Being a soccer fan has never been as easy as it is in 2024. For the first time since 2013, a club other than Bayern Munich will win the German Bundesliga, with Bayer Leverkusen standing 13 points atop the table. At the same time, an epic three-way title fight is brewing in England between Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City. This week’s headliner for soccer fans is that the UEFA Champions League is back, and with it come some earth-shattering fixtures. In this week’s edition of Sargeant’s Orders, we will discuss two of the biggest matchups that fans will want to keep tabs on.
Real Madrid C.F. vs. Manchester City
Not only is this the biggest match of the entire tournament, but it is also a rematch of last year’s semifinal. Manchester City blew Real Madrid out of the water, advancing 5-1 on aggregate, although much has changed since then. Not only is there a chance that City will miss starting Right Back Kyle Walker, but the club will be at a significant disadvantage conditioning and scouting-wise. City has had a packed schedule lately, which manager Pep Guardiola has expressed frustration with.
“We play Aston Villa at 20:15, then at 12:30 against Crystal Palace on Saturday – at 12:30!” Guardiola told media personnel. “Then we go to Madrid on Tuesday. Madrid has nine days to prepare, nine days.”
These fixtures are a must-win for City, as the Premier League season is quickly ending, and they are a point behind Arsenal. The team has been vocal about their frustrations with scheduling from the Premier League. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes that his side will have a slight advantage but will not change the outcome of the fixtures. Both of these clubs are having excellent seasons across Europe, with City making a solid case to repeat as treble winners and Real Madrid enjoying yet another dominant La Liga campaign, sitting comfortably atop the table. There is much recent history between these two European giants. Many experts believe that the winner of this quarterfinal matchup will go on to win the tournament, and as it sits, that is the most likely outcome.
Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich
This quarterfinal has all the billing to be a European classic. Arsenal looks to make its first Champions League semifinal in 15 years and win its first UCL in club history. On the other side, Bayern Munich looks to overcome the notorious “Harry Kane curse.” It seems like the hex has followed the 30-year-old striker, as this season will likely be the first time in 13 years that Bayern will not win the Bundesliga. However, this campaign has been anything but disappointing. The Bavarians are seven points above fourth-place Borussia Dortmund on the Bundesliga table, meaning that, barring anything significant, the German top flights will more than likely qualify for the UCL in the next go around. However, the club’s primary interest is being crowned champions of Europe. While Bayern has historically performed well on occasions against the Gunners, the club isn’t taking this matchup lightly.
“[Arsenal] play[s] modern, attractive football and it’s not for nothing that they are one of the top contenders for the Premier League title,” striker Thomas Müller mentioned ahead of the first leg. “This is no longer the Arsenal that Bayern have always comfortably dispatched in the past. It will be a big task, but I’m convinced that we will beat the Gunners.”
Despite the great season Arsenal is having, it has not come without its challenges. They narrowly hung on in the round of 16, having to go to a penalty shootout with FC Porto after neither side could break the 1-1 deadlock. Star right winger Bukayo Saka is a big question heading into this one. The reigning England Men’s Player of the Year has missed extended time with a hamstring injury, although the club is hopeful Saka will return in time for their April 9th fixture at home.
Even if Saka is not back up to speed, the Gunners can lean on midfielder Martin Odegaard who has been spectacular. Manager Mikel Arteta has shuffled the starting lineup around numerous times this season, with Saka out, Declan Rice, Gabriel Jesus, Jorginho and Jakub Kiiowr all being dropped to the bench. However, Odegaard’s performance and leadership are significant reasons why they are undefeated in 10 domestic matches this year.
Not only will fans be treated to these massive fixtures, but there is much excitement surrounding the tournament in general. PSG matches up with FC Barcelona, and there is a possibility that PSG will face Real Madrid in the UCL Final, which is the same club that Kylian Mbappé will more than likely play for next season. Much can happen from now until the second leg, with tournament favorites Inter Milan finding that out the hard way. All that is certain up to this point is that fans will be treated to compelling football this next week, and all we can do is watch and speculate.