It will be Croatians galore in the Champions League quarterfinals! Of the eight remaining clubs in the competition, six have a Croatian on the roster.
The draw came out Friday afternoon and this is how the brackets shaped up.
It will be Luka Modrić and Real Madrid vs. former employee Mateo Kovačić (Chelsea) in the first Croatia v. Croatia matchup. Whoever progresses will play the winner of the Bayern Munich/Man City tie int he semifinals. Advantage: Real Madrid.
The left side of the draw is the far more difficult part of the bracket to get through. In the other quarterfinal, Josip Stanišić and Bayern Munich will face Champions League favorites Manchester City. Stanišić has already learned how to put Mbappe in his pocket. What about Haaland? Advantage: coin flip.
Marcelo Brozović and Inter Milan were given the perfect draw is being paired with the weakest team left, Benfica. Petar Musa is expected to come off the bench late (if at all) in both legs of this tie. Advantage: Inter Milan.
Finally, Ante Rebić and AC Milan will face Italian leaders and soon-to-be crowned Serie A champions, Napoli. Rebić has done absolutely nothing for Milan this season. Except more in that category. Napoli has been hot and eating up all of their Italian competition. Advantage: Napoli.
Only Manchester City and Napoli don’t have Croatians on their roster, and remember, a Croatian has lifted the Champions League trophy 10 seasons in a row. Will 2023 make it 11?
If City and Napoli fall out, a Croatian is guaranteed to lift the CL trophy once again.
Croatians are rooting hard for Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the quarterfinal round. To keep the streak alive, City needs to be eliminated ASAP or the streak will be in danger at ending at 10 years.
I’m disappointed to see modric and kovacic square off so early. croat on croat crime never a good thing. Particularly given that modric, kovacic, and brozovic are the most significant croats on their respective teams. The others are fringe players.
Does last year’s world cup count toward this year’s balon d’ore? If so….if modric were to string together 3rd place world cup, champions league, and nations league title….does he have a shot again?
or did messi win the world cup and it’s over?
Agree with everything, and I also think that’s a good question. Realistically, I think the “they” will do will do whatever it takes to give Messi the award.
Ya it’s messis just every favourable call in Qatar
If we got lucky and had Holland take them out in pks… most likely it was out tourney
Jebi ga
Luka is Mr CL…. Messi is applauded for his skill and God like following But walks around for psg
But Luka is adored by fans of all now cause that hard working humbleness who constantly shows up in big games and is the perpetual david against Goliath
Do we still dare say doesn’t get the respect he deserves in talk with all time greatest ever talk
He wasn’t bottle fed GH by Barcelona He at soup playing in Bosnia
No comparison;)
But all good, he will hang out for some time more
There is no reason he can’t play at euro!
Has to be Real Modrić in the CL.
Real Madrid is for La Liga.
Real Modrić is for CL!!
Although .. does Kovačić .. dare I say .. take out the master on his way to fulfilling his destiny ?
He has been playing his best football as of late and wears the captain’s arm band for this mini Chelsea revival.
I would like for Inter Milan to make the finals, but my mind is saying Napoli on this one from that side of the bracket. Although Benfica could surprise us. I don’t see AC Milan going anywhere here.
I really won’t Modric to take this one it would solidify him as one of the best midfielders along with Kroos. This would.goce them a three way tie for the most Champions League trophies won by a player. Would go a long way for his legacy. If not Modric then Broz is my next pick ( although I have been wanting to see him win won for some time) as he hasn’t won a Champions League yet.
I really want Modric to win this won I mean***
Most of us here support teams because of their Croatian player(s), and we all want a fellow Hrvat to lift the CL trophy again. Based on the remaining teams, which Croatian player would you prefer to win (ranked in order). I would choose:
1.Modrić
2.Kovačić
3.Brozović
4.Stanišić
5.Musa
6.Rebić
Stanišić seems to be on fire, and he’s part of our future.
Would be nice to see him take that next step in his development and continue his good streak of Champions League play.
I’d pick him because he’s 22 and could end up being a bigger piece to our future than we all thought he would be.
I actually think if it’s not Modrić again then if
Bayern can stop the Norwegian it’s all theirs
Would love if stanisic was part of that
For sure haland is better now in city and has better support
However Bayern knows him very very well
Would be a revenge pay back for a German embarrassment last round
And if somehow stanisic played a big role
This is stanisic coming out party
Lock him down with gvardiol as our starting cbs going forward
If we play four at the back with sosa and JJ
I don’t think anyone here could argue much different unless it was a different tactic dalic went with
I agree stanisic may be a piece we only sort of half counted
At 22 and being raised by Bayern this may be a close to world class piece that we will certainly be glad his family raised him right and knew where to play
There will be growing pains with Gvardiol and stanisic but stanisic may be that smart mobile yet responsible guy Gvardiol needs to be his savage forward self
We shall see at the end of the season how it all plays out
I was cheering for Dortmund but thought Chelsea was definitely the better team in that tie. • These are some lopsided semifinal brackets. Betting odds now have Napoli in third in terms of favourites to win it all.