Champions League: Real Madrid and Napoli complete the quarters table

Karim Benzema, scorer against Liverpool in the second leg in Madrid. March 15, 2023. REUTERS - SUSANA VERA

Text by: Ndiasse Sambe Follow

3 min

The eight teams qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League are known after the qualifications of Real Madrid and Napoli against Liverpool (1-0) and Frankfurt (3-0) on Wednesday, March 15. There will be three Italian teams in the quarters, a first in 17 years.

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There really wasn't much suspense on this last night of the knockout stages. Winners in the first leg, Real Madrid and Napoli had already done the hardest by winning respectively in Liverpool (5-2) and Frankfurt (2-0). For this return match, Madrid did not have to force their talent to muzzle an uninspired Liverpool team that had a hard time laying the groundwork for an improbable feat. Ancelotti's men could even have won another resounding victory if Benzema, Camavinga, and especially Vinicius had not fallen to Alisson, the Liverpool goalkeeper who has long repelled attacks. It is finally the Frenchman Karim Benzema who will finally find the opening at the end of the match (79th) confirming the undisputed domination of Real, defending champions, against their finalist, less than a year ago.

Italians at the top

In Naples, the second leg was more marked by the violent clashes between Napoli and Frankfurt fans that broke out in the streets of the city before the start of the match. Clashes provoked by a group of some 150 Neapolitans, who attacked German fans while they were being escorted by the police. On the pitch, Napoli confirmed their victory in the first leg by winning thanks to a double from Nigerian Victor Osimhen (45+2, 58th), his third and fourth goals in C1 this season, and a penalty from Zielinski (64th).

Shocking scenes currently ongoing in Naples:

guerrilla in downtown, a squad of 20 policemen risking their life, as a Eintracht and Atalanta hooligans allied are setting on fire the city.

Naples is currently hostage of 300 hooligans pic.twitter.com/yFqgQBmEoc

— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) March 15, 2023

These qualifications in the quarter-finals mark the comeback of Italian clubs with the presence of Inter Milan, AC Milan and Napoli. Once a stronghold of European football, Italy, 12 Champions League won (Milan 7, Inter 3, Juventus 2) had lost its superb, like its championship whose exposure is less, compared to the Premier League, La Liga, or even the Bundesliga. It had been 17 years, since the 2005-2006 season, since Italy had not placed three clubs in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. If Inter and AC Milan have long been regulars, this is the first time that Napoli has invited itself to these heights.

City, the good year?

Despite their strong presence however, none of the three Italian clubs will claim the status of favorite for the final coronation. Of the eight remaining teams, defending champions Real and Manchester City appear to be the most serious contenders. Madrid, even when they do not have the best team on paper, know the recipes to conquer the trophy. What Manchester City has never achieved. With a striker named Erling Haaland, the Mancunian club hopes to finally lift the Cup. Bayern Munich, always well placed, is a serious underdog, a little more than Benfica and Napoli who will have less pressure to hope to continue their beautiful adventure.

The draw for the quarter-finals will take place this Friday, March 17. The first legs will take place on Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 April, with the second legs scheduled for 18 and 19 April. The semi-finals will take place on 9/10 and 16/17 May, while the final will be played on Saturday 10 June.

The eight teams qualified for the quarter-finals: Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Napoli, Manchester City, Chelsea, Benfica Lisbon, Real Madrid

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• UEFA Champions League
• Spain
• Italy
• Football