UEFA Champions League Knockout Draw
The draw for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League took place on Monday with the Round of 16 games taking place in February 2021. Here's a reaction from the draw plus who's likely to go through from these match-ups.
Borussia Mönchengladbach v Manchester City
Borussia Mönchengladbach shocked many in qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League, getting points off Real Madrid and Inter Milan. However, their reward will be facing Manchester City in the Round of 16. The Germans will have it difficult to do against Pep Guardiola's team despite going to the Etihad in the second leg. As for Manchester City, this is a favourable draw but will be cautious of Gladbach's aggressive pressing play, which was brought in by their manager Marco Rose. Despite their struggles in the Premier League this season, they walked through their Champions League groups, conceding just one goal. Manchester City should have enough to go through and advance into the quarterfinals.
Likely to go through: Manchester City
Lazio v Bayern Munich
Lazio were able to navigate through their group, thus qualifying for the knockout stages for the time since 2000, with their highlight being their 3-1 win against Borussia Dortmund with Ciro Immobile scoring five goals. Their European season has now given them the most daunting task for any team this season. Beating the holders Bayern Munich over two legs in the Round of 16. Bayern Munich won their group, topping the group with 16 points, scoring 18 goals. With Robert Lewandowski, Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sané, Lazio will have a lot on their plate and wouldn't have enough to hold them off. Making Bayern heavy favourites to go through.
Likely to go through: Bayern Munich
Atlético Madrid v Chelsea
One of the exciting match-ups from the draw, Frank Lampard's Chelsea will face Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid in the Round of 16. For any team that topped their group, Atlético were the team they wanted to avoid. Unfortunately, the Blues were the ones that got them. Chelsea did well in the group stage, topping their group ahead of Sevilla and going the group unbeaten. For Lampard, Chelsea still has a long way to go as the 2012 winners have not reached the semifinals since 2014. For Atlético, they struggled during the group stages, needing a win against RB Salzburg to qualify. They are a very pragmatic side but have improved the goalscoring front, with João Félix and Luis Suárez scoring goals for Rojiblancos. A tight game but with Atléti's experience in Europe and the naivety of this Chelsea team, Atlético Madrid will just about make it through.
Likely to go through: Atlético Madrid
RB Leipzig v Liverpool
RB Leipzig managed to get qualification for the knockout stages at the expense of Manchester United, beating Red Devils 3-2 to go through. The Bundesliga side have made strives over the past couples of years, reaching the semifinals, with an exciting coach in Julian Nagelsmann and a talented group of players from Marcel Sabitzer to Dayot Upamecano. They will face Liverpool, who won the competition in 2019. It will be another match-up between Jurgen Klopp and Nagelsmann, having met in 2017 in the Champions League play-offs with Nagelsmann managing Hoffenheim. Liverpool topped their group but will be hoping that some players will be back from injury in February. A tricky game, Leipzig have the ability to beat the Reds but Liverpool, after Atlético last year, will not let lighting strike twice. With the second leg at Anfield, Liverpool are likely to go to the quarterfinals.
Likely to go through: Liverpool
FC Porto v Juventus
Likely to go through: Juventus
FC Barcelona v Paris Saint-Germain
A rematch of the famous Remontada in 2017, Barcelona are facing PSG, with Lionel Messi facing his former teammate in Neymar, who left Barça for the French side that same year. Barcelona have struggled this season under Ronald Koeman, nowhere near the top in La Liga and failed to top their group. A team not playing at their best, their saving grace is without a doubt Lionel Messi but the Argentine has struggled this season with Ansu Fati and Gérard Pique out with injury. PSG have not kicked on well like many thought they would after reaching the Champions League final in August this year. They aren't top in Ligue 1 and lost twice in the group stages. Both teams have problems but PSG have a better team, manager and a more cohesive squad that can improve than Barcelona, so PSG should go through from this tie
Likely to go through: PSG
Sevilla v Borussia Dortmund
Sevilla are in the knockout stages for the first time since 2018 and under manager Julen Lopetegui, they won the Europa League last season. They finished second in their group behind Chelsea, with 13 points. Borussia Dortmund topped their group but their inconsistent form in the Bundesliga has cost Lucien Favre his job. This is possibly the closest game from the draw as both teams have an equal chance of going to the quarterfinals. The edge would have to go to Borussia Dortmund with their firepower in attack with Erling Haaland, Jadon Sancho, Gio Reyna and Marco Reus. Sevilla have attackers of their own that can hurt the Black and Yellow but not enough to go through.
Likely to go through: Borussia Dortmund
Atalanta B.C. v Real Madrid
Real Madrid touched murky waters in the group stages with defeats to Shakhtar Donetsk and dropped points against Gladbach but they found a way to advance top of their group. Zidane's men have been very hit and miss this season with great performances against Atlético Madrid to poor ones against Cadíz. Atalanta have not been great either. They are eighth in Serie A with issues behind the scenes with Gian GasperinI putting in a resignation letter but was turned down, to captain Papu Gomez wanting to leave the club. They were able to advance from their group, beating Ajax to the other qualification spot joining Liverpool. The drama at Atalanta and their drop out in goals could cost them a place in the quarterfinals and Madrid's know-how in this competition will see Los Blancos through.
Likely to go through: Real Madrid
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