Predicting the 2013-14 Champions League Quarterfinalists

The 2012-13 Champions League season was a magnificent one.

Bayern Munich played some of the most physically dominant and explosive football that we've seen in continental competition in recent years, while fellow finalists Borussia Dortmund thrilled with their breathtaking speed and counter-attacking precision.

Both Real Madrid and Barcelona looked like potential champions until they ran into the German twosome, and Manchester United fans still question their second-round defeat to Los Blancos.

Elsewhere, Paris Saint-Germain enjoyed a run to the quarter-finals under Carlo Ancelotti, while Malaga did likewise under Manuel Pellegrini. Fatih Terim's Galatasaray also reached the last eight, where Real Madrid proved a step too far and Mircea Lucescu's Shakhtar Donetsk performed excellently pre-Christmas.

All-in-all it was a very interesting campaign, and the 2013-14 campaign promises similar quality, excitement and storylines.

With that in mind, here's a look at predicting next season's Champions League quarterfinalists:

A Few Exclusions

Only eight sides can make the last eight (obviously). And with that being said, supporters of a few clubs will be unhappy to find their side missing out on a place in the quarter-final stage.

Thus, here's my selections who with a kind draw are certainly contenders for the last eight, but if all goes to plan, may not quite make it:

Paris Saint-Germain

The departure of Carlo Ancelotti and subsequent hiring of Laurent Blanc is something which shouldn't be underestimated, and after reaching the quarter-finals last season, PSG may find a similar run somewhat harder in 2013-14.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will unquestionably be key, as will Brazilian winger Lucas Moura. Functional rather than fluid last season, it'll be interesting to see what former France and Bordeaux boss Blanc has in store for Les Parisiens next season.

Shakhtar Donetsk

Mircea Lucescu's side were touted by some as dark horses for the competition last year, particularly after escaping the group stage. Unfortunately, the Ukrainian outfit came unstuck against Borussia Dortmund in the second round.

The losses of Fernandinho and Henrikh Mkhitaryan take some of the craft and class away from their midfield engine room, but their replacements, the Brazilian youngsters Fernando and Wellington Nem, are both exciting prospects. Expect them to play good football once more, but for the last 16 to be their zenith.

AC Milan

A good second half to the season and two goals in the final five minutes of their last game at relegated Siena secured the Rossoneri their place in the Champions League at the expense of Vincenzo Montella's wonderful Fiorentina side.

Last season saw Max Allegri's side reach the last 16, before defeat in the Nou Camp ended their European hopes. With Mario Balotelli now maturing into a fearsome No. 9, they'll have hopes of going one further, but since his arrival there has been an overreliance on the Italy forward, while Stephan El Shaarawy's dip in form is a worry.

Napoli

As he showed during his time at Liverpool and as he proved once again with Chelsea in the Europa League, Rafa Benitez knows how to compete in European competition, regardless of the tools at his disposal.

He arrives in Naples with a strong squad at his disposal, and although all signs point to Edinson Cavani's eventual exit, the talent in the squad—Marek Hamsik, Dries Mertens, Juan Zuniga, Lorenzo Insigne—is certainly something the Spaniard can build upon. A second-round place certainly isn't beyond their grasp.

Manchester United

Beaten in somewhat controversial fashion by Real Madrid in last year's second round, United fans will no doubt be unhappy at their ranking here.

However, the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson and much of his first-team coaching staff cannot be understated, and David Moyes, no matter how you slice it, is inexperienced at the top European level.

Additionally, the midfield still has some serious question marks over it, Wayne Rooney's future is still somewhat up in the air, and the likes of Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra aren't getting any younger.

A good draw will see them reach the quarter-finals, but if they run into one of the "big boys" again, they may well end on the wrong side of the scoreline.

1. Bayern Munich

The best side in Europe last season, the Bavarians will no doubt be there or thereabouts when the trophy is handed out next May.

Jupp Heynckes may have departed on the back of an unprecedented treble success, but the arrival of Pep Guardiola is no doubt a coup, and he'll be looking to continue Heynckes' success.

Last season's all-conquering squad remains intact and has indeed been strengthened with the arrivals of Borussia Dortmund star Mario Gotze and 22-year-old defender Jan Kirchoff.

The powerful midfield duo of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez is as good as you'll find in Europe, while the wealth of attacking options at Guardiola's disposal means that they can beat an opponent in a variety of ways.

Finalists in three of the last four seasons, Die Roten are very much the team to beat in 2013-14.

2. Barcelona

Perhaps some of the aura of Barcelona was lost last season: the difficulties against AC Milan and PSG respectively and then the 7-0 hammering at the hands of Bayern at the semi-final stage.

However, six successive semi-finals and two European Cup wins in the past six years isn't something that should be dismissed, especially given their success in La Liga last season, which saw them reach 100 points and win the title by 15 points.

With Lionel Messi amongst their ranks, Barcelona will always have a chance, but the arrival of Neymar, who thrilled at the Confederations Cup, adds another attacking weapon to their arsenal.

