Like literally everything else these last twelve months, the Champions League Round of 16 is a little different this time around. Liverpool, for example, are playing RB Leipzig not in Germany but in Hungary due to the ongoing uncertainty and restrictions linked to the Covid pandemic. But don’t worry, you won’t lose track of any changes with our handy guide to this week’s fixtures...
Barcelona vs Paris Saint-Germain
Where: Camp Nou, Barcelona
When: Tuesday February 16
Kick-off time: 8pm (GMT)
TV: BT Sport 3 and DAZN
Expect goals, goals and more goals between these two. The Catalan giants and French titans have met eight times since the 2012/13 campaign, producing 32 goals - who can forget Barcelona’s dramatic 6-1 comeback in March 2017? Unbelievable.
While Neymar will miss out on a return to his former club through injury, PSG will have Kylian Mbappe and Moise Kean, who scored in the win over Nice, available while Mauricio Pochettino heads to Barcelona with added incentive having spent seven years as a player with rivals Espanyol.
Sportsman Stat: Barcelona are unbeaten against French sides at Camp Nou in the Champions League, winning eight and drawing two. However, FC Metz did win there in the 1984 Cup Winners’ Cup.
Betfred Specials: Barcelona to win and both teams to score is priced at 5/2 (was 2/1) and Kylian Mbappe to score anytime is 7/4 (was 11/10)
RB Leipzig vs Liverpool
Where: Puskas Arena, Budapest
When: Tuesday, February 16
Kick-off time: 8PM (GMT)
TV: BT Sport 2 and DAZN
Liverpool have been having a miserable time of it in the Premier League losing their last three fixtures as well as their last three clashes at Anfield and so playing in Europe will be a welcome distraction.
Playing in Budapest, Hungary, because of the global pandemic, Jurgen Klopp is expected to pair January signing Ozan Kabak with Jordan Henderson at centre-back as he continues to patch up his depleted defence.
Sportsman Stat: The Reds are unbeaten in their last five trips to face German opposition, winning three and drawing two. Their last defeat came in the quarter-finals against Bayer Leverkusen, losing 4-2 in 2002.
Betfred Specials: Liverpool to win and both teams to score is in at 3/1 (was 5/2) while Alexander Sorloth, who struggled at Crystal Palace but banged in the goals for Trabzonspor to secure a move to Leipzig, is 9/4 to score anytime (was 6/4).
Porto vs Juventus
Where: Estadio do Dragao
When: Wednesday, February 17
Kick-off time: 8PM (GMT)
TV: BT Sport and DAZN
It’s crazy to think Juventus have won the European Cup on only two occasions. Their last triumph came in back 1996 though they have reached the final three times in the 21st century losing the 2017 showpiece to Real Madrid.
However, in Cristiano Ronaldo, they boast the perfect attacker to end their barren run. The Portuguese will return to his homeland to face a Porto side who have drawn their last four Primeira Liga fixtures and trail leaders Sporting, CR7’s first club, by seven points.
Sportsman Stat: Porto are the only team in the Champions League yet to concede a goal at home in this season’s competition. They have also not been breached in their last five Champions League matches, keeping five clean sheets since their 3-1 win defeat at Manchester City on Matchday 1.
Betfred Specials: Juventus are 12/1 to win the tournament this season, while Cristiano Ronaldo is 13/2 to be top scorer.
Sevilla vs Borussia Dortmund
Where: Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, Seville
When: Wednesday, February 17
Kick-off time: 8PM (GMT)
TV: BT Sport and DAZN
Sevilla and Dortmund may be playing in the Champions League but are fourth and sixth in their respective leagues right now. The hosts are Europa League specialists having won the competition a record six times yet they have only got as far as the quarter-finals in Europe’s premier competition.
Dortmund may be stuttering domestically but they topped Group F, finishing above Lazio, Brugge and Zenit and will be confident, with Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho, that they can get the better of their Spanish opponents.
Sportsman Stat: Sevilla have only lost once in 12 home matches against German opposition, going down 2-1 to Bayern Munich in the 2017/18 quarter-finals.
Betfred Specials: Borussia Dortmund are 22/1 to lift the Champions League trophy this season, while Erling Haaland is 7/2 to finish as the competition’s top scorer.
