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02nd Apr 2014

JOE previews both of tonight’s gargantuan Champions League matches

It's the second match night of the Champions League quarter-finals and we have two potentially epic looking games to look forward to later.

Eric Lalor

It’s the second match night of the Champions League quarter-finals and we have two potentially epic looking games to look forward to.

Paris Saint-Germain v Chelsea

Two of the wealthiest clubs on the planet go toe-to-toe in Paris tonight and we think it’s a little bit too close to call.

The Parc des Princes has seen many huge battles over the years in both soccer and rugby and tonight will be another one. PSG are racing away with Ligue 1, holding a massive 13 point lead over their nearest challengers Monaco. Chelsea on the other hand are involved in a three way battle for the Premier League with Liverpool and Manchester City despite Jose Mourinho telling anyone who will listen that they are now out of the race.

Paris Saint-Germain FC v AS Saint-Etienne - Ligue 1

Both teams are blessed with genuine world class talent.

PSG have the inimitable Zlatan Ibrahimovic (pic above) leading the line and much will depend on how Chelsea manage to contain the Swedish striker. If Zlatan is in the mood, it could be a very long night for the London club.

Chelsea of course have their own threats, mainly in the shape of Eden Hazard and Oscar. Hazard has been one of the players of the season in the Premier League. A cheeky rumour about an imminent bid for Hazard from PSG was met with disdain from Mourinho. He claimed it would cost the Parisians £300m to prise both Hazard and Oscar from Chelsea.

Chelsea v Arsenal - Premier League

Mourinho is a master tactician and will relish the prospect of a difficult looking tie in Paris. Laurent Blanc will have to be prepared for anything tonight. However, with players like Ibrahimovic, Cavani, Lucas Moura, Lavezzi and Cabaye, we feel PSG will shade tonight’s encounter. We are going for a 2-1 win for PSG, which is still a good result for Chelsea.

Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund

Real Madrid are viewed by many as the big threat to Bayern Munich’s chances of retaining their Champions League crown.

It might seem a bit misguided given that they are now trailing the other Spanish quarter-finalists, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in La Liga. There is no doubt that Madrid value this competition more than any other and the club that has won it more than any other will dream of lifting the trophy once again in Lisbon in May.

Real Madrid CF v Sevilla FC - La Liga

They certainly have the players to do it. Ronaldo and Bale (both pictured above) are the two most expensive signings in the history of the game and both look worth every cent. Capable of the sublime, Ronaldo and Bale are a constant goal threat along with Karim Benzema who is playing the best football of his career.

Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund side were the bridesmaids last season with Bayern sweeping all before them. The club from north of the Rhine won many admirers and were part of a thrilling final against Bayern at Wembley, which they lost to a late Arjen Robben goal. This season has been more of a struggle for the club and have been unlucky with a lot of injuries to key players like Gundogan, Subotic and Bandowski. Add to that the suspension of Bayern bound Lewandowski and Dortmund have it all to do in the Bernabeu tonight.

Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid - UEFA Champions League Semi Final: First Leg

The two sides met at the semi-final stage last season and Lewandowski almost single-handedly destroyed Madrid (pic above), but tonight we see only one winner. It’s Real Madrid to win by 2-0.