'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
After a hiatus of two months, Europe’s premier club competition, the UEFA Champions League, returns to our screens. The tournament which started off with 32 participants has been pruned down to 16 teams with eight two-legged affairs to decide the quarter-finalists.
As always, the Round of 16 draw threw up plenty of mouth-watering clashes. Paris Saint-Germain take on Manchester United whereas last year’s finalists, Liverpool, lock horns with Bayern Munich.
In addition, Bundesliga’s current leaders, Borussia Dortmund, clash swords with Tottenham, while Juventus has their hands full with Atletico Madrid.
Thus, the Round of 16 is bound to be as enthralling as ever with several top-notch teams battling it out to be crowned Europe’s best.
At this juncture, it is extremely difficult to gauge how each of the ties in question would pan out. Yet, through the course of this article, I would stick my neck out and predict the eight teams that would make up the quarter-final line-up.
Without further ado, here is a look at them:
Also see : Womens World Cup Bracket, Copa America Standings, Gold Cup Standings
#8 AS Roma vs FC Porto
FC Porto were handed a favourable draw in the group stages as they were paired with Schalke, Galatasaray and Lokomotiv Moscow. Porto emerged from their group unbeaten and with a tally of 16 points from 6 games.
Roma, on the other hand, had to negotiate a slightly trickier group containing Real Madrid, CSKA Moscow and Viktoria Plzen. The Italian side finished as runners-up behind Real Madrid.
Of all the ties, the match in question seems to be the most evenly balanced with neither team setting the world ablaze so far with their displays. Yet, I am tempted to slightly favour the Italians in this crunch clash.
While Roma might not have been at their best this season, they still boast of enough firepower in the attacking third to cause Porto problems. In addition, they have been a tough nut to crack at home and with the first leg scheduled to take place in Rome, one can expect them to take a sizeable lead into the second leg.
Moreover, Roma’s experience on Europe’s biggest stage could play into their hands. After all, they made the semi-finals last year.
Thus, after considering all the factors, I would earmark Roma as one of the quarter-finalists.
Winner: AS Roma
#7 Schalke 04 vs Manchester City
The tie is arguably the biggest mismatch of the round. While the Germans have been languishing in 14th spot in the Bundesliga, Manchester City have been irresistible and find themselves at the perch of the Premier League.
The Cityzens have hit top gear recently and smashed 6 past a hapless Chelsea last weekend. Having scored 74 goals in 27 league matches, they would be licking their lips at the prospect of facing a leaky Schalke defense which has conceded 32 goals in 21 league games.
On paper and on quality, Manchester City are clearly superior to their German counterparts. The sheer attacking verve the former possess may just be a little too hot to handle for Schalke.
Though upsets are part and parcel of every Champions League edition, it would be highly ludicrous to think that Manchester City would be on the wrong end of one at the hands of Schalke.
Thus, I expect an easy victory for the English champions.
Winner: Manchester City
#6 Lyon vs FC Barcelona
The next game on our list is also tilted heavily in favour of one team yet could prove to be more of a contest.
Lyon has been very inconsistent this season but whenever they’ve gotten their game going, they have caused teams trouble. Blessed with a fluid front three, the likes of Nabil Fekir and Memphis Depay boast of the ability to ruffle any defense across Europe.
And Lyon’s biggest chance could lie in attacking Barcelona with all their might. At times this season, the Spanish champions have looked vulnerable when teams have taken the game to them.
However, on most occasions, Barcelona have gotten out of tight corners courtesy their enigmatic talents on the pitch. Lionel Messi is arguably in his richest vein of form while the emergence of Ousmane Dembele has provided Blaugrana with another attacking outlet.
Though Lyon’s attack can indeed throw a spanner in Barcelona’s works, I expect Barcelona to have just enough in the tank to overcome the French side.
Winner: FC Barcelona
#5 Ajax vs Real Madrid
When the draw was made back in December, this tie seemed to be on an even keel. Real Madrid were stumbling back then and Ajax had worked up a head of steam. However, in recent weeks, the Dutch side has just gone off the boil. Real Madrid, on the other hand, has regained their mojo.
The sides couldn’t have enjoyed more contrasting weekends as Ajax lost to Heracles while Los Blancos got the better of Atletico Madrid.
Though Ajax were impressive in the offensive third in the group stages, they always looked shaky at the back. The Dutch side’s defensive shortcomings coupled with Real Madrid’s new-found attacking impetus could just hand Los Blancos the initiative.
The game between Ajax and Real Madrid is definitely one of the best games for the neutral fan to watch. Yet, with the latter back to its best, the former could just have to wait for its time to become a European superpower again.
Winner: Real Madrid
#4 Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund
If you’re looking for an action-packed, fast-paced tie in the Round of 16, you need not look further than Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund. Both teams like to play effervescent, attacking football and are a sight to behold on the counter attack.
