We are approaching the business end of the Champions League with the first legs of the round of 16 ties to be played this week.
There are few surprises in the make-up of the last 16 but the draw has pitched together some of the tournament favourites, including Manchester City and Real Madrid.
Here, we analyse the ties and offer our thoughts on the winners…
TUESDAY
Galatasaray v Liverpool (5.45pm)
Liverpool will hope to perform better than they did in Istanbul during the league phase. The Reds were beaten 1-0 in late September and never really got going in a pressure-cooker atmosphere. That setback was the second in a four-game stretch of defeats that dimmed early optimism and paved the way for an underwhelming season. Liverpool aren’t going to defend their Premier League title so the Champions League, and the FA Cup, are now the priorities. Galatasaray are faring better in their domestic league, Saturday’s 1-0 win at Besiktas helping them maintain their four-point lead at the Super Lig summit. Gala games are usually high-scoring affairs and they have scored at least three goals in eight of their last 13 European matches at RAMS Park. With Victor Osimhen fit and firing, they will present a formidable challenge for Liverpool.
Prediction: Galatasaray 2-1 Liverpool
Atalanta v Bayern Munich (8pm)
Atalanta produced a stirring comeback to see off Borussia Dortmund to reach this stage but they are likely to find things tougher against the Bundesliga champions. Raffaele Palladino’s men are a match for anyone in Bergamo and Bayern will be aware of how easily Dortmund were brushed aside a fortnight ago. Bayern will be hoping star striker Harry Kane is fit. The England captain missed Friday’s 4-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach and his experience will be vital for the visitors.
Prediction: Atalanta 2-2 Bayern Munich
Atletico Madrid v Tottenham (8pm)
If Spurs re-produce their Premier League form at the Metropolitano then this could be another difficult night for interim boss Igor Tudor. His players looked bereft of confidence in the home defeat to Crystal Palace last week and they will have to show plenty of backbone if they are to come through a trip to a hostile environment with a crowd whipped up by Diego Simeone. Atletico have lost one of their last six games in all competitions – at Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-finals – and will see this as an excellent opportunity to progress.
Prediction: Atletico Madrid 3-0 Tottenham
Newcastle v Barcelona (8pm)
Barcelona won 2-1 at St James’ Park in the league phase thanks to two goals from Marcus Rashford. The on-loan Manchester United forward will likely start this game on the bench with Raphinha fit again. Whatever XI Hansi Flick puts out they will feel confident of advancing over two legs. Newcastle’s advantage comes with their physicality and height at set-pieces. Expect Eddie Howe to go with a big side to trouble the Catalans from every set-piece. Whether that will be enough remains to be seen.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Barcelona
WEDNESDAY
Bayer Leverkusen v Arsenal (5.45pm)
The draw appears to have been kind to Arsenal and they find themselves in a half that, bar Barcelona, contains few of the tournament favourites. That’s not to say progression is guaranteed with the hosts suffering just one defeat in their last 12 games. Not many of the 2024 Bundesliga-winning team remain, however, and there is uncertainty as to whether Danish boss Kasper Hjulmand will stay beyond the end of the season. Arsenal will arrive in Germany brimming with confidence after nine wins and two draws in their last 11 games. Mikel Arteta was able to rest many of his first-choice XI for the weekend FA Cup win at Mansfield but they will return at the BayArena.
Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 0-3 Arsenal
Bodo/Glimt v Sporting CP (8pm)
Bodo/Glimt have blazed a trail to reach this stage, backing up wins over Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in the league phase with a two-legged victory over Inter Milan in the play-offs. They will be aided by their artificial pitch against a Sporting team that surpassed expectations by qualifying for the round of 16 automatically. Rui Borges’ side are unbeaten in 12 games but we fancy the Norwegian fairytale to continue for at least one more game.
Prediction: Bodo/Glimt 1-0 Sporting CP
Paris Saint-Germain v Chelsea (8pm)
PSG have not been able to replicate their dominant form of last season in recent months with injuries and fatigue catching up with Luis Enrique’s side. They were a touch fortunate to beat Monaco in the Champions League playoffs although the Principality club got their revenge with a 3-1 Ligue 1 win at the Parc des Princes on Friday night. Chelsea can recall fond memories of their last meeting, a 3-0 defeat of PSG in the final of the Club World Cup last summer. The Parisians were strangely off-colour that day and it will be much tougher for the Blues in Paris. The likes of Cole Palmer and Reece James missed the weekend FA Cup win at Wrexham but will be back for this one.
Prediction: PSG 3-1 Chelsea
Real Madrid v Manchester City (8pm)
For the fifth season in a row, these two teams meet in the Champions League. It has become a little tedious but the games themselves are largely watchable affairs. Madrid are in the middle of an injury crisis with Jude Bellingham, Eder Militao, Rodrygo and David Alaba definitely out while reports in Spain suggest Kylian Mbappe has lost his fight to be fit. City will, therefore, travel in confident mood of getting a result to take back to England. Pep Guardiola’s side eased past Newcastle in the FA Cup at the weekend despite making 10 changes. Erling Haaland was left at home to rest but the towering Norwegian will play at the Bernabeu.
Prediction: Real Madrid 0-1 Manchester City
