The two giants of English football, Liverpool and Manchester City, open the quarterfinals of the Champions League on Tuesday (9:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. GMT), with a duel against Benfica for the Reds, and above all an opposition of styles between the Citizens and Atletico Madrid.
Pep Guardiola’s players, in resolutely offensive football, will have to face Diego Simeone’s Colchoneros, adept at defensive rigor and pragmatism.
Atlético’s last European match was precisely a victory in Manchester, against neighboring United (1-0, after a draw in the first leg), when the Citizens did not have to force their talent to dispose of Sporting Portugal in the round of 16 (5 -0 and 0-0).
At the same time, Liverpool, which disputes Manchester City for the Premier League title and the FA Cup, will go to Lisbon to challenge Benfica, accustomed to the big European events.
Jürgen Klopp’s team is in good shape in the championship (ten wins in a row), but their last Champions League game was a frustrating but inconsequential loss at home to Inter Milan in the previous round (1-0, after a 2-0 victory in Milan).
This first leg at the Stadio de la Luz could be dangerous for the Reds, who are looking for a fabulous ‘quadruplet’ after having already won the League Cup, but face a physically tough schedule.
