3 reasons why Real Madrid are still favorites to win the UEFA Champions League

#2 Pedigree in knock-out games

Real Madrid emphatically knocked out favorites; Pep's Bayern Munich in the 2012-13 season

Real Madrid have now reached the last eight for an eighth successive year. No other team in Europe can match the pedigree of Los Blancos in the knock-out phase of the UCL. During their La Decima triumph in the 2012-13 season, they walked past the much fancied Pep Guardiola's Bayern by a dazzling scoreline of 5-0.

The reality is that the win against PSG was no fluke. The odds were stacked against them this season when they drew much fancied Paris Saint-Germain in the Last 16, but again Los Blancos responded emphatically and knocked out their much heralded opponents. Juventus have already shown the importance of experience in these knock-out games against Tottenham aswell.

The best version of Real Madrid has returned because against Paris Saint-Germain, Zinedine Zidane's men showed a version of themselves that was yet to be seen this season. Real was fast, agile, physically strong and there was evidently strong team work.

The Madrid manager also managed to silence his critics as his side eliminated one of the main contenders for the title via a tactical master-class.