Monday, 4 April 2016

Barca take on Atletico Madrid, City face PSG test in Champions League quarters

Holders Barcelona will look to conquer their annihilation in El Clasico when they have Atletico Madrid on Tuesday in an all-Spanish Champions League quarter-last, first leg at the Camp Nou. 

On a night when Barca paid tribute to the late Dutch extraordinary Johan Cruyff, the Catalan mammoths' 39-amusement unbeaten run stopped after objectives from Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo eradicated Gerard Pique's opener. 

"For me this amusement is history," said Barca mentor Luis Enrique, choosing to turn the page instead of consider Saturday's misfortune. 

"There is no torment. We came into the diversion on the back of numerous recreations without losing, yet annihilations can show you things and the players realize that." 

Barcelona have won the last six gatherings with Atletico, however it was Los Rojiblancos who exceptional when the two sides conflicted at this phase of the 2013-14 rivalry — the main time Barca have neglected to achieve the semis in the previous eight seasons. 

Bayern Munich host Portuguese alliance pioneers Benfica in the principal leg with Pep Guardiola's side offering to achieve the last four for the fifth year running. 

Bayern toiled to a 1-0 win at home to Eintracht Frankfurt as they stayed five focuses clear of Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, yet captain Philipp Lahm cautioned they would need to up their level against Benfica. 

"After a global break it's frequently troublesome. That is impeccably ordinary," said Lahm. 

"I believe it will be a totally distinctive match (on Tuesday). We'll be impeccably arranged. We require a superior execution, however I'm not agonizing over that." 

Bayern will be without Arjen Robben at the Allianz Arena, yet the hosts ought to have France winger Kingsley Coman accessible in the wake of sitting out Saturday's triumph with a leg harm. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic fueled Paris Saint-Germain to a 4-1 win over Nice at the weekend and the French champions will again look to their Swedish star when they tackle Manchester City at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday. 

Paris achieved the Champions League semi-finals in 1994-95, however City, regardless of their impassive Premier League showcases, are through to the last eight surprisingly. 

Ibrahimovic in spotlight 

Manuel Pellegrini's side rediscovered some structure at the weekend however with a 4-0 devastation of Bournemouth, and PSG midfielder Thiago Motta said it would require a complete collaboration to overcome City. 

"It's not Ibra against City. It's Paris Saint-Germain against City. In my mind, I've never pondered taking to the pitch and winning an amusement in solitude. It's unimaginable," Motta told French day by day L'Equipe. 

"On the off chance that we put weight on him like that, and on the off chance that he puts it on himself like that, we're bad. In the event that we win, we'll win as a group." 

Marco Verratti is sidelined for PSG and Javier Pastore is far fetched, while chief Vincent Kompany is absent for City who are additionally sweating over the wellness of Joe Hart and Yaya Toure. 

Six straight wins have reignited Real's season yet the Champions League speaks to their just practical possibility of flatware this term. 

Zinedine Zidane's men go to Germany on Wednesday for a first-constantly meeting with Wolfsburg and head into the tie as substantial top picks against a side leaving on their best keep running in Europe's chief rivalry. 

Notwithstanding, Wolfsburg have won only three of their last 15 Bundesliga recreations and were soundly beaten 3-0 at Bayer Leverkusen on Friday. 

"Things don't search bravo at this moment. You can't say we should be higher in the standings than we are at this moment," said Julian Draxler, with Wolfsburg moping in eighth spot in Germany. 

The state of mind is much more energetic in the Real camp having retaliated for November's 4-0 home drubbing on account of Barca, with Wales star Gareth Bale hopeful they can complete the season in style. 

"We're feeling solid, certain now, and it's one last push until the end of the season," said Bale. 

"(Saturday's win) truly puts us rationally in a solid position, we can beat anybody on our day and we demonstrated that. 

"Barcelona have been stating they're the best group and we beat them in their own patio. "

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