Champions League predictions: Quarter-final second leg ties
The Champions League has a knack for rendering the impossible possible and a few sides will be hoping for a miracle in this week's quarter-final second legs.
We're halfway through the 2022/23 Champions League quarter-finals, and in any other competition three of the ties would be pretty much dead and buried. But Europe's premier club competition wouldn't have garnered its prestige if it boasted such predictability.
Literally anything could happen on Tuesday and Wednesday night. Well, apart from Frank Lampard's woefully out-of-sorts Chelsea salvaging a two-goal deficit against the reigning champions and perennial victors. That's beyond the scriptwriter's capacity.
Champions League predictions: Quarter-final second leg ties
The second legs begin on Tuesday night with the aforementioned tie between Chelsea and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge, as well as the all-Italian affair between Napoli and Milan.
Real eased to a 2-0 victory in the first leg but haven't completely killed off the tie heading into the reverse fixture. However, 90min isn't expecting any fireworks in west London with the visitors, who claimed victory at the weekend, poised to win comfortably and set-up a mouth-watering semi-final affair against the winners of the Bayern-City tie.
On the contrary, drama is expected with Napoli as the Serie A leaders go about overturning a one-goal deficit on home soil. Luciano Spalletti's side were caught on the counter by Milan in the first leg, but a 1-0 defeat perhaps wasn't the worst result in the world considering they were without spiritual leader Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian sharpshooter is back for the second leg, and 90min is expecting him to propel Napoli into the semi-finals.
Date/Kick-Off Time | Fixture | Score Prediction |
|---|---|---|
Tuesday 18 April, 20:00 | Napoli vs Milan | 2-0 |
Tuesday 18 April, 20:00 | Chelsea vs Real Madrid | 0-3 |
Wednesday 19 April, 20:00 | Bayern vs Man City | 1-2 |
Wednesday 19 April, 20:00 | Inter vs Benfica | 1-1 |
On Wednesday. Thomas Tuchel's Bayern will be looking to complete a memorable comeback against a Manchester City side currently playing like they're far and away the best team in the world. The Citizens purred in the first leg and have a three-goal buffer to defend in Munich.
Bayern were hardly dire at the Etihad, but they were simply outclassed by Pep Guardiola's side. Do they have the firepower to overturn such a large deficit? We don't think so.
Read 90min's full match previews here
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Finally, Inter took advantage of a depleted Benfica in the first leg and beat Roger Schmidt's impressive side 2-0 in Lisbon. The Nerazzurri have struggled domestically in 2023, but they've excelled in the cups under Simone Inzaghi and 90min's backing them to hold onto their advantage and set up a semi-final affair with Napoli.