After the round of 16 first legs, we’re one step closer to finding out who our Champions League quarter finalists will be this season.
There were goals galore (32, to be precise) as Europe’s elite went head-to-head in a bid to qualify for the next round of the most prestigious club competition in football.
But who has the best chance of progressing to the last eight of this season’s Champions League?
ARSENAL vs. BAYERN MUNICH
Tuesday 7 March, Emirates Stadium
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are firmly in control of this tie after a devastating 5-1 victory at the Allianz Arena. The simplicity of Bayern Munich’s goals was alarming, particularly as the Arsenal backline was carved open time and time again by the German’s ruthless attacking exploits.
Bayern have the best possession stats away from home in the competition, with 66.7% of the ball on average. The Gunners struggled to get a result against PSG in the group stages, and Ancelotti’s side – five points clear at the top of the Bundesliga – are a much more regimented machine.
Their shock 3-2 defeat to Rostov on 23 November followed a disappointing 1-0 loss at Borussia Dortmund – a result that saw them slip to second in the table – but, since then, Bayern have kicked into gear. Eight wins and two draws in the league have seen them re-establish themselves as top dogs in Germany and they are now in pole position to progress safely to the Champions League quarter finals.
Only a miracle will be able to save Arsenal, who also face a fight to preserve their top four status come May.
Verdict: Arsenal may sneak a draw, but Bayern will ultimately have enough quality.
Score: 2-2 (3-7 agg)
NAPOLI vs. REAL MADRID
Tuesday 7 March, Stadio San Paolo
The Spanish giants are looking to become the first team to defend their European crown since the new competition format was introduced in 1992. In doing so, they will claim their 12th Champions League title.
However, despite holding a 3-1 lead from the first leg, Real are not home and dry just yet: Napoli are the highest scoring team in Serie A. Maurizio Sarri’s side have plundered 60 league goals and is bursting with attacking talent in the shape of Jose Callejon, Marek Hamsik, Dries Mertens and Piotr Zielinski.
Lorenzo Insigne’s opener at the Bernabeu could prove to be crucial for Napoli, who know a 2-0 victory will be enough to see them into the quarter finals. However, the Italian outfit have struggled defensively at home in this season’s competition and were brutally exposed by Besiktas in October.
Real will travel to Campania knowing that they will have their chances to kill the tie off once and for all, and in Karim Benzema, James Rodriguez and Cristiano Ronaldo they have the personnel capable of doing exactly that.
Verdict: Real will progress and win on the night by the odd goal.
Score: 1-2 (2-5 agg)
BARCELONA vs. PSG
Wednesday 8 March, Camp Nou
PSG’s 4-0 victory over Barcelona at Parc des Princes sent shockwaves through the footballing world – and rightly so. The Catalan’s, long seen as the major force in European football, were completely dismantled by Unai Emery’s side.
Angel di Maria, rejuvenated after a less-than inspiring spell in England with Manchester United, and Julian Draxler tore Luis Enrique’s team to pieces, exposing the same defensive frailties that Manchester City did in the group stage.
Barcelona struggled against the direct approach and relentless, high pressing in both games but, at home, they are a different animal entirely and to write off the five-time European champions would be most unwise, particularly given the pedigree of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.
Enrique’s side scored 15 goals without reply in their three group matches at the Camp Nou – including the 4-0 demolition of Manchester City. When Barca race through the gears, they are simply sensational. A tie that looks lost now has a different perspective entirely.
Verdict: Barcelona to win comfortably, but PSG to progress.
Score: 3-0 (3-4 agg)
BORUSSIA DORTMUND vs. BENFICA
Wednesday 8 March, Westfalenstadion
Benfica travel to Dortmund with the most slender of advantages but, crucially, they did not concede an away goal in the first leg. However, the demands of the Champions League have been plain to see for Rui Vitoria’s side, who have conceded more goals on their travels in Europe (seven) than they have on the road at home soil (six).
They face a Borussia Dortmund side that topped a group containing holders Real Madrid and scored 21 goals in the process. Had it not been for the usually reliable Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s wastefulness in front of goal at Estadio da Luiz, the Germans would be heading into the second leg with a comfortable lead.
Thomas Tuchel’s side isn’t lacking in quality: the attacking trio of Aubameyang, Ousmane Dembele and Marco Reus will prove to be a thorn in Benfica’s side. Captain Luisao, who made his 500th appearance for the Eagles in the first leg, will certainly have to work hard to ensure the two-time European champions progress.
Verdict: Victory for Dortmund on the night and overall.
