The Champions League quarter-final ties get underway this week and we couldn’t be more excited.

Liverpool host Porto and Tottenham go head-to-head with Manchester City on Tuesday.

Then on Wednesday, Ajax face Juventus and Manchester United welcome Barcelona to Old Trafford.

We’ve reached the point in the competition where only the strongest remain and it has to be said that the final eight sides are filled with incredible talent.

It’s impossible to identify a clear favourite but Man City are fuelled by a desire to complete the treble.

The closest the reigning Premier League champions have come to winning the competition was in 2016, when they reached the semi-final, but this City side is better equipped to go all the way.

It starts with the manager. Guardiola is considered by many to be the best tactician in the world and he won the Champions League twice with Barcelona.

Shearer: Barcelona will beat Man City

Man City certainly can win it, but Alan Shearer believes they will come unstuck if they meet Barcelona in the final.

Speaking to BBC Sport, the Match of the Day pundit admitted Lionel Messi and Barcelona could stand in the way of Man City’s dream of winning the quadruple.

“Barcelona and Lionel Messi are the biggest reason I don't think Manchester City will win the quadruple,” Shearer said.

“Looking at the Champions League draw, if Pep Guardiola's side make the final then I would expect Barca to be their opponents in Madrid, and I don't think they would beat them.

“It would be a great game, but any team with Messi playing for them would be the favourites.

“City, of course, have to get there first. They have not faced anyone of note yet in Europe, but if they continue their progress then that is where they will probably meet the toughest opponents of their entire season.”

Man City’s route to the Champions League final

Quarter-final
Tottenham

Semi-final
Ajax or Juventus

Final
Liverpool, Porto, Barcelona or Man United

The Premier League title is in City’s own hands - they will be champions if they win their six remaining matches - while they have already secured the Carabao Cup.

Meanwhile, Guardiola’s side will compete for the FA Cup trophy after beating Brighton in the semi-final on Saturday.

But Shearer thinks the Champions League will prove to be a step too far.

“I believe they could win the other three trophies but, on top of everything else, the Champions League could be too much for them,” he added.

“The fact that, with a maximum of 12 games left, City can look at their remaining fixtures and know they are so close to a clean sweep is an amazing achievement in itself.”