– Social media reacts to the Champions League draw that never was
– Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only) PSG, hush attempting to win the Champions League for the beginning time, will face 13-time winners Real over two legs next February and March in the tie of the round. And although the second gear draw saw them avoid a collide with Mauricio Pochettino ‘s PSG and a Lionel Messi five. Cristiano Ronaldo neck and neck, United fared fiddling better in the redraw, landing spanish champions Atletico Madrid for the first meet between the two clubs in the rival. But while PSG vs. Real and Atletico vs. Man United stand out as the most attention-getting ties of the round of golf of 16, Liverpool ‘s meet with Inter Milan is a much tougher task for Jurgen Klopp ‘s team than their initial pair with FC Salzburg.
With the controversy of the invalidate draw nowadays resolved by the second draw, the leading contenders to win this season ‘s Champions League can nowadays start to plot their path to the final in Saint Petersburg on May 28. a lot can change between now and February, when the Champions League resumes, but with the round of 16 fixtures nowadays on the schedule, which clubs will make it through to the quarterfinals ? There was never going to be an easy option for austrian champions Salzburg, but having been spared a tie against Liverpool because of the voided first draw, they ended up with Bayern Munich. Making their first appearance in the round of 16 after finishing as runner-up in Group G, Salzburg will be huge underdogs against the Bundesliga champions, who cruised into the smasher stages with six wins out of six in their group. Karim Adeyemi, a 19-year-old Munich-born forth, has scored four goals so far in this season ‘s competition for Salzburg and will be knocked out to impress against his hometown club. U.S. international midfielder Brenden Aaronson is another key visualize for Salzburg, having played in every UCL game this season. Reaching this stage is the big accomplishment for Salzburg, and it would be the biggest upset of the rival — bigger flush than Sheriff Tiraspol ‘s group-stage gain at Real Madrid — if they eliminate Bayern. Julian Nagelsmann ‘s team were the favourites to win the Champions League before the draw was made, but they will be even stronger favourites now. WHO GOES THROUGH? Bayern MunichThe CL draw delivered plenty of drama with the games themselves, but also the fact that it had to be redone after a clerical error. EPA/Richard Juilliart Sporting qualified for the beat of 16 by denying Borussia Dortmund the runner-up spot behind Ajax in Group C, with a 3-1 family gain against the Bundesliga team proving crucial. Ruben Amorim ‘s team have exceeded expectations by reaching this stagecoach, however, and they are probably to be beaten comprehensively by City, who will ruthlessly exploit the portuguese champions ‘ defensive weaknesses. – Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
– Don’t have ESPN? Get instant access Sporting conceded nine goals in two games against Ajax, and City have far greater firepower than the dutch champions. Midfielder Pedro Goncalves, with four goals in four UCL games, will be a threat for Sporting, as will centre-forward Paulinho, but this is a connect that will suit City, and it ‘s unmanageable to foresee any problems for Pep Guardiola ‘s team. The only potential downside for City is that it will be a return to Estadio Jose Alvalade, where they suffered a surprise quarterfinal die against Lyon during the COVID-19-affected concluding stages in 2020. Beyond a possible unlucky omen, there is nothing for City to worry about. WHO GOES THROUGH? Manchester City This will be an scheme tie between Erik ten Hag ‘s exciting Ajax team and a Benfica team, once again coached by Jorge Jesus, that sent Barcelona crashing out at the group phase. Having won all six games in Group C, Ajax will go into this tie as favourites to reach the quarterfinals, though Benfica will be well-organised and confident of victory themselves. Benfica ‘s know could be the all-important factor, with the likes of Jan Vertonghen, Nicolas Otamendi, Joao Mario and Rafa Silva all probable to be key men against Ajax. Striker Darwin Nunez will test Ajax, excessively. And despite their perennial reputation for fielding young sides, Ajax besides have veterans who will play a boastful separate in the consequence of the bind with the likes of Daley Blind, Davy Klaassen and Dusan Tadic. If Otamendi and Vertonghen can keep Sebastien Haller — this season ‘s lead UCL scorer, with 10 goals — quietly over the two legs, Benfica will have the edge. It is a close tie to call, but do n’t underestimate Benfica. WHO GOES THROUGH? Benfica play 0:54
Where has Chelsea’s solid defence gone?
Janusz Michallik explains what ‘s behind Chelsea ‘s sudden inability to stop their opposition from scoring. Chelsea could have faced Bayern, Real Madrid or Ajax in the round of 16, but they pulled Lille out of the hat in both the invalidate string and the real one — a nice piece of dear fortune for last season ‘s Champions League winners. Having finished irregular in Group H behind Juventus, it could have been much worse for Chelsea, but coach Thomas Tuchel will expect his team to overcome the french champions. Although Lille were the group winners whom most of the second-placed teams would have wanted to face, they remain a dangerous opposition. Despite losing coach Christophe Galtier to Marseille following stopping point season ‘s Ligue 1 title achiever and having a ruffianly time domestically this season, Lille have saved their best performances for the Champions League. Canada striker Jonathan David has scored three goals in six group games for Lille, while U.S. international Timothy Weah has appeared in four games sol far. Lille are a unseasoned team with likely, but Chelsea ‘s experience and timbre are likely excessively much for Jocelyn Gourvennec ‘s team. WHO GOES THROUGH? Chelsea free rein 1:01
Should Manchester United be the favorites vs. Atletico Madrid?
