Real Madrid, Liverpool, Barcelona and Bayern Munich all hold a clear advantage in Champions League

It has been another whirlwind week of Champions League football, with all four quarter-final ties throwing up plenty of talking points.

But at the midway point in the last eight fixtures, it’s fair to conclude that one team has the upper hand in each of them.

Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona all lead their opponents by a three-goal margin ahead of the return legs, while Bayern Munich have the advantage of two away goals.

But what is the likelihood of these deficits being overturned next week? We take a look.

Cristiano Ronaldo starred once again for Real Madrid as they beat Juventus 3-0 in Italy

REAL MADRID vs JUVENTUS

First leg score 3-0; return leg at the Bernabeu on Wednesday

Billed as a meeting of two European heavyweights, this blockbuster quarter-final proved a one-sided affair with a Real Madrid side inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo scoring three times without reply in Turin.

The Portuguese star’s astonishing overhead kick for the second goal captured the imagination of football fans the world over after he had opened the scoring after just three minutes.

Marcelo added a third for the reigning champions after Paulo Dybala was shown a second yellow card, leaving Juventus, last season’s finalists, absolutely shell-shocked.

Ronaldo scored a sensational overhead kick to put Real two goals ahead in Tuesday's first leg

Ronaldo scored a sensational overhead kick to put Real two goals ahead in Tuesday’s first leg

With Ronaldo in such exceptional form, nobody is giving the Italian champions a prayer in the return game at the Bernabeu next Wednesday.

It would take one of the greatest attacking performances seen in the competition to get close to overturning the arrears and it’s fair to say Juventus are better known for their defensive prowess.

With Real a distant third in the Spanish league, their season – and potentially Zinedine Zidane’s future as their manager – rests on completing a hat-trick of Champions League successes.

And even if Juventus come at them with full force in the Bernabeu, Real undoubtedly possess enough quality in their ranks to score at least one goal on the break and kill off what has been a disappointingly one-sided tie. 

Chances of a comeback: 0/5 

Demoralised Juventus will need to win by a 4-1 scoreline or better in the Bernabeu next week

Demoralised Juventus will need to win by a 4-1 scoreline or better in the Bernabeu next week

BAYERN MUNICH vs SEVILLA

First leg score 2-1; return leg at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday

Bayern were made to work hard for their narrow advantage at the mid-way point of their Champions League quarter-final with Sevilla.

The Spanish side caused a seismic upset when they beat Manchester United in the last round and it will take a display similar to their win at Old Trafford to get the better of the Germans next week.

Pablo Sarabia had put Sevilla ahead on Tuesday night, only for Bayern to quickly draw level thanks to a Jesus Navas own goal before Thiago Alcantara headed home their second-half winner.

Bayern Munich seized the initiative in their quarter-final tie with Sevilla, winning 2-1 in Spain

Bayern Munich seized the initiative in their quarter-final tie with Sevilla, winning 2-1 in Spain

While far from a classic Bayern European performance, the two away goals will see them heavy favourites when they reconvene at the Allianz Arena.

Though Sevilla’s stunning performance at Old Trafford will have a few Bayern fans on edge, they are usually a sure bet in this kind of position and should reach the semi-finals.

History is on their side as well – Bayern have failed to progress from only one of their previous 16 European Cup or Champions League knockout ties when they won the first leg away.

With Bayern poised to wrap up another Bundesliga title, they will be able to fully divert their attention to winning the Champions League for the first time since 2013.

While it could potentially be a tricky night, you would fully expect Bayern to advance from this position.

Chances of a comeback: 1/5 

Thiago Alcantara scored with a deflected header to give Bayern a crucial lead in their tie

Thiago Alcantara scored with a deflected header to give Bayern a crucial lead in their tie

MANCHESTER CITY vs LIVERPOOL

First leg score 0-3; return leg at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday

It was a vintage European night at Anfield as Liverpool took a firm hold on their all-English Champions League quarter-final with Manchester City thanks to a three-goal blitz.

Goals from Mohamed Salah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sadio Mane inside the opening 31 minutes left Pep Guardiola’s side shell-shocked as Liverpool stayed true to Jurgen Klopp’s pledge to attack.

Liverpool then successfully absorbed waves of City pressure after the break to preserve their lead, with City, uncharacteristically, failing to muster a shot on target in the entire game.

However, despite the lopsided scoreline, nobody believes this tie is done and dusted.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored a stunning goal as Liverpool beat Manchester City 3-0

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored a stunning goal as Liverpool beat Manchester City 3-0

As they have repeatedly shown with their free-flowing and free-scoring performances this season, Premier League champions-elect City have more than enough firepower to rescue the situation.

Earlier in the season, they beat Liverpool 5-0 at the Etihad, albeit aided by a red card shown to Mane eight minutes before half-time with the score 1-0.

Guardiola has little alternative but to go with all-out-attack next Tuesday and with the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Kevin de Bruyne, Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling, David Silva and a possibly fit-again Sergio Aguero, they have the arsenal.

If City can snatch an early goal and get Liverpool pinned inside their defensive third, we could witness one of the all-time great turnarounds in European football.

However, Klopp isn’t likely to full commit to defending what they gained in the first leg and City’s attacking approach could leave them vulnerable to conceding on the counter.

If Liverpool were to score another goal, it will likely be the death knell for City’s hopes of reaching the semi-final.

Chances of a comeback: 2/5 

City's players were left shell-shocked by Liverpool's three-goal blitz inside the first 31 minutes

City’s players were left shell-shocked by Liverpool’s three-goal blitz inside the first 31 minutes

ROMA vs BARCELONA

First leg score 1-4; return leg at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday

Few fancied Roma to come away with any kind of positive result in Wednesday night’s first leg at the Nou Camp – and they were proven correct.

Barcelona took command of the tie thanks to a couple of own goals – from Daniele De Rossi and Kostas Manolas – either side of half-time, then a tap-in by Gerard Pique.

The home side were cruising but Roma got themselves a glimmer of hope when Edin Dzeko pulled a goal back with 10 minutes remaining.

However, Luis Suarez’s late fourth ensured Roma will have a mountain to climb if they are to progress to the semi-finals.

Luis Suarez scored Barcelona's fourth goal in their resounding win over Roma in the Nou Camp

Luis Suarez scored Barcelona’s fourth goal in their resounding win over Roma in the Nou Camp

With three unanswered goals required in the Stadio Olimpico next week, not many will be backing the Italian side, who have nothing near the European pedigree or class of Barca.

Keeping Lionel Messi relatively quiet for a full 90 minutes as they did on Wednesday will prove near to impossible to replicate, let alone the rest of Barcelona’s myriad attacking threats – and the Catalans are unlikely to sit back and just defend.

They’re pretty handy defensively as well – Roma were just the third side to breach the Barca defence in their last 10 Champions League games at home.

But they’ll need to come up with a masterclass to turn this deficit around and you just can’t see that happening.

Chances of a comeback: 0/5

Edin Dzeko's goal for Roma gives them a glimmer of hope - but not much more than that

Edin Dzeko’s goal for Roma gives them a glimmer of hope – but not much more than that

 



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