Europe's elite competition, the UEFA Champions League returns tomorrow with sixteen teams all set to battle it out in the knockout phase of this season's lucrative tournament. Along with the usual suspects, the likes of Leicester City, and Sevilla, to some extent, raised eyebrows by qualifying for the round of 16.
The first legs are set to be played over the course of the next two weeks, starting tomorrow. There are four ties that catch the eye with Paris Saint-Germain playing host to FC Barcelona, and Real Madrid trying their luck against a spirited Napoli side, while Manchester City face off against AS Monaco and Bayern Munich host their favourite team from England – Arsenal.
Let's take a closer look at all the eight games that are set to take centre stage:
#1 Paris Saint Germain vs FC Barcelona
PSG and FC Barcelona have become regular foes in the Champions League with these two sides meeting for the third time in five seasons. The French side will be out for revenge after the Catalans eliminated them on both previous occasions at the quarter-final stage.
Barcelona have progressed past the round of 16 in the last nine seasons, which is the longest current run in the competition. PSG have lost just one out of their last 42 European matches at home, though, with the solitary defeat coming against the Catalans back in 2015.
Players to watch out for
- Lionel Messi is this season's top scorer with 10 goals in the group stages.
- Edinson Cavani is currently the top scorer across the five biggest European leagues with 35 goals. He has already scored six times in the Champions League and has a massive tally of 25 goals in Ligue 1 this season.
Key stats
- The only time Paris SG eliminated Barcelona from the Champions League was in the 1994/95 quarter-finals (3-2 on aggregate). Since then, the Catalans have won their two knockout encounters with the Parisian club – in 2012/13 and 2014/15.
- Barcelona haven’t lost a game in which Luis Suarez has scored. The Uruguayan has scored 70 times in 128 appearances for his current side and has a record of 65 wins and 5 draws.
- Paris Saint-Germain have failed to keep a clean sheet against Barcelona in 9 previous encounters.
Prediction
The Catalans will continue to inflict misery on PSG and will win both the legs although the Parisians will give them a run for their money.
First leg – PSG 1-2 FC Barcelona
Second leg – FC Barcelona 1-0 PSG
#2 Bayern Munich vs Arsenal
Arsenal face familiar foes in Bayern Munich as the two sides square off against each other for the 11th time since 2000/01. The Bavarians have beaten Arsenal in the round of 16 stage twice in recent years but both sides are currently struggling for form.
This could be Arsenal’s best chance to overcome their round of 16 hoodoo and qualify for the quarter-finals for the first time in the last seven seasons.
Players to watch out for
- Robert Lewandowski has scored 14 goals in his last 12 Champions League games at the Allianz Arena. He has 25 goals to his name this season and will look to improve on his five-goal Champions League tally in the 2016/17 season.
- Olivier Giroud has scored in three of his last four matches against Bayern Munich.
Key stats
- Bayern Munich are unbeaten in their last 15 Champions League games at home. This is the longest run in the history of the competition.
- The last time Arsenal remained unbeaten in the group stages and topped their group, they made the 2005/06 Champions League final.
Prediction
This will be the year Arsenal finally break their Bayern Munich hoodoo and qualify for the last eight with a victory over Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
First leg – Bayern Munich 2-1 Arsenal
Second leg – Arsenal 1-0 Bayern Munich (Arsenal to progress via away goals)
#3 Real Madrid vs Napoli
Real Madrid are looking to become the first side to retain the European Cup in the Champions League era. The team that stands in their way is Napoli, who have qualified for the knockout stages for just the second time in their history.
But in the wake of a successful season for the Italian side, in which they qualified as winners of Group B, Real Madrid have their task cut out for them. The game will see the return of two former Madrid players, Jose Callejon and Raul Albiol, to the Bernabeu.
Players to watch out for
- Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 34 goals in 38 knockout games for Real Madrid and will look to increase that tally against the side from Naples.
- Dries Mertens has been Napoli's best player this season with 16 Serie A goals and has scored four of his side's last eight Champions League goals.
Key stats
- Leo Beenhakkers's Real Madrid overcome Napoli 3-1 on aggregate when these two sides met in the 1987/88 European Champions Club's Cup. That was the only encounter between the two teams.
- Napoli are unbeaten in 18 matches in all competitions, winning 12 on the way.
Prediction
Napoli will put up a fight on their home ground but the daunting task that awaits them at the Bernabeu would be a bit too much for the Italian giants.
First leg – Real Madrid 2-0 Napoli
Second leg – Napoli 1-1 Real Madrid
#4 Manchester City vs AS Monaco
This game has all the ingredients of a classic as Manchester City bid to make the quarter-finals for just the second time in their history. They will be up against a team that has lost just once against English opposition in knockout matches.
Monaco qualified as winners of Group E whereas Manchester City finished second, behind FC Barcelona in Group C.
Players to watch out for
- While Gabriel Jesus has been the preferred choice for Pep Guardiola in the recent Premier League games, Sergio Aguero is expected to start the European games and must perform well to save his Manchester City career.
