4 Champions League quarter-final matchups we're desperate to see

Friday's Champions League quarter-final draw could give viewers some familiar matchups, reignite old rivalries, and pit up-and-coming talent against each other.

Here, theScore evaluates the ties that have maximum potential to entertain:

Monaco vs. Borussia Dortmund

No quarter-final matchup has the potential to preview the future of European football like Monaco versus Borussia Dortmund.

Thomas Tuchel's Dortmund has robbed the continent's cradle in recent years, snatching up the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Raphael Guerreiro, Julian Weigl, and Alexander Isak while rearing American football saviour Christian Pulisic. Similarly, the Monegasques have established the likes of Thomas Lemar, Kylian Mbappe, and Bernardo Silva while poaching emerging talents like Djibril Sidibe, Benjamin Mendy, and Tiemoue Bakayoko.

The outcome of the budding approaches have been stunning with the two sides combining for 46 Champions League tallies. Goals, goals, goals.

Key (potential) matchup: Mbappe vs. Dembele. Arguably Europe's two most exciting teenage attackers - alongside Gabriel Jesus and Marcus Rashford - both Mbappe, 18, and Dembele, 19, have been developed in the French top flight, and combine lethal pace with a knack for timely goals to stellar results this season. - Michael J. Chandler

Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich

Both Barcelona and Bayern Munich have emotional investments in the Champions League. The Catalans - following a dramatic comeback against Paris Saint-Germain - are hoping to deliver one last honour to outgoing manager Luis Enrique, while Bayern's retiring generational greats Philipp Lahm and Xabi Alonso merit at least one more taste of European success.

Besides the fact these are two of the best remaining teams in the competition, a quarter-final between Barcelona and Bayern, who share Pep Guardiola's legacy of positive football, would give the viewing public another chance to see which supporter-run club is better.

Not to mention Carlo Ancelotti, who won El Clasico just once in four attempts. The Italian withstood intense criticism at the beginning of the campaign, but a two-legged tie against Barcelona would prove his biggest test so far.

Key (potential) matchup: Lahm vs. Lionel Messi. When Guardiola described the "most intelligent player I have ever managed," he was talking about Lahm. He escapes most of the limelight, but he is such a versatile player - capable of playing at left-back or deep in midfield - that it is a shame he has not been celebrated more. In Messi, the Bayern captain would face the man he helped contain in the 2014 World Cup final, and also get one more chance to reap some belated plaudits. - Anthony Lopopolo

Juventus vs. Real Madrid

Since he first stepped foot in Turin, Juventus bench boss Massimiliano Allegri has spoken at length of his desire to see the Serie A juggernaut mentioned in the same breath as the clubs that consume rarefied air from their lofty peak atop the European game - namely, the in-demand tactician wants Juve to compete directly with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid.

The Bianconeri have the tools to transform Europe's dominant triumvirate into a quartet. What better way to prove that than by sending the reigning Champions League kingpin packing?

And then, of course, there's the intrigue that comes with the possibility that a pair of attackers could haunt their former sides; the immutable law of the ex provides an additional bit of spice to an already tasty encounter.

Though his waistline is expanding - and his hairline deteriorating - Gonzalo Higuain remains every bit as prolific as the slimmer, more follicly fortunate version of himself that scored 107 goals for Real Madrid over six-and-a-half seasons. The Argentine endured a checkered relationship with Madrid supporters, and, combined with his recent comments haranguing them for their tendency to berate their own players during dips in form, Higuain waltzing into the Bernabeu would surely be met with some vitriol.

Alvaro Morata going the other way, meanwhile, would be cause for a far different response. The burgeoning Spaniard, who spent two successful seasons in Turin while on loan from the Madrid-based giant, is beloved by Bianconeri fans. Were he to score a crucial goal - like he did for Juventus, against Madrid, no less, in the 2014-15 semi-final - would he celebrate?

Key (potential) matchup: Paulo Dybala vs. Casemiro. The little left-footed magician has freedom to roam playing behind Higuain in Allegri's newfound 4-2-3-1 system, and his tendency to drop deeper and initiate play would put him on a collision course with Casemiro, who is now firmly among the most reliable defensive midfielders in Europe. - Gianluca Nesci

Leicester City vs. Atletico Madrid

For a story as simultaneously tragic and romantic as Leicester City's, it makes sense that it's being penned by a bloke called Shakespeare.

The Foxes' new gaffer Craig, initially depicted by the press as a Claudius-from-Hamlet figure rather than an affable fairy from A Midsummer Night's Dream, has written an epitaph to the cruelly booted Claudio Ranieri's story by unexpectedly guiding the Foxes into the quarter-finals.

The Birmingham native has revived the Italian's old designs - namely defending in uncompromising fashion before hoofing it ahead of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez - and it would be fascinating to see this face Atletico Madrid.

Diego Simeone's lot is similarly famed for its stout defending and counter-attack, but the returns to form for Vardy and Mahrez mean Leicester can once again test the tightest of backlines. This would be an encapsulating tactical tussle.

Key (potential) matchup: Mahrez vs. Filipe Luis. Leicester's artistic Algerian is back to his fleet-footed best, and would be given the opportunity to pit his talents against one of the great left-backs in the game. Can the Brazilian's remarkable concentration and positional sense temper the unpredictability of Mahrez? - Daniel Rouse

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)