After an intriguing group stage fixtures which saw teams like Fc Barcelona drop to the Europa League after a horrible start to their champions league campaign. Teams ( Villarreal, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Red Bull Salzburg, Lille, Benfica, Sporting CP, Chelsea, Ajax, PSG, Inter Millan, and Juventus) that qualified to the round of 16 will face the next task ahead of them.
The champions league (round of 16) draw took place in Nyon, Switzerland around 3:00 pm. Now it comes down to the teams that will go toe to toe with their counterparts to progress to the next round of the competition. This is how the tie looks like; PSG vs Real Madrid, RB Salzburg vs Bayern Munich, Inter vs Liverpool, Chelsea vs Lille, Atletico vs Manchester United, Sporting CP vs Manchester City, Benfica vs Ajax, and Villarreal vs Juventus.
Sergio Ramos will face his former team mates as PSG take on Real Madrid in the round of 16
Less than one season, Sergio Ramos would have to face his former side Real Madrid in the champions league round of 16. PSG has met Real Madrid 11 times in the champions league. The white Angles have W6, D2, and L3 out of the games they have played with PSG.
PSG on the other hand has W3, D2, L6. The stats show Real Madrid has been dominant over the Ligue 1 side. This should be a mesmerizing game to watch with the form Carlo Ancelotti’s side is in, yes it’s a long way but Real Madrid form is not dipping anytime soon. Mauricio Pochettino’s side has their issues but I think they will go all-in for this particular game.
Diego Simeone meets his worst enemy( Cristiano Ronaldo) in the knockout phase of the champions league
Diego Simeone Atletico Madrid’s worst nightmare is to face Cristiano Ronaldo in the champions league knockout phase. Cristiano Ronaldo has faced Atletico Madrid 10 times in the Champions league, W6, D2, L2 and have scored 7 goals against the Spanish club. Facing Ronaldo in the champions league is always ahead arch for Diego Simeone but this time around, Diego Simeone will face Ralf Rangnick Manchester United ( who is trying to put his team in the finest way of competing at the highest level). The Spanish side ( Atletico Madrid ) has to get the antidote to stop Cristiano Ronaldo from getting on the score sheet although it’s impossible to keep a player like Ronaldo out for a whole 90 minutes.
Inexperienced Sporting CP go head to head with 2020/21 runners up Manchester City
Sporting CP is going to face a side that is desperate to write their name in the history book of the Champions League but this type of game can be very tricky for a big club like Manchester City because what you don’t expect from a team like Sporting CP to deliver, that’s exactly the performance they will put up against the Sky Blues.
This game should be an exhilarating one to watch. There is no favorite in this type of game although Sporting CP is going into the game as underdogs and the “Citizens” as the number choice, there could be a surprise.
The informed Bavarians go toe to toe with Austria side RB Salzburg
Bundesliga side Fc Bayern Munich is in excellent form and is difficult to bypass at the moment. Austria league leaders RB Salzburg’s task has become more intricate than ever and would have to be at their best version to compete with a team like Bayern Munich. The Austria side Champion League campaign hasn’t been that convincing after they struggled in their group. Fc Bayern Munich should be able to bypass RB Salzburg but they won’t get it that easy.
The Eagles cross path with ruthless Erik Ten Hag Ajax
Two strong teams cross paths in the knockout stage of the champions league. Benfica did very well in qualifying for the next phase of the competition, Ajax winning six out of six games in their group, shows Ten Hag men mean business. The Eredivise side is ready to frustrate any team that comes their way, Benfica would have to be more than ready to face an Ajax side that is desperate for greatness.
Nerazzurri and the Reds lock horns
It’s going to be the two Milan teams meeting the Reds in the same season of the champions league. The Red’s form in the champions league is beyond reach, Liverpool has scored seventeen (17) goals in their champions league campaign and has conceded six (6). Jurgen Klopp men could replicate their 2018/19 form that led them to the trophy.
To beat Liverpool, Filippo Inzaghi men would have to utilize every chance they get against the English side, Inter Milan in front of goal is very sloppy in the champions league but against a team like Liverpool that makes use of their chances won’t miss if they get the slightest of chance. A fascinating game awaits us in the champions league in February. The first league would be played from February to March in all fixtures in the champions league.
