The Sports Thread #1/The Live Thread For 4/9/14: 2013-14 UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals Matchday 4 (First Version)

Patrice Evra sent everyone on shock notice and Bayern in worry with his tremendous strike. 

But 70 secs later, he feel asleep real quick and Mandzukic scored. And the rest was history. 

Meanwhile, as I thought below, Atletico have advanced despite hitting the woodwork three times and leaving other chances to the ground. 

It just wasn't Messi's night, as he had a snap header go wide as his only true chance that was a must score from him. 

Courtois amazing and Xavi couldn't finish that wild scramble in the second half to put Barcelona out and Tata Martino under major pressure. 

The Team of the Week: 

The @ChampionsLeague Team of the Week- Courtois; Evra, Cahill, Godin, JuanFran; Raul Garcia, Jojic; Reus, Kroos, Koke; Demba Ba
— Andrew Jerell Jones (@sluggahjells) April 9, 2014

What a remarkable week of Champions League quarterfinals' finales for another season. The two big Madrid clubs, Jose Mourinho, and Pep Guardiola's side the last standing. We'll see what the semifinal draw provides on Friday. Take care until then. 

Pre-Game Version 

If last night served as a proper precursor for tonight, we are in store for another Champions League quarterfinal evening of the ages.

La Liga's Top two will see if they finally will break their eternal stalmate all season, in the fifth match that will settle all (until of course their season finale duel in La Liga play).

Meanwhile in the nights other game, the pressure is on Manchester United, but it is nothing like the pressure Bayern Munich face. This could be United's last game in the Champions League for at least 16 months if they go out of the competition as expected tonight.

However, it is nothing compared to the lambasting that Pep Guardiola will take if his Bundesliga champions fail to repeat their treble exploits of last season because of a David Moyes' side.

I slightly favor Bayern and Atletico, despite no Costa, to go through in what should be classics I think.

As always, hopefully a halftime highlights and full post game recap is in store. It has the makings of quite the evening, with full tension on all of these four big sides.