The Champions League is back over the next couple of weeks starting tonight with the first of the Round of 16 second leg ties.
In some ties, it already looks like a formality that one team will progress, while in the majority, it very much looks like things are up for grabs in those ties and they should produce plenty of drama over the next couple of weeks.
With a place in the unseeded quarterfinal draw at stake, there’s plenty to play for across all eight games coming up over the next couple of weeks.
As always, we have gone through the eight games below and given you our preview and tips for what could happen. Any odds shown for betting tips are taken from bet365 Sport and were correct at the time of writing but may have changed in the meantime.
Let’s now take a look at the games we have coming up this week and next week.
Champions League Round of 16 – Second Leg Ties
Tuesday 8th March
- Bayern Munich (1) v (1) Red Bull Salzburg
A late Kingsley Coman goal cancelled out Adamu’s early strike for Salzburg in the first leg and meant that Bayern enter the home leg of this tie all square with their freescoring Austrian opponents. The German side have not looked quite so invincible this season both domestically and especially in the first leg of this tie.
Salzburg will likely feel that if they can hold Bayern at home, they could do likewise here, but I think the German side will be more than ready for this game and I would expect them to come through it even if the Austrian side do manage to score a goal, which I think they will. However, I still feel Bayern will win the game comfortably.
Tip – Bayern Munich to win and both teams to score – 6/5
- Liverpool (2) v (0) Inter Milan
Two late goals from Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah handed Liverpool a somewhat flattering 2-0 win in Italy over Inter in a game that was much more even than the scoreline suggests. However, the Italians now face a nightmare trip to Anfield to try and overcome that two goal deficit, without the help of the away goals rule.
Liverpool are in the middle of a fantastic winning run of games in all competitions and I can’t see them letting this one slip. Jurgen Klopp’s side picked up some silverware recently in the Carabao Cup Final beating Chelsea on penalties and I am backing them to go through here with another win at home, though I feel Inter may get a goal in reply.
Tip – Liverpool to win and both teams to score – 2/1
Wednesday 9th March
- Manchester City (5) v (0) Sporting Lisbon
Manchester City scored five and had two goals disallowed by VAR before 60 minutes had elapsed in the first leg of this game and that kind of domination means that other than the biggest shock in football history occurring, City are going to be in the next round of the competition.
Rather than an unlikely Lisbon win, all I can see here is another difficult night for the Portuguese team who will be keen to avoid another rout at the hands of City, but in truth given how well City played against Manchester United at the weekend, I am backing them to run out big winners again here and for the best value bet, I think Sterling to score at any time looks a solid option.
Tip – Raheem Sterling to score at any time – 21/20
- Real Madrid (0) v (1) Paris St Germain
The first leg of this tie was a very tight affair decided by a very late strike from Kylian Mbappe. Real’s very defensive approach drew plenty of criticism from the press back in Spain and Carlo Ancelotti’s men will have to play a lot more attacking in this game if they are to stand a chance of progressing.
In truth, this is a tough one to call. Real can certainly win this game, but I think that by playing a more attacking game, that does open them up to the counterattack where PSG can be so effective, especially with Mbappe’s pace and Messi and Neymar’s creativity. So much so that I feel the best bet here is to. back Mbappe to score at some point in the game.
Tip – Kylian Mbappe to score at any time – 6/5
Tuesday 15th March
- Ajax (2) v (2) Benfica
Benfica put up a stern fight against Ajax to deny the Dutch side the seventh win in the competition this season, but a draw in the away leg is not a bad result for Ajax and they should be very confident of finishing off the job at home against a Benfica side that has struggled away from home in recent seasons.
That said, the Portuguese side did manage to do enough to pip Barcelona to reach this stage of the competition but at the moment, I feel Ajax are stronger than Barcelona and while Benfica may score a goal, I fancy the home side to pick up the win and progress into the quarter finals.
Tip – Ajax to win and both teams to score – 6/4
- Manchester United (1) v (1) Atletico Madrid
Anthony Elanga’s strike pulled Manchester United level in the first leg and gives the English side a chance to progress against Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone’s side are not the force they once were in Europe and they looked pretty toothless at times against United and they have been beaten home and away by Liverpool too this season.
However, Atletico are past masters at getting results when they need them and with United’s form so fragile, my gut feeling here is that this game is going to be level at the 90-minute mark and at the end of extra time and if it goes to penalties, then I think Atletico’s experience may just be enough to see them through.
Tip – Atletico Madrid to qualify via penalties – 9/1
Wednesday 16th March
- Juventus (1) v (1) Villarreal
A battling performance in Spain handed Juventus a good draw against Villarreal, but the Italian side will know that they are not assured of anything, especially given the number of games Villarreal have managed to draw this season. The Italians will have to be at their best here.
The good news for Juventus is that this game is at home and they are very difficult to get the better of in Turin and while Villarreal may be able to score a goal here, my money is on Juventus coming through the tie and landing a victory that will move them into the quarterfinals of the competition.
Tip – Juventus to win and both teams to score – no – 15/8
- Lille (0) v (2) Chelsea
A solid 2-0 home win over Lille puts Chelsea in a very strong position heading into the second leg of this tie. Lille’s heroics in winning the French League title last season haven’t been repeated this year and while they did well to win their group, they had one of the easier groups in that stage of the tournament.
Playing the current holders is certainly a step up in class for Lille and it showed in the first leg and my money will be on it showing in the second too as I feel Chelsea can capitalise on Lille having to be more aggressive in an attacking sense and the Londoners should be able to counter to land another win here.
Tip – Chelsea to win and both teams to score – 3/1
Remember too that this week also sees the Europa League Round of 16 first legs, with the second legs of that round of the tournament set to be played next week and we will bring you details of that in our article next week.
Tags: bet365 Sport Champions League
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