, with Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodríguez both scoring, sweeping Roma with a total score of 4-0 and advancing to the quarterfinals.

Arsenal could not create a miracle at Camp Nou and were defeated again by Barcelona, ending their campaign in the round of 16, while their opponent marched into the quarterfinals.

A somewhat surprising result came from the Bayern Munich vs Atlético Madrid match. Although both teams eventually made it through to the quarterfinals, their paths were quite tumultuous.

Bayern, known for their potent attack, seemed to have met their nemesis. After a 2-2 draw away in the previous match, they were held to the same score at home.

Most unexpectedly, Juventus led for the majority of the game, with Bayern only managing to draw level in the second half through goals from Müller and Lewandowski. This has raised some doubts about Bayern's current form, which seems a far cry from their invincible state earlier in the season.

Of course, this could also be attributed to the strength of their opponent. Juventus, although they could not withstand Bayern's offense in extra time and missed out on advancing, performed excellently during regular time. Pushing a top team like Bayern to such extents, Juventus' strength is indeed formidable. Unfortunately, their luck this season has been lacking.

Had they not been placed in the same group as Manchester City, with their strength, they might have been able to fight for the top spot in the group. That could have spared them an early elimination by Bayern in the knockout stages.

Similar to Bayern, Atlético Madrid's matches against PSV were also evenly matched, with neither team scoring across two games, which led to extra time and ultimately had to be decided by a penalty shootout.

In the shootout, both teams scored consistently until the eighth round, when PSV's player Narsingh failed to handle the pressure and missed his shot, tilting the balance.

For Atlético, Juanfran managed to keep his cool, successfully converting the final penalty to secure an 8-7 victory for his team, claiming the last quarterfinal spot.

Although they won, Atlético's form has been questioned. PSV isn't considered a strong team, yet Atlético couldn't score against them across two matches.

Their defense remains solid, but without scoring, how can they expect to win? Are they supposed to rely on penalty shootouts every time?

The issue of a lackluster offense is something Atlético must address. If they can't overcome this problem, they might not go far in the competition.

As usual, this year's Champions League quarterfinal lineup hasn't changed much. Regulars like Manchester City, PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern, and Atlético are still in the mix.

La Liga continues to dominate with three teams in the quarterfinals.

The Bundesliga has risen this year with not only Bayern but also Wolfsburg making it to the quarterfinals, ranking them second among the top five European leagues.

The Premier League, despite its wealth of clubs, often ends up with only Manchester City remaining by the quarterfinals, and this year is no exception. Once again, City carries the hopes of the entire league.

Ligue 1 has only PSG left in the quarterfinals. Monaco, who made it to the quarterfinals last year, was eliminated even in the qualifiers this season and didn't make it to the main tournament.

Serie A is in the worst state, with both Roma and Juventus being knocked out, leaving no Italian teams in the quarterfinals.

However, Italian fans are used to this by now. Since Inter Milan's triumph six years ago, Italian teams have struggled in the Champions League. The 2013-2014 season even saw no Italian teams in the quarterfinals, so this year's outcome is not surprising.

It's a stark contrast to the glory days of Italian football over a decade ago, when Serie A was the top league in the five major leagues. Now, it has fallen to a level where it competes with Ligue 1.

After the initial knockout stage, UEFA immediately commenced the draw for the next stage at their headquarters in Switzerland.

As the reigning champion for two consecutive seasons, when Guardiola represented Manchester City at the draw, he could feel the focused attention he received from everyone present.

The representatives of the other seven teams looked his way with a mix of fear, seriousness, hatred, and eagerness, a mixed bag of emotions.

Guardiola sat down calmly, understanding that being the defending champion made them a target. He was prepared for this.

The person responsible for the draw was not the familiar face of Infantino, who was busy campaigning for the UEFA presidency and couldn't attend.

Instead, the draw was conducted by UEFA's Competition Director Marcetti, with Italian football legend Zambrotta as the guest.

