Champions League, Quarter-finals - Wednesday Staff Picks

theScore’s footy staff peer into their crystal balls and make predictions for the second leg of each quarter-final tie. Looking towards Wednesday’s matches, Gordon Brunt, Carlo Campo and Gianluca Nesci tell you what they think will happen on the pitch, and why.

Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid (Santiago Bernabeu, Spain)

Gordon Brunt: It seems like a safe bet that Wednesday's Madrid derby will offer more entertainment than the scoreless draw that took place at the Vicente Calderon. Real Madrid, despite a flurry of injuries, will be boosted by the thunderous roar of the Santiago Bernabeu and will secure a place in the semifinals for a fifth straight year thanks to the impact Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez will have in the attacking scheme.

Score: Real Madrid 2, Atletico Madrid 0 (Real Madrid advances)

Carlo Campo: In what will be the eighth Derbi madrileno this season, Real Madrid will finally find a way to break down Atletico Madrid's backline. Injuries to Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema are undoubtedly a massive blow for Carlo Ancelotti's side, but the stats bode well for the team. As pointed out by Sid Lowe, only 33 percent of the teams in the knockout stages who played the first leg at home advance after a scoreless draw. And on Wednesday, Real Madrid will may make Atleti pay for not finding the back of the net at the Vicente Calderon.

Score: Real Madrid 3, Atletico Madrid 1 (Real Madrid advances)

Gianluca Nesci: Bale: out. Modric: out. Benzema: out. Marcelo: suspended. Ronaldo: very much in. It would be a stretch to opine that Real Madrid's hopes of advancing rest solely on the Portuguese attacker's muscular shoulders, such is the strength of their squad despite the injuries, but if Los Blancos have any hopes of reaching the semifinals, Ronaldo needs to shine. With two goals on the day, he'll do just that.

Score: Real Madrid 2, Atletico Madrid 1 (Real Madrid advances)

AS Monaco vs. Juventus (Stade Louis II, France)

Gordon Brunt: The fact that AS Monaco haven't scored more than a goal at home since March 13 obviously doesn't bode well for the French club heading into the second leg with the defending Serie A champions. While it will only take a single goal to get them back in this matchup, the odds are against them as Juventus seem certain to secure a spot in the semifinals for the first time since 2003.

Score: Juventus 1, AS Monaco 1 (Juventus advances)

Carlo Campo: Monaco needs to score. That much is simple. But against a side like Juventus, whose defense is equally as stingy as the French club's, finding the back of the net at the Stade Louis II will continue to be a problem. Monaco haven't won in four home games, drawing the last three, and that pattern will continue as Juventus progress into the semifinals of the Champions League.

Score: Monaco 0, Juventus 0 (Juventus advances)

Gianluca Nesci: Monaco, lauded all tournament long for their incredible defensive solidity, will need to be more adventurous in attack to overturn the 1-0 defeat from last week's opening leg. As Juventus proved against Borussia Dortmund, the likes of Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata can be deadly on the break, and if they manage to find the net even once at the Stade Louis II later today, this contest will be over.

Score: Monaco 1, Juventus 1 (Juventus advances)