A jam-packed football season just keeps on giving this week, as the Uefa Champions League roars back with its first quartet of knockout phase fixtures this midweek.
The first eight qualifiers go head-to-head in the first legs of their respective Round of 16 clashes on Tuesday and Wednesday.
And there’s a clash of the big beasts to headline the action in a marketing team’s dream.
Paris Saint Germain are on home turf on Tuesday as they continue their achingly long odyssey to add continental silverware to their bulging domestic cabinet, albeit with the significant object that is Bayern Munich standing in their path.
The heavyweights collide at the Parc des Princes knowing only one giant can be left standing after their UCL double header concludes in Bavaria.
So it’s imperative for Lionel Messi’s French outfit to take charge in the capital against the Germans, who came through Group C with a perfect record, helping to send former champions Barcelona tumbling out at the first hurdle.
On Wednesday there’s the first half of a tie filled with Champions League intrigue, as Bundesliga hotshots Borussia Dortmund go up against 2021 European kings Chelsea.
It’s been an almighty struggle in the English Premier League for the 2021 continental kings, who have responded by signing what feels like half of the continent’s top talent in the January transfer window.
So the pressure is all on the Blues as they head to the crackling atmosphere of Signal Iduna Park for their first knockout leg.
Another fascinating Round of 16 contest sees AC Milan kick off their knockout journey at home to 2019 UCL finalists Tottenham.
They’re eyeing up an old enemy too in the form of Spurs coach Antonio Conte, who has coached Serie A foes Inter Milan and Juventus either side of his stint as manager of the Italian national team.
The Rossoneri made it through as runners-up in their pool, albeit with their 10 points just one shy of their opponents’ haul in topping Group D.
And there’s a meeting in Belgium on Wednesday between Club Bruges and Benfica, as the unfancied pair both eye a spot in the last eight of this season’s competition.
The home side won their opening trio of Group B fixtures to ensure a cruise to the finish line, in a pool that saw giants Atletico Madrid crash out in last place.
Their Portuguese visitors went one better, topping Group H above Paris Saint Germain while sending sorry Juventus spinning out of the tournament.
Uefa Champions League predictions for 14 – 15 February
Prediction methodology explained: The expected win percentage is based off publicly available odds. For example, if a team’s odds are 2.30, the expected chance of winning is 43%. If the odds are 1.62 the expected chance of winning is 62% and so on. These are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change. Where there is no value listed, the odds were not available at the time of writing.
Milan v Tottenham Hotspur
Result prediction Milan to win
Over/Under prediction over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction draw / Milan to win
Team to Score prediction both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction O. Giroud(Milan)
PSG v Bayern Munich
Result prediction PSG to win
Over/Under prediction over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction draw / PSG to win
Team to Score prediction both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction L. Messi(PSG)
K. Mbappé(PSG)
E. Choupo-Moting(Bayern Munich)
S. Mané(Bayern Munich)
L. Sané(Bayern Munich)
Club Brugge v Benfica
Result prediction Benfica to win
Over/Under prediction over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction Benfica / Benfica to win
Team to Score prediction both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction João Mário(Benfica)
Rafa(Benfica)
Borussia Dortmund v Chelsea
Result prediction draw
Over/Under prediction over 2.5 goals
HT / FT prediction draw / draw
Team to Score prediction both teams
Anytime Goalscorer prediction J. Bellingham(Borussia Dortmund)
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