The first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals produced only one sensational outcome. Bayern came to Villarreal as clear favourites but were defeated.

Villarreal beat Atalanta and Young Boys in the group stage, finishing just one point behind Manchester United. The Yellow Submarine started the play-offs with a draw against Juventus but, in Turin, they scored three unanswered goals to move on. It is worth noting that, as early as the last eight, the Spanish side's mature and confident play without showing excessive respect for their formidable opponents attracted the attention of the crowd. Villarreal won the first leg of the quarter final 1-0, scoring the only goal in the first half. After that encounter, the team drew in the league with Athletic, leaving them five points behind in the Eurocup zone of the Primera Division. Villarreal are very much focused on the Champions League, which has a negative impact on the domestic league.

Bayern, unlike their rivals, have the luxury of focusing on the Champions League. In the domestic league, the team's lead is not threatened by the instability of the haunting Borussia Dortmund. Throughout the season, the Munich club have suffered occasional slip-ups, but they have been methodical in rectifying them. For example, after 1-1 in Salzburg, Nagelsmann's men broke their opponent's back in the first half with four unanswered goals to make it 7-1. However, Villarreal look a far more dangerous club in terms of their ability to organise defensively.

The Spanish club will most likely implement a game plan modelled on Atletico Madrid's recent trip to Manchester. Villarreal are good at not losing games against tough opponents. In the past 2022 alone, apart from the three games against Juventus and Bayern mentioned above, the club have not lost their encounters against Real Madrid (0-0) and Atletico (2-2). Even if Bayern emerge victorious on Tuesday, it won't be a thrashing win.