Here are some key UEFA Champions League updates, as the Quarter-Finals begin on Tuesday, April 9th, and continue through the 10th.
Kyle Walker is officially out for Manchester City, leaving head coach Pep Guardiola with an important decision to make ahead of Tuesday’s meeting at the Bernabéu with Real Madrid. Madrid’s Vinícius Jr has a habit of causing problems for opposition right-backs, highlighting the importance of Guardiola’s selection.
Aside from this, Real Madrid have, according to reports from ESPN, asked UEFA for permission to close the roof at the Bernabéu in order to intensify the atmosphere for Tuesday’s game. The stadium can hold 85,000 fans, and the atmosphere is electric as it is. (Not to brag, I have been to a game there, the atmosphere was indeed electric.)
That particular game took place in 2016 however, and since then the stadium has been renovated, the retractable roof being one of those renovations.
A decision on whether the roof can be retracted will be made at 4:30pm EST on Tuesday, by UEFA and match referee Francios Letexier.
Arsenal have as good a chance as ever to advance to the semi-finals of the UCL for the first time in 15 years. In the wake of this, their star Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus praised his opposite number Harry Kane.
“For me personally, he’s the best finisher in the world… He can finish with his head, left or right [foot]. Since I arrived in Europe… in that time he’s one of the best and at this time he is the best finisher in the world.”
Arsenal are in excellent form, on the back of a 3-0 win against Brighton on April 6, as opposed to Bayern who lost to Heidenheim 3-2 on the same day, after leading 2-0 at the end of the first half.
If Kylian Mbappé indeed moves to Real Madrid in the summer, this certainly won’t be last time he faces Barcelona. He will however be without one if his top providers in fullback Achraf Hakimi, who will be serving a suspension due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Barcelona on the other hand are still waiting to reveal the status of defender Andreas Christensen, midfielder Frenkie de Jong, and midfielder Pedri, who have been absent through injury in the last few weeks.
Dortmund are coming off a 0-1 loss to Stuttgart on Saturday April 6, and may be without key forward Donyell Malen as her nurses a hip injury. Atlético on the other hand will be without forward Memphis Depay, and may be without defender Mario Hermoso, who has missed the last two games with a thigh injury.
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