2014/15 Champions League: Quarter-finals predictions - Who will go through?

The draw for the quarter-finals of the 2014/15 UEFA Champions League has put forward some mouth-watering clashes. The pick of the games has to be the Madrid derby as Atletico Madrid take on Real Madrid in a repeat of last year's final. The two sides that knocked the Barclays Premier League's top two in the Round of 16 will face off as Paris Saint-Germain take on Barcelona. While Juventus will be wary of not making the same mistake Arsenal did by taking AS Monaco lightly, Bayern Munich will be relatively pleased with their clash against Porto. Will there be any upsets? Read on to find out about where the ties will be won and lost, and who is most likely to progress to the semi-finals.

#1 Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid

Real Madrid have failed to beat Atletico in all competitions so far this season

When the draw for the quarter-finals was taking place, the last team that Real Madrid would have wanted is Atlético. Real are without a win in their six encounters against their Madrid neighbours this season and lost their most recent duel 4-0 in a game in which they were second-best from start to finish.

Diego Simeone's side seem to have found a way to tame the all-conquering Real beast. Carlo Ancelotti's side lost to Schalke at home and only narrowly made it to the last-eight. Although the return of Luka Modric will help, it is unlikely to be enough to stop their slide if the defence fails to turn out.

With neither side particularly wanting to go all guns blazing in the first leg, the game will suit Atlético who will do enough to win a tight game by a solitary goal. The second leg at the Bernabeu will mostly be a winner takes all battle to the end. But given Real Madrid's lack of defensive discipline, expect Simeone's side to take full advantage like they did in February to score enough to go through on away goals.

Prediction: Home wins in both legs, but the reigning champions to be knocked out on away goals.

Aggregate Score Prediction: Atlético Madrid 4-4 Real Madrid

#2 Juventus vs AS Monaco

Juventus’ Carlos Tevez (L) and Monaco’s Dimitar Berbatov (R) will be key figures in this clash

Arguably the least glamorous of all the ties, there is a very good chance that this ends up being the fixture with the least goals in the quarters. Still, this is a clash between two teams who are doing well in their respective leagues. While the Bianconeri are running away with the Serie A title, Monaco are still in with an outside chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

This game will be won and lost in central midfield as Monaco’s robust and energetic duo of Geoffrey Kondogbia and Jeremy Toulalan take on Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal. Even without the injured Paul Pogba, who was ruled out of both legs, the Italian side have enough strength in depth – both in midfield and especially up front with Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez – to reach the semi-finals for the first time since the 2002/03 season where they reached the final.

After demolishing Arsenal on the counter in their last away game, Monaco will travel to Turin with high hopes. But this Juventus side are much shrewder and defensively disciplined than the Gunners. If they can take advantage of their former player Patrice Evra’s lack of pace, then they have a chance. But the Italian champions, even without Pogba, are a well-oiled machine who will prove to be too much for the Monagesques.

Prediction: Juventus to win the home leg by a narrow margin before securing a draw in the second leg that will see them through.

Aggregate Score Prediction: Juventus 2-1 Monaco

#3 Porto vs Bayern Munich

Thomas Muller (L) and Jackson Martinez (R) – Will they have the final say?

After easing past Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayern Munich will be pleased to have been granted another relatively straightforward tie against Porto. Although the Portuguese side have the meanest defence in Europe and are the only unbeaten side still in the Champions League, they are still a much better side to face comparatively.

The German champions have an outstanding record against Portuguese sides having lost only once in 22 matches to Portuguese opponents. That loss was in the 1987 European Cup final and came courtesy of an Algerian forward. And it is another Algerian they will have to be wary of, as winger Yacine Brahimi along with Jackson Martínez have helped Porto get this far in the competition.

Although Porto are a good side, Bayern under Pep Guardiola are on another level and look set to go through to their fourth successive Champions League semi-final with a win in both legs. While the games will not be as easy as their last home game against Shakhtar, they will still have too much for Porto, who have done well to have made it to the quarters.

Prediction: Bayern to win both legs and go through convincingly, but not comfortably in terms of score line.

Aggregate Score Prediction: Porto 1-3 Bayern Munich

#4 Paris Saint-Germain vs Barcelona

PSG and Barcelona were in the same group this season with the Catalan club beating the French club to the top spot

After beating one of the tournament favourites in Chelsea, PSG would have wanted an easier tie, not one against one of Europe's in-form teams. Although the reigning French champions did beat Barcelona at home in the group stages, taking on the current Barca side is a completely different proposition altogether – especially without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who will be suspended for the first leg of the quarter-final.

The belief in the PSG camp couldn't be higher. But the absence of their main striker coupled with their lack of strength in depth might hinder their progress as they have a French Cup semi-final and the League Cup final in the week before the first leg. The Catalan club, on the other hand, seem to be enjoying their football and playing with a freedom that was evident in their previous game against PSG which they won 3-1 in December.

If the French club are to have any chance, they need to win the first leg at home by at least one or two clear goals and not let Barcelona score. But that looks unlikely and that will make their task at Camp Nou even harder. They might just exit the competition at the quarter-final stage for the third successive season.

Prediction: PSG and Barcelona to both win their home legs, but the Catalans to go through thanks to a bigger win margin at home.

Aggregate Score Prediction: PSG 3-4 Barcelona