Champions League: Quarter-Final Journey & The Rules

 

UEFA only allow the top three ranked leagues to gain maximum of four entrants to the Champions League, the Serie A should have taken the English Premier League slot in Uefa’s coefficient rankings but the Italian champions’ 6-4 aggregate defeat to Bayern after losing 4-2 at the Allianz Arena has ensured England will once more have four representatives in Europe’s premier club competition.

Bayern found themselves 2-0 down after 28 minutes at the Allianz Arena as Paul Pogba and Juan Cuadrado struck for the Italians but just like in the first leg in Turin where Bayern blew a two-goal advantage and were relentless, the Pep Guardiola side ensured the Italians suffered a repeat of same feat as Robert Lewandowski netted on 73 minutes before Thomas Mueller's dramatic equalizer in the 91st minute forced extra time.

Substitutes Thiago Alcantara and Kingsley Coman scored extra-time goals as Juve defensive stiff resistance wilted in the heart-stopping tie to ensure Guardiola reaches the quarter-final stage of the Champions League in each of his seven seasons as a manager beating Juventus 4-2.

As expected European and Spanish champions Barcelona were rarely troubled by the Premier League giants as they cruised into the last eight via a 3-1 victory on Wednesday.

Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were all on target as Barcelona piled more pressure on under-fire Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger by easing into the Champions League quarter-finals 5-1 on aggregate.
 
One win in the last eight games has annihilated Arsenal's hopes of silverware this season as they exit the competition at the last 16 stage for the sixth consecutive season days after relinquishing their two-year hold on the FA Cup.

Quarter-final pairings are determined by an open draw in which no teams are seeded and clubs from the same national association can be drawn against each other. The side drawn first will play the first leg at home.

The Quarter final draw takes place on Friday, Manchester City is the only English team left with Real Madrid, Athletico Madrid and Fc Barcelona showing Spanish football dominance in Europe while the German duo Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg proofing why Germany are World Champions and PSG displaying the French Ligue 1 can be a force to reckon with and Benfica that there are no underdogs in Europe especially when you are from Portugal.