Champions League quarter-finalists: Bayern, Chelsea, Dortmund, Liverpool, Man. City, Paris, Porto, Real Madrid

UEFA.com profiles the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League quarter-finalists.

Manchester City vs Dortmund (6 & 14 April)

Manchester City (ENG)

UEFA ranking: 5
European Cup best: semi-finals (2016)
Last season: quarter-finals (L vs Lyon)

This season
Record: W7 D1 L0 F17 A1
Top scorer: Ferran Torres (4)
Round of 16: 4-0 vs Mönchengladbach
Group C: winners

Key player
Kevin De Bruyne’s recent injury absence did little to derail City’s relentless march towards the Premier League title, but they are still a superior side with the Belgium playmaker in their ranks. His elegance, vision and immaculate passing range – not to mention his eye for a spectacular goal – make him one of the most enjoyable players to watch in world football.

Who's in charge?
In 11 seasons as a first-team boss, Pep Guardiola has lifted eight league titles, but the last of his two managerial UEFA Champions League winners' medals came in 2011.

Why they can win it
Not only have they won 25 of their last 26 games in all competitions, City have now gone over 700 minutes without conceding a UEFA Champions League goal. Yes, tougher tests lie ahead for Guardiola and his players, but if they can maintain their defensive miserliness in the latter stages it is hard to see anyone stopping them.
Matthew Howarth, Manchester City reporter

DORTMUND (GER)

UEFA ranking: 12
European Cup best: winners (1997)
Last season: round of 16 (L vs Paris)

This season
Record: W5 D2 L1 F17 A9
Top scorer: Erling Haaland (10)
Round of 16: 5-4 vs Sevilla
Group F: winners

Key player
Dortmund’s hopes of an extended UEFA Champions League run look to be pinned on Erling Haaland – and who can blame them? With an incredible haul of 20 goals in 14 games, Haaland is vying to take over at the head of Europe’s top table. Is there any stopping him?

Who's in charge?
Edin Terzić is the new man in the hot seat after taking over in December as interim coach until the end of the season. A former BVB youth coach and analyst for Jürgen Klopp, the 38-year-old had been assistant to previous boss Lucien Favre, whose reign ended following a 5-1 home loss to Stuttgart.

Why they can win it
In a recent interview with UEFA.com, Haaland said “just call us the underdogs”. It’s a role BVB thrived in when they won the title in 1997 and again when they reached the 2013 final. Fully fit and firing on all cylinders, Haaland, Sancho and Co. can give the best in Europe real problems.
James Thorogood, Dortmund reporter

Real Madrid vs Liverpool (6 & 14 April)

Real Madrid (ESP)

UEFA ranking: 2
European Cup best: winners x13 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Last season: round of 16 (L vs Manchester City)

This season
Record: W4 D1 L2 F12 A9
Top scorer: Karim Benzema (5)
Round of 16: 4-1 vs Atalanta
Group B: winners

Key player
Real Madrid have not been eliminated from this competition with Sergio Ramos in the team since 2015 – his presence, nous and experience at the back are priceless. He so often makes the difference at both ends of the pitch.

Who's in charge?
One of the most vaunted players of his generation, Zinédine Zidane's reputation as a coach was equally high after coaching Madrid to three successive UEFA Champions League crowns. He quit in 2018, but returned for a second spell the following year.

Why they can win it
They’re Real Madrid; their name carries such weight. Madrid know how to get the job done in the UEFA Champions League. They can win spectacularly or grind out a result, depending what the circumstances dictate, and their recent European record is second to none.
Joseph Walker, Real Madrid reporter

Liverpool (ENG)

UEFA ranking: 9
European Cup best: winners x6 (1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005, 2019)
Last season: round of 16 (L vs Atlético)

This season
Record: W6 D1 L1 F14 A3
Top scorer: Mohamed Salah (5)
Round of 16: 4-0 vs Leipzig
Group D: winners

Key player
Mohamed Salah may have suffered a dip of late, but Liverpool are yet to lose a UEFA Champions League game when the Egyptian has scored (W18 D2). The Reds' fellow quarter-finalists will hope Salah doesn't hit a rich vein of form.

Who's in charge?
Jürgen Klopp led Dortmund to successive Bundesliga titles and a UEFA Champions League final before guiding the Reds to a sixth European Cup in 2019. His Liverpool stock rose higher still after delivering a first top-flight title since 1990.

