It’s been a while but the Champions League has returned as the knockout stages get underway this week. Here is all you need to know about the round of 16 first legs.
AC Milan v Tottenham Hotspur
Where: San Siro, Milan
When: Tuesday 14 February, 8pm
TV: BT Sport 1/BT Sport Ultimate
Betfred odds*: Tottenham to win and BTTS is 4/1
AC Milan will have a lot of focus on the Champions League this year as their quest to retain the Serie A title has not gone to plan with the Rossoneri currently in sixth and 18 points behind leaders Napoli. Stefano Pioli’s men had a mixture of good and bad results in the group stage but they still boast a strong attacking threat with the likes of Olivier Giroud and Rafael Leao.
Tottenham were able to finish at the top of their group after a dramatic final matchday back in November. Antonio Conte’s side had some good results but not always the best performances, something we have seen a lot of in the Premier League this year. They too boast a lot of attacking threat in all-time record goalscorer Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, who has had his confidence boosted in recent weeks after a brace in Spurs' FA Cup fourth-round victory over Preston North End.
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Where: Parc des Princes, Paris
When: Tuesday 14 February, 8pm
TV: BT Sport 2
Betfred odds*: Paris Saint-Germain to win and BTTS is 13/5
Could this be the year PSG get their hands on the Champions League trophy? The club and the fans hope so. Christophe Galtier’s side are really hoping they can break the mould on the European stage this time around. PSG boast one of the most devastating attacking lineups in the world with Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar. The trio couldn’t achieve the objective last year when they crashed out at the hands of eventual champions Real Madrid under Mauricio Pochettino.
After bowing out of the French Cup to Marseille last week, the Champions League is the only cup competition left that Les Parisiens are competing in, and of course it is always their main focus heading into a new campaign. They are going head-to-head with German giants Bayern Munich, who defeated them in the Champions League final in the 2019-20 season thanks to a Kingsley Coman goal. This looks set to be one of the blockbuster ties of the round and one that will be well worth tuning in for.
Club Brugge v Benfica
Where: Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges
When: Wednesday 15 January, 8pm
TV: BT Sport 2
Betfred odds*: Benfica to win and BTTS is 13/5
Scott Parker is about to get his first crack at Champions League football as a manager after making nine appearances in the competition as a player for Chelsea in the early 2000s. The former AFC Bournemouth and Fulham boss was appointed at the end of December and has so far overseen six matches in the Pro League. He has won one, lost one and drawn four in his first month in the job, and now he is about to face his toughest test yet in his new post.
Brugge have been impressive in Europe this term as they stunned Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen to finish second in Group B, but they are coming face-to-face with the Group H winners Benfica who have been playing some excellent football under Roger Schmidt. Both teams have been two of the surprise packages in Europe and this is shaping up to be an excellent clash.
Borussia Dortmund v Chelsea
Where: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund
When: Wednesday 15 February, 8pm
TV: BT Sport 1/BT Sport Ultimate
Betfred odds*: Over 1.5 Borussia Dortmund goals is 6/5
Borussia Dortmund are hungry for success this season under Edin Terzic. The Black and Yellows are a lot closer in this year’s Bundesliga title race and have looked rather impressive in the Champions League too. They welcome Graham Potter’s Blues to their home turf on Wednesday who completed some more high-value acquisitions in January.
Dortmund will be hoping to exploit Chelsea while they are still trying to bed in their new signings and discover what their best team is. The German side have had an incredible return to action after a lengthy break for the World Cup and it looks to have served them well. They have been boosted by the return of striker Sebastien Haller following his cancer treatment, and the Ivory Coast international scored his first goal back in action against SC Freiburg two weeks ago.
Chelsea will be wary of the form their opponents are in ahead of their round of 16 clash and Potter will be hoping that after the transfer window closed two weeks ago he has a better understanding of what his best team looks like.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
