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Ranking the Champions League quarterfinal matchups

By Joshua Sutter

Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF during the UEFA Champions League match between SSC Napoli and Real Madrid at Stadio San Paolo Naples Italy on 7 March 2017. (Photo by Franco Romano/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF during the UEFA Champions League match between SSC Napoli and Real Madrid at Stadio San Paolo Naples Italy on 7 March 2017. (Photo by Franco Romano/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 07: Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Muenchen (2R) celebrates with team mates as he scores their first goal from a penalty during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Muenchen at Emirates Stadium on March 7, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 07: Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Muenchen (2R) celebrates with team mates as he scores their first goal from a penalty during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg match between Arsenal FC and FC Bayern Muenchen at Emirates Stadium on March 7, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /

Ranking all the matchups in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

The UEFA Champions League quarterfinal matchups have been set. The diversity of talent and playing styles are abundant in the eight teams that are left. Good teams have already been knocked out of the competition, making the play fiercely competitive. Quality teams like Arsenal, Manchester City, and PSG have been eliminated. Making it to the quarterfinals is a tough task for any great UEFA team. Having the depth, class, and durability to compete both in domestic tournaments and European competition is difficult.

Teams in the quarterfinals include Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Monaco, Borussia Dortmund, Leicester City, Atletico Madrid, and Juventus. There is a diversity of European talent in left in the competition, Spanish and German sides are represented in the draw with three and two teams apiece. While England, France, and Italy are represented with one team each.

Certain matchups are more exciting than others, here are the quarterfinal Champions League matchups ranked by how interesting they are.

LEICESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 27: Jamie Vardy of Leicester City celebrates after scoring his second and his sides third goal during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Liverpool at The King Power Stadium on February 27, 2017 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 27: Jamie Vardy of Leicester City celebrates after scoring his second and his sides third goal during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Liverpool at The King Power Stadium on February 27, 2017 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

4. Leicester City vs. Atletico Madrid

I don’t like to rank anything associated with Jamie Vardy last. The English striker is a fascinating player to watch whenever his team is playing. So lets not think of Leicester City vs. Atletico Madrid as the least interesting Champions League matchup.  Due to there only being four games, lets simply say it is the fourth most interesting Champions League matchup. Absolutely no one wants Jamie Vardy to be angry.

On the pitch, this game is fascinating for a few key reasons. The clash of styles is a major reason to tune in. Both Leicester and Atletico enjoy solid defenses and consistent attack in open play. This season Leicester haven’t enjoyed as many counterattacking goals as in years past, only scoring 3 percent of their goals on the counter. They have been much more effective in open play, where they score 60 percent of their goals.

Atletico on the other hand are even more reliant on goals from open play. The Madrid side score 80 percent of their goals from open play. What give Leicester a chance is that Madrid are particularly vulnerable from set pieces. They give up 27 percent of their goals from the set position. Leicester could be setup perfectly to take advantage of that vulnerability with Riyad Mahrez playing his best soccer of the season.

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