Former Manchester United winger Andrei Kanchelskis has named the teams he believes sit highest in the pecking order for the current Champions League draw. He cited a select group of European powers that have shown consistent form and depth this season, signaling where the early confidence is concentrated. His assessment, relayed through Sport Express, centered on a handful of clubs that fans and analysts alike consider likeliest to go deep into the knockout rounds.
According to Kanchelskis, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Napoli stand out from the pack as the teams with the strongest chances. The veteran winger pointed to the balance of attacking threat, defensive organization, and executive decision making within these squads as key reasons behind their elevated prospects. He noted that the presence of world-class talent across each lineup, combined with proven experience in high-pressure European nights, creates a backdrop for success that others may struggle to match. This view aligns with the broader sentiment circulating among observers who see these clubs as formidable contenders capable of adapting to the varied challenges of a continental campaign.
Looking ahead to the quarters, Real Madrid is slated to meet Chelsea in a cross-channel clash that promises intensity, with both sides having recently showcased resilience and a history of big performances in Europe. Benfica, traditionally a strong name in European competitions, is set to confront Inter Milan, a pairing expected to deliver tactical battles in both legs. Manchester City will be tested by Bayern Munich, a fixture that already carries a storied history and a high level of technical play. The Milan derby stakes rise again as AC Milan faces Napoli, a match loaded with strategic intrigue and the weight of a long-standing rivalry on the calendar.
As for the schedule, the first legs are programmed for mid-April, with the initial contests anticipated on the 11th and 12th of the month. The higher-seeded teams will enjoy home advantage for the opener, a practical advantage that can influence tempo, crowd energy, and pressure from the outset. The return legs follow a week later, on the 18th and 19th, offering teams a chance to reinforce game plans, adjust tactics, and leverage evolving form as the knockout phase unfolds. The cadence of these dates matters for squads managing fatigue and recovery across a dense season, and coaches will be weighing rotation with the need to maximize result density for the next rounds.
Valery Masalitin, who previously wore the CSKA Moscow jersey and is well regarded for his insights into European competition, shared expectations around the quarterfinals. He highlighted Milan against Napoli as a blockbuster match that could hinge on midfield battles, pressing intensity, and the capacity of each side to convert chances when it matters most. Masalitin’s perspective reflects a broader belief in the quarterfinal stage as a proving ground where tactical nuance, psychological edge, and depth of squad rotation often determine which teams advance and which ones miss the mark. The confluence of veteran leadership and rising stars across the participating teams makes the quarterfinals a compelling chapter in this season’s Champions League narrative. For fans and analysts, the debate continues over which clubs can sustain momentum and which squads may encounter an inflection point as the competition intensifies and the journey toward the coveted trophy enters a more unforgiving phase. Attribution for these viewpoints is noted to Sport Express, which has long served as a reliable conduit for expert commentary on European football.