Steve Nicol thinks the oddsmakers got it right when favoring Manchester United over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16.
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These two european heavyweights have been paired together just once ahead in UEFA contest, with Atletico beating United 4-1 over two legs in the european Cup Winners ‘ Cup second round in November 1991 ; this clash marks a fresh chapter in the Champions League for two clubs. Diego Simeone ‘s Atletico have made an improbable begin to the defense of their spanish style and baby-sit fourth in LaLiga, 13 points behind leaders very Madrid. They besides snatched qualification on matchday six with a win against Porto that took them from penetrate of Group B to second, behind Liverpool. Atletico are unpredictable, with Antoine Griezmann, Luis Suarez and Joao Felix being capable of hurting United if they perform to their best. But United are besides a tough team to work out this temper, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacked and replaced by interim director Ralf Rangnick in November. They have the goals of Cristiano Ronaldo, the footstep of Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford and the dash of Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, but are susceptible in defense. This connect could ultimately come down to the goalkeepers, Atleti ‘s Jan Oblak and United ‘s David de Gea, the latter of whom will face his erstwhile club for the beginning clock time since moving to Old Trafford in 2011. If Rangnick can get United to click between now and February, they should win a close necktie. WHO GOES THROUGH? Manchester United playing period 0:55
Are Juventus an outside bet for the Champions League?
Janusz Michallik debates whether Juventus are good enough to win the Champions League after their winnings over Malmo. Europa League champions Villarreal booked their locate in the round of 16 with a weather-delayed victory against Atalanta in Bergamo on matchday six, but Unai Emery ‘s team have developed a habit of leaving it former to win. Their penalty gunfight victory over Manchester United in last season ‘s Europa League final earned them a place in the Champions League, and that win, combined with their performances in the group stages, proves Villarreal ‘s lastingness. Although they are inconsistent, Villarreal are well-organised under former Arsenal coach Emery, and they will be a rugged opponent for a Juventus team that has struggled for imprint this season. Juventus were well-beaten by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the group stage, and they struggled to 1-0 wins against Malmo and Zenit on the way to topping Group H. Massimiliano Allegri has the better squad, and forwards Paulo Dybala, Alvaro Morata, Moise Kean and Federico Chiesa should give Juventus the edge. This will be a hard-fought connect, and Villarreal know how to get the job done in Europe ; of all the last-16 matches, this one could go all the way to penalties. WHO GOES THROUGH? Villarreal free rein 0:38
Can Inter Milan pose a challenge to Liverpool?
Don Hutchison previews Liverpool ‘s UEFA Champions League round of 16 draw against Inter Milan. Liverpool made it six wins out of six in Group B with a matchday six winnings against AC Milan at San Siro, but the 2019 Champions League winners can expect a tougher clock time against Inter. Jurgen Klopp ‘s team will be hard favourites against Simone Inzaghi ‘s team, but Inter have more quality than AC in terms of taking advantage of any opportunities that Liverpool may present. Lautaro Martinez and Edin Dzeko will be a threat up front for Inter, and they have experience in midfield with Nicolo Barella, Arturo Vidal and Marcelo Brozovic. meanwhile, Samir Handanovic continues to be one of the best keepers in Europe. Over two legs, Inter could make life unmanageable for Liverpool if Klopp ‘s team is hit by injuries ahead of the connect. But while the italian champions have the ability to hurt Liverpool, it would be baffling to predict an Inter win at this stage. Liverpool will know they have been in a game, but they have indeed much depth that it would be a shock if they failed to make it through. WHO GOES THROUGH? Liverpool It ‘s the draw that neither club wanted, but it ‘s the price that Mauricio Pochettino ‘s PSG had to pay after finishing as runner-up in Group A behind Manchester City. This is a huge clash between two clubs that just will not accept elimination at the round of 16, and it means one of the favourites for the competition will crash out.
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It is a clash between Real ‘s pedigree and winning brain, albeit with a team that ‘s relying on the experience of Karim Benzema and Luka Modric, against a PSG side with Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe forming arguably the best strike-force in the game. It throws up so many reunions, besides, with real coach Carlo Ancelotti up against his old team and Sergio Ramos, Angel di Maria and Keylor Navas set to face the club where they previously enjoyed repeated Champions League glory. The last time these teams met in Paris, PSG won 3-0 in the 2019-20 group stage, and they will need a victory to take to Madrid for the second leg. But this one is about besides cheeseparing to call because both sides have weaknesses that can be exploited. It ‘ll be a character of which team is in the best form by the prison term the crippled comes around, but at this stage, PSG ‘s attacking depth makes them favourites. WHO GOES THROUGH? Paris Saint-Germain