The big screen at the venue first displayed the journey of the eight teams to the quarterfinals, highlighting key moments and players like Lin Quan, Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar.

The quarterfinals are not just a competition between top teams but also a showdown of these superstar players.

The first team drawn was Wolfsburg, a strong Bundesliga side that had topped their group ahead of Manchester United and eliminated them from advancing to the knockout stages.

Although Wolfsburg had performed well in both the group and knockout stages, their strength was considered to be the weakest among the quarterfinalists, making them an easy target.

As Zambrotta drew Wolfsburg, representatives of other teams hoped their clubs would be drawn next, eyeing an easier match-up.

However, Real Madrid was the lucky team to face Wolfsburg in the quarterfinals, potentially a high-pressure match for the German club.

Bayern Munich was the third team drawn. With Real Madrid's opponent already decided, their representatives were indifferent, even hoping to face old rivals like Manchester City or Barcelona in the semifinals, preferring to eliminate a strong competitor early.

However, Real Madrid's hope of a tough opponent did not materialize. Bayern Munich drew Benfica, one of the weakest teams in the quarterfinals.

With the two weakest teams already drawn, the remaining four strong teams were left to face each other. The representatives of these teams all had serious expressions, including Guardiola, who looked particularly stern.

Even though he was confident in Manchester City's strength, he knew that the draw could significantly impact their journey. If they faced tough opponents right from the quarterfinals, the team could be heavily worn out by the time they reached the finals, making the outcome unpredictable.

Zambrotta didn't keep them waiting long and soon drew Manchester City, the defending champions. Seeing City's name, the representatives of the remaining three teams all sat up straight, and PSG's representative even shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

No team wanted to face Manchester City at this stage. Their strength was undeniable and feared by all. Everyone hoped another team would face them first, testing their mettle and wearing them down.

Unfortunately for PSG, they were the ones drawn against Manchester City. The PSG representative could only muster a bitter smile at this tough draw.

With six teams already drawn, the last two remaining were Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, setting up an all-Spanish quarterfinal. La Liga teams have often found themselves facing each other in the later stages of recent tournaments, but despite frequently reaching the quarterfinals or semifinals, a Spanish team had not won the Champions League in five years. As the strongest league among the top five in Europe, this was a point of contention.

The draw results sparked widespread discussion in the football world. German media and fans considered Bayern's draw to be extremely favorable. While Benfica is a strong team in the Portuguese league, they were not expected to pose a significant threat to Bayern. This would be a good opportunity for Bayern to adjust their form, which had been shaky in recent matches.

In Spain, the reaction was mixed. Real Madrid had a favorable draw, but the internal battle between Barcelona and Atlético dampened their spirits. Both teams had the capability to reach the semifinals, but now one would be eliminated early. Atlético's strong defense could trouble Barcelona, and if Atlético won, their chances against teams like Bayern or City were uncertain.

In France, there was widespread lamentation over PSG's unfortunate draw. City's playing style countered PSG's strengths, especially with a player like Lin Quan, who overshadowed even Neymar. This matchup severely limited PSG's advantages.

Guardiola and Manchester City fans, however, were quite pleased with the draw. While PSG was strong, they were not at the level of Barcelona or Atlético. Despite their star-studded lineup, PSG had yet to fully integrate their talents into a cohesive unit. Many of their players were there for high salaries rather than a deep connection to the club, unlike the more unified City team.

Manchester City's match against PSG was scheduled for April 7 and April 13, giving them over a month to prepare. This allowed City to focus on their league and domestic cup matches in the meantime.

On March 20, the 31st round of the Premier League commenced, with the Manchester Derby being the highlight. City, hosting United at home, had a chance to extend their lead over Leicester City.

Despite United's poor form, Guardiola was taking no chances. He fielded his strongest lineup to ensure a victory in this crucial match.

(End of Chapter)

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