Score: 3-0 (3-1 agg)
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: LAST 16
We're one step closer to finding out who will progress to this season's quarter finals
Article posted: 24 February 2017
REPRESENT SOCCER USA
What pathways are available for young players who are also interested in an education?
16 February 2017
LEGENDS: TELMO ZARRA
He is the highest scoring Spaniard in La Liga history, but what do we know about the Athletic Bilbao legend
23 February 2017
JUVENTUS vs. PORTO
Tuesday 14 March, Juventus Stadium
Alex Telles sending off for Porto will probably prove to be the turning point in this tie. His two bookings – just 73 seconds apart – were ridiculous and have cost the 2004 winners any hope of reaching the quarter finals.
Goals from Marko Pjaca and Dani Alves look to have put the contest beyond Porto’s reach heading into the second leg in Turin, where Juventus have conceded just one Champions League goal this campaign. A damning statistic indeed.
The task starts to look like an insurmountable crevasse when you take into account that Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have scored just two away goals in this season’s competition – both at Club Brugge, who lost every group game.
However, don’t expect too many goals in this encounter – Massimiliano Allegri’s team have managed just three goals in Europe this term, but are unbeaten at the Juventus Stadium since the first game of last season.
Verdict: Juventus to win without conceding a goal.
Score: 2-0 (4-0 agg)
LEICESTER vs. SEVILLA
Tuesday 14 March, King Power Stadium
The sacking of Claudio Ranieri, while brutal, was hardly unexpected. The Foxes are neck deep in a fight to retain their Premier League status and were knocked out of the FA Cup by League One outfit Millwall.
Performances on the pitch have not helped Ranieri’s cause, but, ultimately, he has been unable to get the best out of his players that won the title last season. Jamie Vardy’s away goal has given Leicester the faintest glimmer of hope of salvaging something from a tie that, had it not been for the heroics of Kasper Schmeichel, would be done and dusted.
As it is, Sevilla travel to the King Power in a precarious position. The Foxes won all three group stage matches at home and conceded just once in the process. However, Jorge Sampaoli’s side are resolute: they may not have scored on the road in their group matches, but they only conceded once.
With Leicester not looking particularly potent in front of goal this season, the Spaniards may just have enough to scrape through to the quarter finals.
Verdict: A gallant effort from the Foxes, but the European dream ends here.
Score: 1-1 (2-3 agg)
ATLETICO MADRID vs. BAYER LEVERKUSEN
Wednesday 15 March, Vicente Calderon
Diego Simeone’s side have come so close to European glory twice in the past three seasons – could this eventually be their year? Atleti were emphatically clinical in the first leg at the BayArena, with Kevin Gameiro, in particular, proving to be a thorn in Leverkusen’s side.
A two goal advantage and four away goals to boot will surely be enough to see the three-time runners-up safely through to the quarter finals. Bayer only managed three away goals in the group stage, while Madrid have conceded just once at home in this season’s competition.
It’s a tough ask for Roger Schmidt’s team, who are struggling for form and currently sit eighth in the Bundesliga. Die Werkself led in three of the four group games that they drew – the other a 0-0 draw with Tottenham.
In Antoine Griezmann, Atleti have one of the most sought after players in the world. Their most prized possession will be pulling the strings in the return leg and will most likely get on the score sheet again.
Verdict: Comfortable victory for Atletico on the night.
Score: 3-0 (7-2 agg)
MONACO vs. MANCHESTER CITY
Wednesday 15 March, Stade Louis II
In a first leg where the ‘How to defend’ handbook was seemingly tossed out of the window without a second thought, it was City who eventually prevailed – but Monaco will be equally as happy with the result.
Pep Guardiola’s side won the battle, but the outcome of the war is yet to be determined. If the return fixture is as enthralling as the encounter in Manchester, fans and neutrals alike will be in for another treat of scintillating attacking football from two of the classiest teams on the continent.
City’s lead is fragile, particularly given how porous they have been defensively this season. Leonardo Jardim will be looking to take advantage of the Blues’ frailties at the back, and the penetrative runs of Thomas Lemar and Bernardo Silva will cause City no end of problems on the French Riviera.
But Guardiola, who has admitted that his side need to score or else be eliminated, will take confidence from the way City managed to carve open the Ligue 1 leaders’ backline. There’s definitely more goals in this tie; we’re in for another cracker.
Verdict: City to scrape through by the skin of their teeth.
Score: 3-2 (6-7 agg)
MY FINAL EIGHT
Atletico Madrid
Bayern Munich
Borussia Dortmund
Juventus
Manchester City
PSG
Real Madrid
Sevilla
