Hello and welcome to the business end of the campaign — it's time for our UEFA Champions League quarterfinal predictions 2022.
According to the latest odds, Real Madrid vs. Chelsea is up in the air, but Liverpool is a massive favorite to eliminate Benfica, Bayern Munich should have no trouble with Villarreal and even Atlético is facing mission impossible against Manchester City.
Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions. You only have to go as far back as the 2019-20 tournament — when Lyon bounced City and Leipzig toppled Atlético in the quarters — to confirm that if a team's made it this far, then they can play with anyone.
Here's The18's forecast.
2022 UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal Predictions
Benfica vs. Liverpool
The18 Says (Ro16 Record: 5-2-1): Liverpool (6 votes to 0)
David Moore (Ro16 Record: 5-3)
First leg (PRT): 3-1 Liverpool
Second leg (GBR): 3-0 Liverpool
Aggregate: 6-1 Liverpool
Reason: Benfica is this year's Portuguese quarterfinal sacrifice.
Bianca Coca (Ro16 Record: 2-6)
First leg (PRT): 2-1 Liverpool
Second leg (GBR): 3-0 Liverpool
Aggregate: 5-1 Liverpool
Reason: Liverpool knows what's up this year.
Travis Yoesting (Ro16 Record: 7-1)
First leg (PRT): 2-1 Liverpool
Second leg (GBR): 2-0 Liverpool
Aggregate: 4-1 Liverpool
Reason: It was nervy for Liverpool getting past Inter Milan, but Benfica won't provide nearly as stern a test.
Luis Vidal (Ro16 Record: 6-2)
First leg (PRT): 2-0 Liverpool
Second leg (GBR): 2-0 Liverpool
Aggregate: 4-0 Liverpool
Reason: Benfica has shown they are pretty good at parking the bus against more talented squads, but Mo Salah (and Luis Díaz, too) needs to unload the frustration of being out of the World Cup on someone. And that someone will be the Portuguese team.
Connor Fleming (Ro16 Record: 5-3)
First leg (PRT): 2-1 Benfica
Second leg (GBR): 3-1 Liverpool
Aggregate: 4-3 Liverpool
Reason: England will go crazy over Darwin Núñez and a potential summer move to the Premier League after he shines in the first leg, but Benfica's defense isn't strong enough to withstand the pull of Anfield.
Mariel McCown (Ro16 Record: 6-2)
First leg (PRT): 2-1 Liverpool
Second leg (GBR): 3-1 Liverpool
Aggregate: 5-2 Liverpool
Reason: I just don't see Liverpool blowing this one.
Manchester City vs. Atlético
The18 Says: Man City (5 votes to 1)
David Moore
First leg (GBR): 2-0 Man City
Second leg (ESP): 1-0 Man Ciy
Aggregate: 3-0 Man City
Reason: Manchester City isn't Manchester United.
Bianca Coca
First leg (GBR): 2-1 Atlético
Second leg (ESP): 2-0 Atlético
Aggregate: 4-1 Atlético
Reason: Atlético is more athletic-o.
Travis Yoesting
First leg (GBR): 1-1
Second leg (ESP): 1-1
Aggregate: 2-2 (Man City advances on penalties)
Reason: At times, Manchester City can look unstoppable. At others, Pep Guardiola overthinks things and ruins it all. City will be superior but will need a shootout to advance.
Luis Vidal
First leg (GBR): 1-1
Second leg (ESP): 2-0 Man City
Aggregate: 3-1 Man City
Reason: It's gonna be tough and ugly. Simeone will make Guardiola sweat, but this is Pep's year, and he will find a way to go through this wall.
Connor Fleming
First leg (GBR): 1-0 Man City
Second leg (ESP): 1-1
Aggregate: 2-1 Man City
Reason: Simeone's pragmatic approach and Guardiola's need for control will make this a slow burn for the ages.
Mariel McCown
First leg (GBR): 3-1 Man City
Second leg (ESP): 1-1
Aggregate: 4-1 Man City
Reason: Man City will be looking to bounce back in Europe after their pitiful 0-0 draw with Sporting last time out.
Villarreal vs. Bayern Munich
The18 Says: Bayern (5 votes to 1)
David Moore
First leg (ESP): 1-1
Second leg (DEU): 3-0 Bayern
Aggregate: 4-1 Bayern
Reason: It was fun having Villarreal make it this far, but the Cinderella story ends here.
Bianca Coca
First leg (ESP): 1-0 Villarreal
Second leg (DEU): 2-1 Villarreal
Aggregate: 3-1 Villarreal
Reason: I know someone named Villarreal so shout out to him!
Travis Yoesting
First leg (ESP): 1-1
Second leg (DEU): 2-0 Bayern
Aggregate: 3-1 Bayern
Reason: Bayern is the far better team, but Unai Emery knows how to frustrate more talented squads in knock-out competitions. Ultimately, the Bavarians will prevail, but it won't be easy.
Luis Vidal
First leg (ESP): 2-1 Bayern
Second leg (DEU): 2-0 Bayern
Aggregate: 4-1 Bayern
Reason: The Yellow Submarine did a great job against Juventus, and I would love to see their small town celebrating the Champions League title, but I don't think they have enough to stop Robert Lewandowski.
Connor Fleming
First leg (ESP): 1-1
Second leg (DEU): 5-0 Bayern
Aggregate: 6-1 Bayern
Reason: Knocking out Juve was incredible, but the last round certainly looked like the limit for Villarreal. This is a step too far.
Mariel McCown
First leg (ESP): 2-0 Bayern
Second leg (DEU): 4-1 Bayern
Aggregate: 6-1 Bayern
Reason: I can see Bayern really racking up some goals in this round.
Chelsea vs. Real Madrid
The18 Says: Real Madrid (four votes to two)
David Moore
First leg (GBR): 2-1 Chelsea
Second leg (ESP): 2-0 Real Madrid
Aggregate: 3-2 Real Madrid
Reason: This all hinges on Benzy boy being healthy because he's scoring two of Madrid's three.
Bianca Coca
First leg (GBR): 2-2
Second leg (ESP): 3-2 Real Madrid
Aggregate: 5-4 Real Madrid
Reason: Benzy!
Travis Yoesting
First leg (GBR): 2-2
Second leg (ESP): 3-1 Real Madrid
Aggregate: 5-3 Real Madrid
Reason: Ignoring that deplorable showing against Barcelona on March 20, this is an impressive Real Madrid side when Karim Benzema is healthy. Chelsea is still a great team, but it hasn't clicked the way things did last year on the run to the title.
Luis Vidal
First leg (GBR): 2-1 Chelsea
Second leg (ESP): 1-0 Real Madrid
Aggregate: 2-2 (Chelsea advances on penalties)
Reason: Chelsea already knows how to beat Real Madrid in the UCL (they did it in the 2020-21 semifinals), and they are going to do it again, even with the return of Karim Benzema. It's going to be tight, and in the end, all will come down to Edouard Mendy's role in penalty kicks. Or Kepa's.
Connor Fleming
First leg (GBR): 2-1 Chelsea
Second leg (ESP): 2-2
Aggregate: 4-3 Chelsea
Reason: Two sides that've been fostering an "us against the world!" mentality of late despite all the time they spend sucking on silver spoons. Real's too reliant on Benzema while the Blues can hurt you in a number of ways.
Mariel McCown
First leg (GBR): 1-1
Second leg (ESP): 3-1 Real Madrid
Aggregate: 4-2 Real Madrid
Reason: Sadly I see Chelsea making their exit during this round, and I think Real is out to redeem themselves against all opponents.
