Champions League, Quarter-finals - Tuesday Staff Picks

theScore’s footy staff peer into their crystal balls and make predictions for the first leg of each quarterfinal tie. Beginning with Tuesday’s matches, Gordon Brunt, Carlo Campo and Gianluca Nesci tell you what they think will happen on the pitch, and why.

Juventus vs. AS Monaco (Juventus Stadium, Italy)

Gordon Brunt: The near-perfect home record at Juventus Stadium represents a monumental task for Monaco. The French club’s mentality, however, will likely be different than the attitude Monaco players took into London when they beat Arsenal. The visitors are renowned for their superb defence, and Tuesday should be no different as they attempt to contain a Juventus side that’s proven to be almost unbeatable in Turin. In the end, Juventus will come away with the win and a massive advantage when they travel to Monaco.

Score: Juventus 2, AS Monaco 0

Carlo Campo: Monaco have established themselves as the most defensively-disciplined side in the Champions League, relying on their backline's abilities to reach the quarterfinals of the competition. Will Juventus be the club that's finally able to carve them open? Well, if Carlos Tevez's six goals are any indication, they very could be, particularly if Massimiliano Allegri's side put in another performance like the one they did at Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16.

Score: Juventus 2, Monaco 1

Gianluca Nesci: This tie obviously lacks the name recognition of its quarterfinal counterparts, but it offers an intriguing tactical battle that should see Juventus hammer away at the tournament's stingiest defense for much of the match. I don't expect Monaco to be cut open like they were against Arsenal, but to that point, the stunning form of Carlos Tevez - who comes into the match well rested - means the Italian side shouldn't need a plethora of opportunities to find the net like the Gunners did. In the other direction, Juventus showed that they can suffocate talented attackers who excel on the break when they strangled the life out of Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16, and as such, Monaco's lightning-quick counter shouldn't get much room to operate on Tuesday in Turin.

Score: Juventus 1, Monaco 0

Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid (Vicente Calderon, Spain)

Gordon Brunt: Atletico will be full of confidence heading to yet another Madrid derby in the Champions League. Their 4-0 triumph in February will give players the belief that coming away with a positive result Tuesday is possible again. Yet the Real Madrid team they're up against won’t compare to the one left embarrassed two months ago, and will require a flawless defensive scheme if Atletico has a hope of entering the second leg with an advantage.

Score: Atletico Madrid 2, Real Madrid 2

Carlo Campo: Real Madrid have failed to defeat Atletico Madrid in any of their six meetings this season, and it's hard to imagine a scenario in which Carlo Ancelotti's side emerge with a win in the first leg. Atleti limited Real Madrid to only four goals in those six fixtures, none of which came at the Vicente Calderon. Therefore, it seems fair to assume that Atleti will once again keep their crosstown rivals off the scoresheet on Tuesday.

Score: Atletico Madrid 2, Real Madrid 0

Gianluca Nesci: Expect fireworks. Crunching tackles, some of the best attacking talent on the planet and one of, if not the very best, settings European football has to offer in the form of the Vicente Calderon. Atletico has dominated this fierce city rivalry all season, winning four times and drawing twice, and I expect their unbeaten run to continue - though not in the way manager Diego Simeone would like. Real Madrid is too good, and too healthy after the return of many key starters, to get blown out of the water like they did at this venue in February.

Score: Atletico Madrid 1, Real Madrid 1