The18's Champions League Quarterfinal Predictions

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 

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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 

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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

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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

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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.