So, my view has not changed remotely from a week ago. I still feel only three teams are capable of winning the Champions League this season and all were involved in their second leg last-16 ties last week.
Yet just imagine Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid are paired together in one half of Friday’s draw, just as they were 12 months ago.
That would mean a chance for any of the supposed second tier teams left in the competition – and that is not meant disrespectfully because they are remain in the tournament on merit – to plot a path to the Wembley showpiece in early June.
And just like Inter Milan did last season when they made it all the way to the final where they were narrowly defeated, a favourable draw can help in any cup competition and make the SBOTOP Champions League 2024 betting odds ever changing.
So why can’t Arsenal, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, or Atletico Madrid go all the way?
Well, certainly, they all enjoyed Champions League 2024 highlights of their own this week.
There was no shortage of drama either because, after no Champions League penalty shoot-outs in almost eight years, we got two on successive evenings.
Inter and Atletico Madrid were involved in a real tussle with the runaway Serie A leaders going 2-0 up in the tie though Federico Dimarco’s 33rd minute opener.
That gave them a real advantage but Atletico Madrid’s all-time top scorer, Antoine Griezmann, quickly levelled matters, albeit with a shot which took two deflections en route.
With time running out, Memphis Depay’s cool finish with three minutes of normal time remaining forced extra-time which was far more cagey than the previous enthralling 90.
Inter failed to covert three of their spot-kicks as Atletico won 3-2 in the shoot-out to ensure three of the final eight teams are from Spain.
Barca have not won the tournament since 2015, and there will be no better way for club legend Xavi to end his fairly brief managerial tenure than by lifting the big one, just like he did as a player on four occasions – the last time as captain.
The team he has assembled certainly were too strong for Italian champions Napoli.
Two goals in three minutes set them on their way at Estadi de Montjuic (the Nou Camp is currently in the midst of a major renovation with the club not ready to return until November this year).
Fermin Lopez and Joao Cancelo put them in the ascendancy, although the Catalans were made to work hard by the Italian side who pulled one back through Amir Rrahmani.
A back-and-forth encounter was eventually settled by Poland striker Robert Lewandowski’s close-range finish seven minutes from time.
The class of 2024 may not be vintage but there’s enough talents in the Barca ranks to give any team a real test.
Then there’s Arsenal who have reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010 after beating FC Porto in a penalty shootout in North London.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, the Gunners drew level when Leandro Trossard put the Gunners ahead four minutes before the interval with a smooth finish following excellent work by captain Martin Odegaard.
Borussia Dortmund are arguably the weakest side left in the competition but still have some real quality in their locker.
Jadon Sancho, on loan from Manchester United, and Marco Reus – the man who replaced him 15 minutes from time – scored the goals to seal a 3-1 aggregate victory over PSV Eindhoven.
Peter Bosz’s men, who are 10 points clear at the top of the Dutch league and yet to lose a league game all season, had chances of their own but they were squandered and Dortmund took full advantage.
Despite all of that, I suspect the Germans will be the first choice pick for other sides when it comes to potential quarter final opponents.
And so, onto Friday’s draw when the road to Wembley will become clearer. Who’s your money on?
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