The clash between the offensive noria of Manchester City and the defensive hedgehog of Atlético Madrid also promises a controversy of football schools.

Benfica Lisbon-Liverpool and Villarreal-Bayern Munich complete the table for these quarter-finals, scheduled for April 5 and 6 (go) and April 12 and 13 (return).

The posters for the quarter-finals of the Champions League, after the draw was made on March 18, 2022 at UEFA headquarters in Nyon Fabrice COFFRINI AFP

But the most promising poster remains that which will oppose the reigning prince and the "Reys de Europa", the kings of Europe (13 titles in C1), as Madrid fans proclaimed on a giant flag in their Santiago-Bernabéu stadium before eliminate Paris Saint-Germain (3-1, 1-0 defeat in the first leg), in the round of 16.

The "Blues" are garrotted by the measures against their still owner Roman Abramovich for his closeness to Russian President Vladimir Putin, after the invasion of Ukraine by Moscow.

But that did not prevent them from easily dismissing Lille (2-0/2-1) in the previous round.

The joy of Chelsea's German coach Thomas Tuchel and defenders Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva, qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League, after the 2-1 victory over Lille on March 16, 2022 at Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq FRANCK FIFE AFP

Note that the two fallers of the French clubs compete in quarters.

Six of the last ten C1

The collective set up by Thomas Tuchel is still just as formidable.

Real is on its side sometimes less dominating this season, but it counts on its Karim and its karma: a formidable Benzema, author of a hat-trick in 17 minutes against PSG, and an incredible feeling with this competition.

Chelsea-Real also pits two clubs used to reigning, both having won six of the last ten C1s, four for the Spanish giant (in 2014 and from 2016 to 2018), two for the London club (in 2012 and 2021).

The joy of Chelsea players after winning the Champions League final against Manchester City on May 29, 2021 at the Dragon Stadium in Porto PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU POOL / AFP

Last year in the semi-finals, the Blues won 2-0 in the second leg (1-1 in the first leg) thanks to goals from Timo Werner and Mason Mount.

The two institutions had already faced each other in the final of the 1971 Cup Cup, Chelsea's first European trophy, which had won in a support match (2-1, 1-1 ap in the first match).

And Gianfranco Zola's Chelsea also won the 1998 European Super Cup (1-0) against Raul's Real.

On the other hand, neither City nor Atlético have won C1.

Pep Guardiola's team lost in the final last year against Chelsea (1-0), and Atlético have already lost three, in 1974, 2014 and 2016.

Their confrontation will result in an almost total clash of styles.

The "Colchoneros" boast of being "boring to play", according to their leader Antoine Griezmann after the victory at Manchester United (1-0 in the round of 16 second leg, 1-1 in the first leg).

Defense at 11, art of counter-attacking, exceptional goalkeeper (Slovenian Jan Oblak): the recipe for "Cholo" Diego Simeone is well known.

Atlético Madrid's French striker Antoine Griezmann grapples with Manchester United's Brazilian defender Alex Telles in the Champions League Round of 16 second leg on March 15, 2022 at Old Trafford Stadium Paul ELLIS AFP

Liverpool and Bayern favorites

Opposite, Pep Guardiola remains the paragon of the beautiful game, with his formidable interchangeable offensive players, Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden...

The other posters seem more unbalanced, in a draw which did not offer any confrontation between clubs from the same country although three English clubs and three Spanish clubs were invited.

Liverpool, European champion in 2019, seems above Benfica Lisbon, which surprised Ajax Amsterdam (2-2 / 1-0) in the round of 16.

The joy of the Dutchman Virgil van Dijk and the Englishman Jordan Henderson, after the qualification of Liverpool for the quarter-finals of the Champions League, despite their defeat, 1-0 against Inter Milan (go 0-2) , March 8, 2022 at Anfield Road Stadium Paul ELLIS AFP / Archives

Similarly, the Bayern Munich of the insatiable Robert Lewandowski appears much stronger than the Villarreal of Étienne Capoue and Gerard Moreno.

But the "yellow submarine" is the title holder in the Europa League and benefits from the European know-how of Unai Emery, the coach with four C3s (three with Sevilla FC).

The joy of Bayern Munich's Polish striker Robert Lewandowski after his goal scored against Salzburg in the Champions League round of 16 second leg on March 8, 2022 at the Allianz Arena CHRISTOF STACHE AFP / Archives

According to these forecasts, the semi-finals (goes April 26 and 27, returns May 3 and 4) drawn on Friday could therefore announce a Liverpool-Bayern.

In the other half, to reach the final of May 28, shifted from Saint Petersburg to the Stade de France as part of the sanctions against Russia, we will find the winners of the two posters, Manchester City or Atlético Madrid against Chelsea or the Real.

© 2022 AFP