UEFA Champions League 2014/15 quarter-final draw: All you need to know

The draw for the 2015 Champions League quarter-finals is just a few hours away

The smoke has cleared and the quarter-finalists of the UEFA Champions League have revealed themselves. After six months of drama on and off the field, the top 32 teams from Europe have been reduced to just eight, who will battle it out for the honour of being Europe’s top club in 2015.

The quarter-final stage will kick off on 14th April but the draw is going to be decided in some hours from now and here’s all you need to know about the impending draw.

Time and Place

The draw is to be held at Nyon, Switzerland from 12 pm-1 pm Central European Time (CET) or 4:30-5:30 pm in Indian Standard Time (IST) on 20th March. The draw may be broadcast live on Ten Action from 5pm IST for Indian television audience.

Teams who qualified

Teams in UEFA Champions League 2015 quarter-finals

Team	Country & League	League Position	Round of 16 result (Agg score)
Barcelona	Spain (La Liga)	1st	Manchester City (3-1)
Real Madrid	Spain (La Liga)	2nd	Schalke (5-4)
Atletico Madrid	Spain (La Liga)	4th	Bayer Leverkusen (1-1) (3-2 on penalties)
Paris Saint-Germain	France (Ligue 1)	2nd	Chelsea (3-3) (on away goals)
AS Monaco	France (Ligue 1)	4th	Arsenal (3-3) (on away goals)
Bayern Munich	Germany (Bundesliga)	1st	Shakhtar Donetsk (7-0)
Juventus	Italy (Serie A)	1st	Borussia Dortmund (5-1)
FC Porto	Portugal (Primeira Liga)	2nd	FC Basel (5-1)

Format

There are three teams from Spain, two from France and one each from Germany, Italy and Portugal.

There are no restrictions for this round, opening up possibilities for teams from the same country to be drawn against each other. With three La Liga teams involved, the chances of an all La Liga quarter-final matchup is very high. So don’t be surprised if we have an early El Clasico on the cards.

Teams to avoid

Going by current form, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are the two teams every other club would like to avoid facing at this stage of the competition. Both teams have won their last five matches convincingly.

But with Bayern Munich enjoying a lop-sided domestic season and having to beat a comparatively weaker opposition in the Champions League Round of 16, the Bavarians have not been tested enough this season against quality opponents. So the team everyone would want to avoid will be Barcelona.

Dark Horses

While France’s hopes of winning the tournament will largely rest on Paris Saint-Germain’s shoulders, a much-unfancied AS Monaco can come out as the surprise team of this round.

Monaco might not be an example of flowing and attacking football but what they have been so far, is efficient. Arsenal and Arsene Wenger will tell you all about the pitfalls of taking the French outfit lightly.

In Dimitar Berbatov, Joao Moutinho and Geoffrey Kondogbia, Monaco possess the class, experience and unpredictability to undo any defence. While Danijel Subasic in goal is in the form of his life, Leonardo Jardim’s side might just have another upset tucked away up their sleeve.

Dream draw

While an El Clasico is always a mouth-watering prospect, based on current form a Bayern Munich versus Barcelona clash will be the most tempting for the neutrals.

The clash between two intense, attacking styles is enough to get any football fan drooling. If it isn’t, Pep Guardiola’s tactical manoeuvring to contain an unstoppable Lionel Messi will surely make for an enthralling affair.

Whichever way it does turn out, the draw surely guarantees brilliant football action when the tournament resumes next month.