Though many initially favoured Spurs to go through, the dynamics have changed considerably due to several injuries to high-profile players. Spurs would be without their talismanic English duo of Harry Kane and Dele Alli while Dortmund would miss their skipper, Marco Reus.
At the moment, there is nothing to separate the two sides with Tottenham on an outstanding winning run and Dortmund sitting pretty at the top of the Bundesliga. Thus, the tie would be decided on extremely fine margins.
In the past, Spurs have fumbled when faced with pressure situations and that would surely be playing on their mind. Additionally, Spurs have been stretching their thread-bare squad to the limit recently and it seems only a matter of time before the elastic snaps. Moreover, the absence of Kane would impact their offensive play significantly.
Dortmund, meanwhile, have ample attacking options to offset the loss of Reus and also have the benefit of playing the second leg at home.
The tie promises to be a humdinger yet I expect the German side’s exuberance and energy to trump over Spurs’ slightly tired squad.
Winner: Borussia Dortmund
#3 Manchester United vs Paris Saint-Germain
The most glamorous tie of the Round of 16 sees the French champions, PSG, go toe to toe with Manchester United. When the draw was made, United were sinking swiftly under Jose Mourinho and contrastingly, PSG were high-flying and had notched up fourteen wins on the bounce. Yet, with time, both teams’ fortunes have been altered.
Last month, PSG lost Neymar to a metatarsal injury (his second since moving to PSG) and were also defeated by Guingamp. More recently, they lost to Lyon in Ligue 1 while their victory against Bordeaux at the weekend came at the cost of losing Edinson Cavani.
Manchester United, though, have undergone a startling transformation since the arrival of a certain Norwegian. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has brought back the offensive football the Old Trafford terraces crave and has 10 victories in 11 games so far.
Thus, the tie is a lot more finely poised than it was a couple of months ago. Yet, I would put my money on PSG overcoming their English rivals.
Though the French side are massively short of numbers in midfield, their defense and attack seems capable enough to handle anything thrown at them. Additionally, the likes of Gianluigi Buffon and Thiago Silva would want to add another trophy to their cabinet.
The match-up could well boil down to who holds their nerve better and in that respect, PSG just hold the edge over the Red Devils.
Winners: Paris Saint-Germain
#2 Liverpool vs Bayern Munich
Another jaw-dropping tie the Champions League has in store for us is Liverpool versus Bayern Munich.
The German champions endured a sticky start to their campaign but have found their feet recently. Liverpool, in contrast raced off the blocks swiftly and have hit a few stumbling blocks only since the turn of the year.
On paper, there is hardly anything to distinguish the two giants of European football. While Liverpool hold the edge over their German peers in the attacking department, Bayern have much more quality in the middle third.
Thus, the tie could eventually be swayed by whichever team performs better away from home.
Liverpool has been wretched on the road this season in the Champions League and has lost all their games.
Bayern too, were quite shabby on their trip to Ajax, while they just got over the line against Benfica in Portugal.
However, the Reds host the first leg and that could well end up being the decisive factor. On previous occasions, Liverpool has displayed the ability to put the game beyond the opposition’s reach in a trice at Anfield. And a similar effort this time round would surely take the Reds a step closer to the quarter-final.
Moreover, Bayern severely lack pace in the defensive department and the likes of Salah and Mane would fancy themselves to expose the German side’s frailties.
Though the tie has the potential to go down to the last kick, I would put my money on Liverpool staying on track for a 6th Champions League crown.
Winner: Liverpool
#1 Atletico Madrid vs Juventus
Arguably the best game of the last 16 phase sees the Old Lady at loggerheads with Atletico Madrid.
Atletico started off the season decently yet have fumbled in the past few weeks. They have suddenly looked over-dependent on Antoine Griezmann to fire and in the absence of Diego Costa, the problem has only been magnified. However, the most worrying aspect for Diego Simeone would be his team’s inability to be water-tight at the back.
Atletico infamously conceded four away goals to Dortmund and also saw Real Madrid put three past them at the weekend. Another small aspect which makes things worse for the Spanish side goes by the name of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese has always brought his A-game to the fore when facing Atletico and would hope to continue the same form. In addition, the likes of Dybala and Mandzukic have been in good scoring touch.
Ronaldo arrived in the summer with the sole intention of proving himself in another European league. While winning the Serie A would satisfy him, getting his hands on the Champions League with a third different team could probably nudge him ahead of Messi in the race for being the best Champions League player of all time.
The tie is sure to be a cagey affair yet like many a time before, I envisage Ronaldo throwing another Atletico European dream into disarray.
Though Atletico have been the scourge of many big teams in the past, I expect Juventus to go through.
Winner: Juventus
