Plus, UEFA comps are back, and viewing picks of the weekend.

I know in my head Toronto FC is in a tough spot heading into Miami for the first of two meetings with Lionel Messi and friends this season.

I know I should be preparing myself for a thrashing or at the very best a tough, defensive-minded draw against one of Major League Soccer’s top teams.

But I’m an eternal optimist and I keep talking myself into an early season upset by the Reds.

Scoff first if you must but then bare with me for a moment or two.

Toronto FC continues to grow in head coach Robin Fraser’s style. Though they only have two draws on the year (to go with four losses), I feel like they deserved at least one win (in the home opener) or at least a couple of other draws.

Inter Miami is coming off a mid-week 1-0 first leg loss to LAFC in the Concacaf Champions League semi-finals – a trophy they have vowed to win – and have the second leg at home this week.

Unless they have learned nothing from last year’s over use of their best players, chances are their top guys will be either resting completely or only play sparingly. However, it’s the showcase MLS game on Apple TV this weekend, so that may not happen.

That offers a fantastic opportunity for Toronto FC to go for three points. Last year, at BMO Field (I was there), a Miami team missing their top guys were second best to a Toronto FC team missing their top guys.

There is no reason if the Reds game plan accordingly and push the play that a win isn’t possible. Especially if Miami rests their top guys.

Even with Messi and Co. in the line-up, TFC can look to winning gameplans like what LAFC used to get a result this week. That result may end up being yet another draw on the year, but if they can look good doing it, it’s something to build on.

Okay, that’s my positive spin on things and optimistic outlook for Sunday’s match. Let’s hope I’m right in one way or another about a positive result this weekend.

Game time is 7 p.m. on Apple TV – MLS Season Pass (however, most Sunday Night Soccer matches are also being streamed live for Apple TV subscribers regardless of MLS Season Pass).

NOTE: Yes, I know Toronto FC signed a new Swiss midfielder (Maxime Dominguez) this week from Brazilian side Vasco da Gama. I want to reserve opinion until I see what impact – if any – he has on the team.

Europe’s Club Competitions Return

Okay, so I’m still a little annoyed at the fact that a certain team I cheer for was eliminated in the last round, but there is still plenty to cheer for as Champions League, Europa League and Conference League quarterfinals kick off this week.

While every tie in the Champions League is pretty solid, the marquee battle has to be Bayern Munich vs. Inter Milan.

Both clubs are European giants with excellent resumes, fantastic individual players, solid team structure, good coaches and are leading their respective domestic competitions. Oh, and they are both taking part in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.

Inter are still alive for a treble (they are in the Coppa Italia semi-finals) and have a lot of squad rotation to do this weekend ahead of the big-time clash. Inter have their top roster available after a mini-injury crisis in late February and early March.

On the flipside Bayern is hurting, with several starters including Canadian superstar Alphonso Davies nursing injuries and knocks. One of their top attackers, midfielder Jamal Musiala is also out with an injury.

What that means remains to be seen, but Bayern is still a deep squad that can challenge the best in Europe on any given day. The two-legs should be intriguing, fantastic displays of football.

Other matchups in the Champions League quarters are Arsenal-Real Madrid (Madrid will win, but it won’t be easy); Barcelona-Dortmund (I’m cheering for the Germans); PSG-Aston Villa (I think PSG wins, but really who cares?).

In the Europa League, nothing stands out as a “must-see,” but that doesn’t mean some magic can’t happen.

The matchups are Bodo/Glimt-Lazio (I hate to admit, but Lazio may win the whole competition); Rangers-Athletic Club (I hope Rangers win since Athletic edged out Roma thanks to a harsh red card handed to Roma in the second leg last round); Tottehham-Eintracht Frankfurt (literally nothing interesting about this, but the Spurs should win); Lyon-Man United (meh, two mid sides, but could see a lot of goals).

In the Conference League . . . really, no one cares, but I want to see Fiorentina win the whole thing because they’re Italian and I like a lot of their players.

What to Watch This Weekend

Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest, April 5 at 12:30 p.m. (FuboTV Canada). This year’s surprise Premier League darlings, Nottingham Forest, play solid football and find themselves in third place with eight matches to play. They have a five-point lead on fourth, a six-point lead on fifth, a seven-point lead on sixth, and a nine-point lead on seventh-place Aston Villa (who were last year’s surprise Champions League qualifiers). I’m picking Forest to get at least a draw in this one.

The Manchester Derby. Okay, I know, I know – “we’re not racist, we only hate Mancs” – but any big-time football derbys are always interesting. Look, United isn’t interesting anymore (unless you like to see them lose) and City is no longer the top English power, but they are still only a point out of a guaranteed Champions League spot. The only thing that really sucks is United are safe from relegation, even if they are in the bottom half of the table. A chance for City to strike a relegation blow would have made this the number one most watchable game of the weekend (I probably would have led the column with it if that were the case).

AS Roma vs. Juventus, April 6 at 2:45 p.m. (FuboTV Canada). The host, and my favourites, have been flying high domestically since Claudio Ranieri took the reigns a few months ago. Once in the middle of the table and looking lost, Roma are in sixth place, only three points back of Juventus for fifth, four points behind Bologna for fourth, and six points out of third (Atlanta). Since a 2-0 loss to Como before Christmas, Roma are unbeaten in 14 (11 wins, 3 draws). Juventus on the other hand have had mixed results all season long. They are coming off a 1-0 win over Genoa, that was preceded by heavy defeats to Atlanta and Fiorentina. In any case, Roma-Juve at the Stadio Olimpico is always a must-see event.

That’s it for me this week! Ciao for Now!