CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND OF 16 REVIEW AND PREDICTIONS

UEFA

Written by Aaron Cantin

Halfway through the round of 16 of the Champions League and PSG once again are making all the headlines for the wrong reasons. Of course, there are other notable storylines coming from this week but without a doubt, the departure of Messi, Mbappe and Neymar are sweeping through the footy world. Bayern’s thrashing of RB Salzburg all but reminded us that the Germans can never be taken for granted. Let’s look back at who punched their ticket to the quarter-finals and who still has a chance next week.

Source (Background Photo): AFP-JIJI

RECAP: Real Madrid vs PSG (3-1)

Despite the drama of Karim Benzema’s 16-minute hat-trick at the Santiago Bernabéu, which overturned PSG’s two-goal aggregate lead and dumped the club out of the Champions League, a sense of inevitability soon arrived. For PSG, all this had happened before. A string of recent Champions League exits – most notably to Manchester United, Manchester City and Barcelona – carried the same markers. Another winnable tie was under control before PSG froze under pressure and slipped into turmoil.

For 150 minutes of the tie, PSG was comfortably in charge. Although their display in the first leg lacked inspiration, and they relied on Kylian Mbappé’s individual brilliance again to snatch a late winner, Real Madrid could do little more than sit back and defend. At the Bernabéu, PSG quickly weathered an early Madrid press and Mbappé’s counterattacking opener felt inevitable. He might have had two more. A relative hush descended over the Bernabéu and PSG was cruising.

Worst of all, again mirroring the City and United defeats, they were not truly outplayed by their opponents. Their performance in the first hour in Madrid was even more impressive than their 1-0 win in the first leg. Although the inevitable counterattacking structure suited

Mauricio Pochettino’s skill set was one of his most impressive games in the job until Donnarumma’s error. In the end, PSG is dumped out of the Champions League and only has themselves to blame.

RECAP: Manchester City vs Sporting (0-0)

It is the fifth successive season City has reached the quarter-finals, while Guardiola has managed a team to this stage for a record-equalling 12th time. City's stunning 5-0 win in last month's first leg in Lisbon had already effectively settled this tie, and it was clear from the outset that the Portuguese side did not entertain any hope of an unlikely comeback.

Sporting packed their defence, perhaps wary of suffering another damaging defeat, leaving Guardiola's side in total control of possession but struggling to carve out meaningful chances. Raheem Sterling wasted City's best opportunity before the break when he ran on to Phil Foden's pass and tried to dink the ball over Antonio Adan but did not get enough height on his shot.

RECAP: Liverpool vs Inter Milan (0-1)

Liverpool could cope with its first Anfield loss in a year to still overcome Inter Milan and reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Leading 2-0 from the last-16 first leg in Italy, Lautaro Martinez’s swerving shot that reduced the deficit in the 61st minute gave the Italian champions hope of a comeback.

But within two minutes, Inter’s task was made more difficult when Alexis Sanchez was sent off after his follow-through on Fabinho earned him a second booking. Liverpool held on to lose 1-0 and advance 2-1 on aggregate. The 2019 Champions League winners are in the quarterfinals for the fourth time in five years despite its first loss in the competition this season. Liverpool had chances to level. Mohamed Salah volleyed against the post and Luis Diaz’s close-range shot was deflected over by Arturo Vidal.

Inter went out with only the consolation of being the first team to win at Anfield since Fulham 366 days earlier.

RECAP: Bayern Munich vs RB Salzburg (7-1)

Whatever hope Salzburg had of overcoming Bayern Munich was extinguished by Robert Lewandowski scoring a hat trick in 11 minutes. It was game over by the time Lewandowski’s third hit the net in the 23rd minute on Tuesday to make it the quickest treble saw at the start of a Champions League match. A second leg that started at 1-1 was tilted 4-1 in Bayern’s favour by the striker’s scoring masterclass. An 8-2 aggregate win to reach the quarterfinals was completed by further goals from Serge Gnabry, a double from Thomas Muller, and Leroy Sane.

At least Salzburg avoided the complete humiliation of not scoring with Maurits Kjaergaard netting for the Austrian team in Bavaria.

PREDICTION: Manchester United vs. Atlético Madrid (1–1 agg.)

PSG-Real Madrid may be the marquee event of the Round of 16, but Atlético's trip to Old Trafford should have plenty of action. The Spanish champions dominated the first half in Madrid, behind João Félix's seventh-minute opener, but the Red Devils pulled one back in the 80th from the unlikeliest of sources: 19-year-old Swedish U-21 forward Anthony Elanga.

Manchester United will hope to rely upon the heroics of Ronaldo against Atlético if he is fit after missing the Manchester derby. Atlético has now faced an English side in its last three round-of-16 appearances (in 2020 it defeated defending champion Liverpool before losing last year to the eventual champion, Chelsea). In such tight circumstances, Diego Simeone's experience may be the deciding factor.

Result: Atlético advances in a close one.

PREDICTION: Ajax vs. Benfica (2–2 agg.)

While it may not be one of the more talked-about matchups, we can only hope the second leg between Benfica and Ajax is as good as the first was. The Portuguese hosts twice overcame one-goal deficits to earn a draw thanks to Ukraine international Roman Yaremchuk's 72nd-minute equalizer, where he revealed the Ukrainian coat of arms under his jersey.

Sébastien Haller continues to lead the Champions League in goals and find the back of the net, although he did score an own-goal in the first leg before following up three minutes later with a goal that landed in the opponent's net. It would be silly to try to accurately predict anything other than more fireworks, but one has to trust the home side (even without the away goals rule that would have benefitted Ajax).

Result: Ajax advances in an exciting contest.

PREDICTION: Juventus vs. Villarreal (1–1 agg.)

Juventus star Dušan Vlahović scored just 32 seconds into his Champions League debut, but that was all Juventus could muster in the first leg. However, the Bianconeri will host Villarreal at home as they look to avoid dropping out of the round of 16 for the third straight season.

Villarreal showed a fight to overcome the early deficit in the first leg and looked inspired in its first knockout appearance since 2009. Juventus, which sits in fourth place in Serie A eight points off the top, may have other things to worry about, whereas the Yellow Submarine is playing with house money after winning last year's Europa League.

Result: Villarreal advances in a shocker

PREDICTION: Lille vs. Chelsea (0–2 agg.)

The Champions League title holders got off to a good start in their first knockout stage game thanks to goals on either side of halftime from Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic. With clean sheets in four of its last five games since returning from its Club World Cup victory, Chelsea is using the same formula as its title-winning run from last season.

Lille can hold onto the hope that it will host the Blues, although the French champions have won only five of their last 10 home games. Still, even at home, overcoming a two-goal deficit against the European champions would be quite the task.

Result: Chelsea advances without trouble