Why they can win it
As Georginio Wijnaldum put it: the UEFA Champions League could “rescue” what has been a turbulent campaign for Klopp and his players. There is no sugar-coating the Reds' alarming league form, but it would be foolish to rule out a team who were the envy of Europe not so long ago.
Matthew Howarth, Liverpool reporter

Porto vs Chelsea (7 & 13 April)

PORTO (POR)

UEFA ranking: 15
European Cup best: winners x2 (1987, 2004)
Last season: did not qualify

This season
Record: W5 D1 L2 F14 A7
Top scorer: Sérgio Oliveira (5)
Round of 16: 4-4 vs Juventus (won on away goals)
Group C: runners-up

Key player
In a team of hard workers, Jesús Corona is currently Porto's most influential player. He gives balance to the midfield when it needs to defend, as well as offering attacking quality, making the difference in one-on-one situations and from crosses. In his best season for Porto, the right-sided Corona has shown that game-changing ability – whether through a crucial assist, a decisive tackle in his own area or a wonder goal.

Who's in charge?
A three-time Portuguese top-flight winner across two playing spells with Porto, former Portugal winger Sérgio Conceição has steered the club to two more championships since rejoining from Nantes in 2017.

Why they can win it
Like when they triumphed 17 years ago, Porto are clear underdogs. They were the last team from outside the big five European leagues to win this trophy and they have proved this term how competitive they can be at this level. They are consistent defensively, have the soul and passion of an inspirational coach and can be clinical up front. Barring injuries to key players, they can compete with anyone.
Carlos Machado, Porto reporter

CHELSEA (ENG)

UEFA ranking: 13
European Cup best: winners (2012)
Last season: round of 16 (L vs Bayern)

This season
Record: W6 D2 L0 F17 A2
Top scorer: Olivier Giroud (6)
Round of 16: 3-0 vs Atlético
Group E: winners

Key player
Timo Werner. Still a go-to man for Thomas Tuchel despite his issues in front of goal, and when he's good, he's very good. Deceptively quick, can pick a pass and, when his confidence is high, a good finisher. The spearhead of Chelsea's attacking efforts, either from wide or down the middle.

Who's in charge?
Appointed in January, new Blues manager Tuchel guided Paris to the UEFA Champions League final last season, as well as back-to-back Ligue 1 titles in 2019 and 2020. Before moving to France, he had success in Germany, leading Dortmund to German Cup glory in 2017.

Why they can win it
Hard – well, so far under Tuchel, impossible – to beat, Chelsea's new boss has installed steel at the back and if those attacking players click, they are a match for anyone. Are there shades of 2011/12 here? A change of manager mid-season ended with Chelsea's name on the trophy on that occasion.
Jon Phipps, Chelsea reporter

Bayern vs Paris (7 & 13 April)

BAYERN (GER)

UEFA ranking: 1
European Cup best: winners x6 (1974, 1975, 1976, 2001, 2013, 2020)
Last season: winners

This season
Record: W7 D1 L0 F24 A7
Top scorer: Robert Lewandowski (5)
Round of 16: 6-2 vs Lazio
Group A: winners

Key player
There are several players Bayern could ill afford to lose if they want to defend their crown, but none more important than Robert Lewandowski. The UEFA Men's Player of the Year was averaging more than a goal a game this season and showing no signs of slowing down before he was ruled out.

Who's in charge?
Ex-Germany assistant Hans-Dieter Flick was placed in interim charge last season and oversaw a remarkable transformation that saw them sweep away all before them, rewriting the record books as they went.

Why they can win it
Defensive issues aside, Bayern remain the team to beat. The six-time winners are finding form at the crucial stage of the season and, with key players fit and firing, there's no reason why they can't move alongside AC Milan on seven European Cups.
Jordan Maciel, Bayern reporter

Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)

UEFA ranking: 7
European Cup best: runners-up (2020)
Last season: final (L vs Bayern)

This season
Record: W5 D1 L2 F17 A7
Top scorers: Neymar, Kylian Mbappé (6)
Round of 16: 5-2 vs Barcelona
Group H: winners

Key player
Difficult to choose between the two, particularly after Neymar's vital group stage goals, but Kylian Mbappé's hat-trick in Barcelona felt like a defining performance. The France striker had gone a year without a UEFA Champions League effort until Matchday 6, yet his pace, power and hunger – in Neymar's absence – simply swept Barça aside. In that kind of condition, he can devastate any defence.

Who's in charge?
Mauricio Pochettino ended his 13-month coaching hiatus when he took the Paris reins in January. The 49-year-old Argentinian reached the UEFA Champions League final with Tottenham in 2019 but departed before the close of the calendar year – the same fate as befell previous Paris boss Thomas Tuchel in 2020.

Why they can win it
Paris seemed to saw through the psychological chains holding them back last season, and their magnificent Camp Nou display confirmed that this is a side with confidence and maturity under pressure. Add in superstar talents Mbappé and Neymar, Marco Verratti's midfield elegance, a solid central defence plus their best goalkeeper in years, and the club's first European title is a realistic target.
Chris Burke, Paris reporter