- Despite making just 10 starts in the Champions League, Falcao has scored six goals and has provided one assist.
Key stats
- Manchester City have never lost to French opposition in European competitions (W1 D2), with all three previous meetings coming against PSG.
- Monaco's away record against Premier League sides reads – W5, D2, L2.
Prediction
Monaco are having a brilliant campaign but masterminding a two-legged win over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City might be a bit too much for the French side.
First leg – Manchester City 2-1 AS Monaco
Second leg – AS Monaco 1-2 Manchester City
#5 FC Porto vs Juventus
Juventus face off against a tricky opponent in FC Porto, but they are unbeaten against the Portuguese side in all three of their previous meetings. The Italian giants have the meanest defence in the Champions League this season. FC Porto will have to play out of their skin to cause an upset, but their record of three consecutive clean sheets in their last three European games might give them some hope.
Players to watch out for
- Gonzalo Higuain has scored 15 goals in 38 group games in the Champions League and will look to improve on his tally of two goals in the knockout stages.
- André Silva has been directly involved in two-thirds of Porto's goals in this season's Champions League (6 out of 9), scoring four and assisting two.
Key stats
- No Italian side has won on any of their last five trips to Porto in the Champions League (4 draws and 1 loss). The last victory dates back to March 1993 (Porto 0-1 AC Milan).
- Porto have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three Champions League games, the longest run among all 16 teams left in this season's competition.
Prediction
Juventus might suffer a shock defeat at Porto’s home turf but will cruise through the second leg and qualify for the quarter-finals.
First leg – FC Porto 1-0 Juventus
Second leg – Juventus 3-0 Porto
#6 Bayer Leverkusen vs Atletico Madrid
These sides met two years ago at the same stage where Atletico progressed on penalties. The German side have never won a round of 16 tie, whereas the Colchoneros have never lost a tie at this stage under Diego Simeone, since their return to the competition in 2013/14.
The overall head to head record between these sides reads one win each and two draws.
Players to watch out for
- Antoine Griezmann has been involved in 54% of Atletico's Champions League goals since last season, scoring 10 and assisting three of his side's 24 goals.
- Leverkusen's hopes rest on Mexican striker, Javier Hernandez, however, he has scored just one goal in the Champions League this season. In the previous season, he had scored five at the same stage.
Key stats
- Bayer Leverkusen have scored in all 11 of their Champions League home games against Spanish opposition.
- Atletico Madrid have kept 25 clean sheets in 42 games in the Champions League since 2013/14, more than any other club in that period.
Prediction
Atletico Madrid will look to come away unscathed from the BayArena and win the return fixture at the Vicente Calderon.
First leg – Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Atletico Madrid
Second leg – Atletico Madrid 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen
#7 Benfica vs Borussia Dortmund
The worst defence of the group stages will square off against the record-highest scorers as the leaky defence of Benfica takes on the free-flowing attack of Dortmund. The Germans set a new Champions League record by scoring 21 goals in the group stages this season. Benfica, meanwhile, reached the knockout stages after amassing the lowest points (8) of the 16 teams that qualified whereas Borussia Dortmund beat Real Madrid to the top spot.
Players to watch out for
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored in all four of his Champions League starts this season (4 goals) while teammate Marco Reus has scored 10 goals and delivered four assists in his last 11 Champions League matches.
- Eduardo Salvio has been Benfica's go-to player this season and has had a hand in five of his side's eight Champions League goals.
Key stats
- Benfica reached the knockout stages for the second season in a row. This has never happened in the Portuguese side's history.
- Borussia Dortmund have qualified for the Champions League knockout stages in each of their last four seasons, finishing top on each occasion.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund might find it tough to win away from home but will rip through Benfica's defence at Signul Iduna.
First leg - Benfica 1-1 Borussia Dortmund
Second leg Borussia Dortmund 3-0 Benfica
#8 Sevilla vs Leicester City
Leicester’s European fairytale is still on track although their Premier League form this season has been disappointing, to say the least. This will be the first meeting between these two sides. Along with Atletico Madrid, these two sides have scored the least number of goals (8) in the group stages this season.
Players to watch out for
- Steven N'Zonzi has been sensational for Sevilla in midfield, with the towering box to box midfielder sitting in the second spot in the completed passes department (behind Marco Verratti).
- The duo of Jamie Vardy and Riyadh Mahrez have been quiet in the league but have linked up well in Europe. These two have to be at their best to help Leicester mount a challenge against an in-form Sevilla side, who are flying high under Jorge Sampaoli.
Key stats
- Leicester's average possession of 41.6% in the group stages is the lowest of any team to have reached this season's round of 16.
- Sevilla have kept more clean sheets than any other side in this season's Champions League (5 in 6 games).
Prediction
Sevilla may find it tough against a well-drilled Leicester back line, but will eventually qualify in a close encounter.
First leg – Sevilla 1-0 Leicester City
Second Leg – Leicester City 1-1 Sevilla