Hopefully, Tito Vilanova's health issues are behind him and he'll be able to take complete charge and impart more of his own will during his second year at the helm.

The defence still needs strengthening, while Sergio Busquets was asked to do too much defensive work last season—he was perhaps the only individual to come out of the Bayern hammering with any modicum of credit.

But if they can find their rhythm, they'll be challengers for Europe's top honour once again.

3. Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho has gone and Carlo Ancelotti, with three Champions League finals to his name as a manager, has arrived to lead the Madridistas in 2013-14.

The Bernabeu is expected to be a much happier place following the Portuguese manager's departure, and Ancelotti has proven himself a tactically astute manager on Europe's main stage.

Last season's Champions League top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo will once again be crucial, while Mesut Ozil and Isco will be charged with creating opportunities, likewise the Argentine winger Angel Di Maria. Spain captain Iker Casillas, sidelined by Mourinho, will likely return as undisputed No. 1 ahead of Diego Lopez.

Somewhat shocked in their semi-final first leg by the intensity of Borussia Dortmund, Madrid will no doubt be determined to go further next season.

The pursuit of La Decima still burns bright, and they'll be gunning for a European title.

4. Borussia Dortmund

Jurgen Klopp's effervescent outfit played some of Europe's most thrilling football on their way to last season's final, where they pushed Bundesliga rivals Bayern all the way, only to fall slightly short at the last.

A tumultuous summer has seen Mario Gotze depart for Bavaria, but Robert Lewandowski (so far) remains, heading into the final year of his contract at the Westfalenstadion.

Nonetheless, with the arrivals of defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos and forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Saint-Etienne, as well as the signing of midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, BVB perhaps look slightly stronger on paper.

However, the element of surprise which worked so much in their favour last season will no longer be theirs, and opponents will be ready for Klopp's pressing machine. 

Nevertheless, a quarter-final place should be the least of their European targets.

5. Chelsea

After the dismal defence of their first European Cup success in the first half of the season under Roberto Di Matteo, the Blues did themselves justice with their Europa League victory in the second half of the campaign under Rafa Benitez.

Now, the returning Jose Mourinho will be looking to take the west London club deep into the 2013-14 Champions League, having led Real Madrid to three successive semi-final places.

Last season's squad has been further reinforced with the signing of young Dutchman Marco van Ginkel and German attacker Andre Schuerrle, while Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku both return to the first-team fold after loan moves elsewhere.

The Blues' fans await the new season in anticipation of more good times under the most successful manager in their history.

With their wide array of attacking talent—most notably Messrs. Hazard and Mata—aligned to Mourinho's great pragmatism, they'll be expected to put the ghost of last season's Champions League campaign firmly to rest.

6. Juventus

Antonio Conte's Juventus looked a formidable outfit in retaining their Serie A title last season, and they weren't doing too badly in the Champions League either until they ran into Bayern Munich at the quarter-final stage.

However, while the defence is solid and the midfield triumvirate of Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio oozes great class and energy, the striking options available last season weren't quite enough to help them mount a sustained European push.

That has seemingly been rectified this summer with the signings of Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente, two players who will add different dimensions to the Bianconeri attack, and offer greater flexibility to Conte.

Their first season back amongst Europe's elite was no question a successful one, and they'll take confidence from that. Expect similar in 2013-14.

7. Arsenal

The Gunners under Arsene Wenger always qualify for the Champions League by hook or by crook, even during these past seven trophyless years.

And what's more, they continually get through their group and into the knockout stages, something which can't be said of their English rivals in recent campaigns.

Last season saw the Gunners lose to Bayern Munich on away goals, but a second-leg win in the Allianz Arena gave heart after they were outplayed in a 3-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium. Had they been given an easier draw—Celtic for example—then it would likely have been a different story and the 2006 finalists would have made the last eight.

This summer sees Wenger look to strengthen his squad with key additions to make the first XI stronger, while the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere will hopefully return to play greater roles in the next 12 months.

As such, a quarter-final spot should be well within their reach.

8. Manchester City

Roberto Mancini's reign has ended, and with it, City fans will hope, have their poor performances in the Champions League, where they've failed to pass the group stage in each of the past two seasons, despite the tremendous array of talent at their disposal.

Ex-Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini is the new man at the helm, having worked wonders with the Spanish club last season, only losing at the quarter-final stage thanks to two injury-time goals from Borussia Dortmund.

The tactically astute Pellegrini will likely instil far greater patience in his City XI than his predecessor, and new signings Jesus Navas and Fernandinho add further ingredients to the Citizens' mix.

After inconsistent campaigns, it's a big season for both Sergio Aguero and David Silva—particularly in a World Cup year—while young defender Matija Nastasic will be expected to flourish once again.

All-in-all, expect Pellegrini to make City as difficult to beat as both his Malaga and Villarreal sides were: A quarter-final place is far from unfathomable.