The UEFA Champions League is down to 16 teams who have found out their opponents as the margin for error is now zero. There are some true marquee ties to look forward to and after reaching this stage, every team has a puncher’s chance to go through.
Here are the UCL Round of 16 predictions for each tie–
Copenhagen vs Manchester City
Manchester City are stumbling a bit in the league, with late goals and unconvincing performances leaving them looking up the table instead of down. However, the reigning UCL winners got the luck on their side by drawing against Copenhagen.
Nobody is going to make the mistake of taking them easily, since they beat out more-fancied Manchester United and Galatasaray to qualify, but City are the cream of Europe and on man-to-man talent, it’s hard to look beyond the Cityzens for this one.
Prediction- Manchester City
RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid
Former Dortmund boss Marco Rose has got Leipzig humming, with the team standing third in the league and breathing down Bayern’s necks. Their UCL campaign was also fine as they finished a comfortable 2nd behind City.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, are shattered by injuries, with David Alaba recently becoming their third ACL-induced absentee this season. This might be a potential upset watch fixture, but Los Blancos‘ European know-how should see them navigate this tricky tie.
Prediction- Real Madrid
PSG vs Real Sociedad
PSG will breathe a sigh of relief after getting Sociedad because they have just navigated the toughest group in the UCL.
Although Sociedad remarkably finished unbeaten in a group containing Inter, Salzburg, and Benfica, their league form and winning only three out of six in the UCL groups states that their run might be coming to an end against a much-fancied PSG side. The Spanish team have done well to reach this stage, but barring a finishing disaster class from PSG, this should be elimination for them.
Prediction- PSG
Lazio vs Bayern Munich
This seems like a straightforward win for Bayern Munich on paper as Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio have struggled to achieve last season’s highs this year. They sit 11th in the league, winning just six of their 16 games.
They benefitted from a more accommodating group in the UCL, as they finished 2nd, above Feyenoord and Celtic. That luck should run out against Bayern, who bossed their group with United, Copenhagen, and Galatasaray.
Prediction- Bayern Munich
PSV vs Dortmund
This is the hipster’s favourite tie among all. Dortmund are always unpredictable, as they managed to qualify from the group of death as group winners when many were writing them off.
PSV, on the other hand, qualified by the barest margins ahead of RC Lens but it is their league form which is truly astonishing.
16 games, 16 wins, 56 scored, 6 conceded. PSV are a bonafide winning machine in the league so if they manage to transfer some form to Europe, Dortmund, in peak Dortmund fashion, might become a case of navigating the tough only to lose in an easier game on paper.
Prediction- PSV
Inter vs Atletico Madrid
This is the tie for defensive savants. Both Inzaghi and Simeone are masters of squeezing the game and hitting teams on transition. However, Inter have unlocked another level to their game this season and are comfortably bossing teams as well. Atletico still look in that “great but not enough” territory.
Inter are the favourites for this and barring any individual slip-ups, should have enough to put away the Spaniards.
Prediction- Inter Milan
Porto vs Arsenal
Led by an age-defying Pepe, Porto are having a great European campaign where they almost ousted Barcelona from the first spot in the group stage.
However, Arsenal are peaking under Arteta and don’t look like they’ll relent anytime soon. The Portuguese side will give the Gunners a scare, but ultimately, Arteta’s men are just better and that should reflect over the two legs.
Prediction- Arsenal
Napoli vs Barcelona
The good news for Barcelona is that this is not the free-scoring Napoli of last season. The bad news for Barcelona is that they are not the defensively strong, winning machine of last season either.
This is the tie which is the most difficult to predict as both teams have declined since their respective league-winning campaigns last year. Uncertainties have cropped up, with Napoli even losing their manager.
Ultimately, the better players and a more stable system at Barcelona should see them prevail over Napoli.
Prediction- Barcelona